31C: Grady County
Blowing Caves, Forest Falls,
Fossils & Natural History
By Thomas D. Thurman
02/Sept/2024
The intrepid Professor Samuel W. McCallie visited several sites in Grady County during his tour of Georgia’s southern counties in the late 1890s and published this in 1896, McCallie would go on to become Georgia State Geologist is 1908.
“One of the most interesting natural exposures is locally known as Forest Falls, seven miles north of Whigham, a magnificent waterfall eighty feet in height, formed by a small stream flowing into a lime sink... A view of the falls from the side of the sink forms a picture of remarkable beauty. This is especially true at noonday when the falling column is lit by the sun’s rays and the rainbow, with its many colors, is to be seen on the rising mist. The beauty of the picture is strengthened by a background of a primitive pine forest that has given the falls their appropriate name.”
Professor Samuel W. McCallie, 1896
Georgia State Geologist 1908-1933
“One of the most interesting natural exposures is locally known as Forest Falls, seven miles north of Whigham, a magnificent waterfall eighty feet in height, formed by a small stream flowing into a lime sink... A view of the falls from the side of the sink forms a picture of remarkable beauty. This is especially true at noonday when the falling column is lit by the sun’s rays and the rainbow, with its many colors, is to be seen on the rising mist. The beauty of the picture is strengthened by a background of a primitive pine forest that has given the falls their appropriate name.”
Professor Samuel W. McCallie, 1896
Georgia State Geologist 1908-1933
Unfortunately, Forest Falls are also called Limesink in some texts. The site became a popular picnic area, at least in 1914, as the picture attests. However, I cannot say with certainty whether Forest Falls still exists. Later researchers made mistakes and garbled the location, confusing the site with another nearby waterfall that’s actually called The Water Fall, in the geologic literature. Sorting all of this out has become a task unto itself.
In 1908 McCallie published this report on the area clearly describing multiple waterfalls he’d observed during his field work some years earlier. One fall was 70 to 80 feet tall and fell into a lime sink (poetically described above), the other was at ground level falling into a lime sink.
In 1908 McCallie published this report on the area clearly describing multiple waterfalls he’d observed during his field work some years earlier. One fall was 70 to 80 feet tall and fell into a lime sink (poetically described above), the other was at ground level falling into a lime sink.
For the sake of simplicity & clarity, in this piece;
- Forest Falls will be used for the 80 foot, single plunge water fall.
- The Water Fall will be used for the surface stream flowing into a lime sink hole.
McCallie continues.
Grady County, owing to its being underlain by rather porous Eocene limestone, is noted for its many lime sinks and underground streams. A good example may be seen at what is known as Forest Falls, seven miles north of Whigham. At this place, a brook of sufficient size to run a mill disappears underground in a lime sink, after a perpendicular descent of 80 feet.
A few miles further to the north, at what is called the "Water Fall," a second stream disappears underground in like manner.
Grady County, owing to its being underlain by rather porous Eocene limestone, is noted for its many lime sinks and underground streams. A good example may be seen at what is known as Forest Falls, seven miles north of Whigham. At this place, a brook of sufficient size to run a mill disappears underground in a lime sink, after a perpendicular descent of 80 feet.
A few miles further to the north, at what is called the "Water Fall," a second stream disappears underground in like manner.
McCallie is clearly discussing two separate waterfalls in Grady County, in 1908 he continues.
At the bottom of some of the deeper lime sinks, east of the Flint River, are occasionally seen rapidly flowing underground streams. More generally, however, the sinks are partially filled with water, and form beautiful ponds, well stocked with fish. During the dry season many of these ponds are drawn off by the underground streams, with which they seem to be invariably connected.
At the bottom of some of the deeper lime sinks, east of the Flint River, are occasionally seen rapidly flowing underground streams. More generally, however, the sinks are partially filled with water, and form beautiful ponds, well stocked with fish. During the dry season many of these ponds are drawn off by the underground streams, with which they seem to be invariably connected.
I need to say here that Grady County was established in 1905 by separating parts of Decatur & Thomas counties. McCallie knew area as Decatur County. But the location he gives for Forest Falls, 7 miles north of Whigham, is firmly in modern Grady County. I have edited his original comments to say Grady County to prevent confusion.
After another century-plus of pulling water up for human use, I’d be interested to hear from Grady County residents how many of the underground streams still flow & if the two separate falls are still active and if there has been any salt-water intrusion.
After another century-plus of pulling water up for human use, I’d be interested to hear from Grady County residents how many of the underground streams still flow & if the two separate falls are still active and if there has been any salt-water intrusion.
Forest Falls Description, McCallie 1896
McCallie described and performed scientific observations.
FOREST FALLS is located in Grady county, seven miles north of Whigham. and about three miles south of Blowing Cave. The geological conditions, met with in the vicinity of the falls are practically the same as at Blowing Cave (discussed later). The surface is somewhat rolling; and, with the exception of a superficial layer of sands and clays, about 30 feet in thickness, the formation consists of Vicksburg-Jackson limestone.
The height of the falls is about 70 feet, and the water makes its descent in a single plunge. The stream forming the falls is small, furnishing not over 400 cubic feet of water per minute. The water, after its descent into the somewhat funnel-shaped limestone sink makes its escape as a rapidly flowing stream into a subterranean opening a few yards to the south, and about eight feet below the base of the falls.
McCallie described and performed scientific observations.
FOREST FALLS is located in Grady county, seven miles north of Whigham. and about three miles south of Blowing Cave. The geological conditions, met with in the vicinity of the falls are practically the same as at Blowing Cave (discussed later). The surface is somewhat rolling; and, with the exception of a superficial layer of sands and clays, about 30 feet in thickness, the formation consists of Vicksburg-Jackson limestone.
The height of the falls is about 70 feet, and the water makes its descent in a single plunge. The stream forming the falls is small, furnishing not over 400 cubic feet of water per minute. The water, after its descent into the somewhat funnel-shaped limestone sink makes its escape as a rapidly flowing stream into a subterranean opening a few yards to the south, and about eight feet below the base of the falls.
At the time of my visit, the rapidly. flowing water filled the mouth of this subterranean opening with the exception of a space of about four inches. A pine torch, held near the opening, showed a perceptible and constant indraft of air. Almost immediately underneath the falls and at an elevation of about 12 feet above this opening, is a second opening, which is apparently an additional outlet to the lime sink when the stream is swollen by heavy rains. The latter opening also showed an indraft of air. Directly in front of the falls, as well as at each side, there is a strong current of air both outward and upward.
An attempt was made, by the use of an aneroid barometer to ascertain the difference between the air pressure at the base of the limestone sink and the air outside the influence of the falls, but, owing to the poor condition of the instrument used, the results were unsatisfactory.
An attempt was made, by the use of an aneroid barometer to ascertain the difference between the air pressure at the base of the limestone sink and the air outside the influence of the falls, but, owing to the poor condition of the instrument used, the results were unsatisfactory.
Water Falls Description, Fossils
McCallie 1896
About 4 miles northwest of Forest Falls, in the 16th district, is the “Water Falls”. It is formed, by a small, evanescent (quickly fading or disappearing) stream falling, about 35 feet, into a circular lime-sink, twenty feet in diameter. There extends back from the falls for more than a hundred yards, a narrow sinuous gorge, twenty-five feet deep, through which the stream flows.
Both sides of the gorge are nearly vertical; and they give a good exposure of the superficial clays and sands, as well as a few feet upper bed of the underlying calcareous formation. Some of the beds are fossiliferous, the most common fossils are pectens, sea-urchins, orbitolites and gastropods. The gastropods are frequently quite large, measuring up to 5 inches in diameter. There was also, found in the gorge, projecting from the upper layers of the rotten limestone, a piece of a rib of some animal, 15” long and 1.5” in diameter.
McCallie 1896
About 4 miles northwest of Forest Falls, in the 16th district, is the “Water Falls”. It is formed, by a small, evanescent (quickly fading or disappearing) stream falling, about 35 feet, into a circular lime-sink, twenty feet in diameter. There extends back from the falls for more than a hundred yards, a narrow sinuous gorge, twenty-five feet deep, through which the stream flows.
Both sides of the gorge are nearly vertical; and they give a good exposure of the superficial clays and sands, as well as a few feet upper bed of the underlying calcareous formation. Some of the beds are fossiliferous, the most common fossils are pectens, sea-urchins, orbitolites and gastropods. The gastropods are frequently quite large, measuring up to 5 inches in diameter. There was also, found in the gorge, projecting from the upper layers of the rotten limestone, a piece of a rib of some animal, 15” long and 1.5” in diameter.
Forest Falls Fossils
McCallie 1896
There is exposed, here, an excellent geological section, more than ninety feet in thickness. The Upper part of the section consists of sand and motley-red clays, twenty feet thick, belonging to the Lafayette Formation (re-assigned). Beneath this, occur beds of limestone, which extend to the bottom of the sink. The upper portion of the calcareous formation consists of a bed of soft argillaceous (clay-rich) limestone of a grayish-greenish color. It contains fossil shells, and, also, a few fragments of bones, some of which appear to be portions of ribs, which frequently measure more than an inch in diameter. These osseous (bony) remains always run high in phosphoric acid; but the calcareous deposit itself usually runs quite low.
The remaining beds differ somewhat in their general appearance and structure. Some are compact, weather slowly, and form projecting shelves. Others are soft, of a porous nature, and weather more rapidly.
Nearly all of the different beds contain a few fossils, the most abundant being barnacles, spines of sea urchins, and casts of pectens…
McCallie 1896
There is exposed, here, an excellent geological section, more than ninety feet in thickness. The Upper part of the section consists of sand and motley-red clays, twenty feet thick, belonging to the Lafayette Formation (re-assigned). Beneath this, occur beds of limestone, which extend to the bottom of the sink. The upper portion of the calcareous formation consists of a bed of soft argillaceous (clay-rich) limestone of a grayish-greenish color. It contains fossil shells, and, also, a few fragments of bones, some of which appear to be portions of ribs, which frequently measure more than an inch in diameter. These osseous (bony) remains always run high in phosphoric acid; but the calcareous deposit itself usually runs quite low.
The remaining beds differ somewhat in their general appearance and structure. Some are compact, weather slowly, and form projecting shelves. Others are soft, of a porous nature, and weather more rapidly.
Nearly all of the different beds contain a few fossils, the most abundant being barnacles, spines of sea urchins, and casts of pectens…
Veatch and Stephenson 1911
As mentioned earlier, Professor Sam McCallie became the Georgia State in 1908 and initiated extensive research into Georgia’s Coastal Plain. (It’s way past time such fieldwork was repeated.) In a joint project the Georgia Geological Survey and the USGS (United States Geological Survey) Otto Veatch and Llyod William Stephenson conducted detailed fieldwork Coastal Plain and published a report in 1911.
Below is section description published by Veatch & Stephenson in 1911, it appears they confused Forest Falls & The Water Fall. McCallie didn’t much describe the topography of the stream feeding Forest Falls except to say that it was small, yet sufficient size to run a mill and flowed at not over 400 cubic feet per minute. It flowed over a surface that was “somewhat rolling; and, with the exception of a superficial layer of sands and clays, about 30 feet in thickness...”
McCallie made no mention of a gully for the stream feeding Forest Falls, but described such a gully in detail feeding The Water Fall as being 25 feet deep in clay and limestone with a suite of fossils. (See previous text.)
Veatch & Stephenson made very few mistakes in their 1911 report, but Hank Josey has found a few as he recently retraced their steps. This seems to be another. It must be remembered that in the field they had notebooks. The they assembled their notes, probably months later, to create a report. This author suspects that this 1911 section description should be titled The Water Fall.
Veatch & Stephenson reported that “Division 5 and 6 are exposed in a gully entering the sink from the north.” They observed “fragments of bones” in the lower part, Bed# 5. This would seem to be the same gully McCallie described for the stream which fed The Waterfall where he recovered a 15” fossil rib from an unidentified animal.
Veatch & Stephenson dated the gully’s vertebrate material as occurring in Oligocene sediments.
As mentioned earlier, Professor Sam McCallie became the Georgia State in 1908 and initiated extensive research into Georgia’s Coastal Plain. (It’s way past time such fieldwork was repeated.) In a joint project the Georgia Geological Survey and the USGS (United States Geological Survey) Otto Veatch and Llyod William Stephenson conducted detailed fieldwork Coastal Plain and published a report in 1911.
Below is section description published by Veatch & Stephenson in 1911, it appears they confused Forest Falls & The Water Fall. McCallie didn’t much describe the topography of the stream feeding Forest Falls except to say that it was small, yet sufficient size to run a mill and flowed at not over 400 cubic feet per minute. It flowed over a surface that was “somewhat rolling; and, with the exception of a superficial layer of sands and clays, about 30 feet in thickness...”
McCallie made no mention of a gully for the stream feeding Forest Falls, but described such a gully in detail feeding The Water Fall as being 25 feet deep in clay and limestone with a suite of fossils. (See previous text.)
Veatch & Stephenson made very few mistakes in their 1911 report, but Hank Josey has found a few as he recently retraced their steps. This seems to be another. It must be remembered that in the field they had notebooks. The they assembled their notes, probably months later, to create a report. This author suspects that this 1911 section description should be titled The Water Fall.
Veatch & Stephenson reported that “Division 5 and 6 are exposed in a gully entering the sink from the north.” They observed “fragments of bones” in the lower part, Bed# 5. This would seem to be the same gully McCallie described for the stream which fed The Waterfall where he recovered a 15” fossil rib from an unidentified animal.
Veatch & Stephenson dated the gully’s vertebrate material as occurring in Oligocene sediments.
Brantley 1916
In 1916 J.E. Brantley published a report on research Sam McCallie requested on Coastal Plain limestones and marls in Georgia. He, no doubt, had Veatch & Stephenson’s report in hand during his researcher and used their work as a guide to build on. So if there was a 1911 mistake, it got copied and repeated.
In the course of his field work he visited Forest Falls and created a stratigraphic chart. His chart is also arranged so that Bed #9 is the top and Bed# 1 (in Brantley’s section) is at the base.
It is interesting to note that Brantley uses both the term Forest Falls and Limesink. He also described the “vertical bluff” as 40 feet high. He only mentions fossils as occurring in Bed #3 and Bed #1, with Bed #1 having numerous cephalopods. (Questionable, perhaps an error, gastropods were reported by others.)
However, Brantley distinguishes between Forest Falls and The Water Falls, and he mentions The Water Fall directly in his text below his description.
In 1916 J.E. Brantley published a report on research Sam McCallie requested on Coastal Plain limestones and marls in Georgia. He, no doubt, had Veatch & Stephenson’s report in hand during his researcher and used their work as a guide to build on. So if there was a 1911 mistake, it got copied and repeated.
In the course of his field work he visited Forest Falls and created a stratigraphic chart. His chart is also arranged so that Bed #9 is the top and Bed# 1 (in Brantley’s section) is at the base.
It is interesting to note that Brantley uses both the term Forest Falls and Limesink. He also described the “vertical bluff” as 40 feet high. He only mentions fossils as occurring in Bed #3 and Bed #1, with Bed #1 having numerous cephalopods. (Questionable, perhaps an error, gastropods were reported by others.)
However, Brantley distinguishes between Forest Falls and The Water Falls, and he mentions The Water Fall directly in his text below his description.
C. Wythe Cooke, 1943
Cooke was a USGS paleontologist and stratigraphist specializing in echinoids and dating sediments. In 1957 he created the report Cenozoic Echinoids of the Eastern United States which is used as a guide towards dating sediments.
He also reviewed the Coastal Plain of Georgia in an effort to understand the stratigraphy and published a report in 1943, he reviewed Forest Falls and created a section report where the uppermost bed is listed as Bed #7 and the lowermost is Bed#1.
His section report is headed with the paragraph.
Grady County: Above the Tampa limestone at Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham, is a very impure white to yellow, apparently phosphatic limestone containing bones, corals, Pecten acanikos, and other obscure mollusks. The following section is adapted from two measured by Veatch & Stephenson in 1908, since when the sink has filled in more than 50 feet.
Cooke dates the bed above the Tampa Limestone as Oligocene in agreement with Veatch & Stephenson.
However, Cooke comments “the sink has filled in more than 50 feet” since Veatch & Stepheson’s measurements. It would seem the confusion over two distinct falls began with Cooke. How does a 70-80 foot “single plunge” waterfall, as pictured for Forest Falls, fill-in? Even the lime sink beneath the fall is only “about eight feet below the base of the falls”, according to McCallie. But McCallie places the depth of the Water Fall lime sink at 35 feet.
Cooke apparently got his notes on Forest Falls (80 ft high) and Waterfall (surface waterfall into a 35’ limesink) confused, this author assumed this is an error related to the 1911 mistake since Cooke directly references Veatch & Stephenson.
Cooke was a USGS paleontologist and stratigraphist specializing in echinoids and dating sediments. In 1957 he created the report Cenozoic Echinoids of the Eastern United States which is used as a guide towards dating sediments.
He also reviewed the Coastal Plain of Georgia in an effort to understand the stratigraphy and published a report in 1943, he reviewed Forest Falls and created a section report where the uppermost bed is listed as Bed #7 and the lowermost is Bed#1.
His section report is headed with the paragraph.
Grady County: Above the Tampa limestone at Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham, is a very impure white to yellow, apparently phosphatic limestone containing bones, corals, Pecten acanikos, and other obscure mollusks. The following section is adapted from two measured by Veatch & Stephenson in 1908, since when the sink has filled in more than 50 feet.
Cooke dates the bed above the Tampa Limestone as Oligocene in agreement with Veatch & Stephenson.
However, Cooke comments “the sink has filled in more than 50 feet” since Veatch & Stepheson’s measurements. It would seem the confusion over two distinct falls began with Cooke. How does a 70-80 foot “single plunge” waterfall, as pictured for Forest Falls, fill-in? Even the lime sink beneath the fall is only “about eight feet below the base of the falls”, according to McCallie. But McCallie places the depth of the Water Fall lime sink at 35 feet.
Cooke apparently got his notes on Forest Falls (80 ft high) and Waterfall (surface waterfall into a 35’ limesink) confused, this author assumed this is an error related to the 1911 mistake since Cooke directly references Veatch & Stephenson.
Cooke additionally comments on Forest Falls.
Grady County.-A picturesque waterfall is upheld by sandy, cream-colored Tampa limestone at Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham, where 3 feet of hard conglomeratic limestone, presumably basal Tampa, is overlain by 27 feet of calcareous clay that grades into compact, cream-colored sandy limestone, the top of which forms the crest of the falls.
Fossiliferous yellow or buff calcareous clay above the waterfall is conformable with the Tampa, and represents the Hawthorn formation. The sink has filled in considerably since
the section on page 92 was measured. In 1930 the crest of the falls was only 13 feet above water level.
Grady County.-A picturesque waterfall is upheld by sandy, cream-colored Tampa limestone at Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham, where 3 feet of hard conglomeratic limestone, presumably basal Tampa, is overlain by 27 feet of calcareous clay that grades into compact, cream-colored sandy limestone, the top of which forms the crest of the falls.
Fossiliferous yellow or buff calcareous clay above the waterfall is conformable with the Tampa, and represents the Hawthorn formation. The sink has filled in considerably since
the section on page 92 was measured. In 1930 the crest of the falls was only 13 feet above water level.
Additional Forest Fall & Water Fall Fossil Observations
Wythe Cooke 1943
Grady County.-The Flint River formation is reached in several deep sinks in the northwestern part of Grady County. Silicified limestone containing Lepidocyclina favosa, algae, and Pecten sp. Is exposed in the sides of Bay Sink, 9 miles north by west of Whigham and lumps of chert extend to the level of the upland, which is coated with loose gray sand. In 1914, 13% feet of light gray to pinkish-yellow semi-crystalline limestone containing Pecten sp. and Lepidocyclina favosa? was exposed in the bottom of Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham. Its thickness as reported by Veatch and Stephenson 37 was 35 feet. As the sink has filled in considerably since then, this rock is no longer exposed (1943).
One hundred feet of limestone was exposed in 1914 in a sink called Waterfall on the I. E. Maloy property, 11 miles north of Whigham and about 3 miles northeast of Forest Falls. The upper 30 feet is sandier than the lower part and probably represents the Tampa limestone. The lower part, is nearly pure is Early Oligocene Flint River Formation.
Wythe Cooke 1943
Grady County.-The Flint River formation is reached in several deep sinks in the northwestern part of Grady County. Silicified limestone containing Lepidocyclina favosa, algae, and Pecten sp. Is exposed in the sides of Bay Sink, 9 miles north by west of Whigham and lumps of chert extend to the level of the upland, which is coated with loose gray sand. In 1914, 13% feet of light gray to pinkish-yellow semi-crystalline limestone containing Pecten sp. and Lepidocyclina favosa? was exposed in the bottom of Forest Falls, 6.5 miles north of Whigham. Its thickness as reported by Veatch and Stephenson 37 was 35 feet. As the sink has filled in considerably since then, this rock is no longer exposed (1943).
One hundred feet of limestone was exposed in 1914 in a sink called Waterfall on the I. E. Maloy property, 11 miles north of Whigham and about 3 miles northeast of Forest Falls. The upper 30 feet is sandier than the lower part and probably represents the Tampa limestone. The lower part, is nearly pure is Early Oligocene Flint River Formation.
Blowing Cave. McCallie 1908
Blowing Cave of Grady County - Another phenomenon, which may be classed with blowing springs, is the Blowing Cave of Grady County, located about ten miles north of Whigham.
A more recent report (below) states that Blowing Cave has completely silted up and has been inaccessible since the 1960s. The author does not know the current condition of the site.
To continue with McCallie’s 1908 description.
This cave occurs in the upper layers of the Vicksburg/Jackson limestone, a calcareous formation of great extent, constituting one of the most important divisions of the Tertiary rocks of South Georgia. The formation is noted for its large springs and, also, for its numerous lime sinks and underground streams. It consists mainly of porous fossiliferous limestone, which has a gradual dip to the southward.
Blowing Cave of Grady County - Another phenomenon, which may be classed with blowing springs, is the Blowing Cave of Grady County, located about ten miles north of Whigham.
A more recent report (below) states that Blowing Cave has completely silted up and has been inaccessible since the 1960s. The author does not know the current condition of the site.
To continue with McCallie’s 1908 description.
This cave occurs in the upper layers of the Vicksburg/Jackson limestone, a calcareous formation of great extent, constituting one of the most important divisions of the Tertiary rocks of South Georgia. The formation is noted for its large springs and, also, for its numerous lime sinks and underground streams. It consists mainly of porous fossiliferous limestone, which has a gradual dip to the southward.
The Blowing Cave is situated in a typical limestone sink region, about three quarters of a mile distant from what is known as the Water Falls, a deep circular lime sink into which a good sized stream cascades and disappears underground. In the immediate vicinity of the cave, which is in a cultivated field, the surface is somewhat undulating, due apparently to surface erosion.
A clump of hickories and pines marks the exact spot of the Blowing Cave (1908). It is situated on the side of a shallow, somewhat circular lime sink, about 1oo feet in diameter and less than 20 feet deep. On the south slope of the sink, just above the cave, is an exposure of limestone forming layers two feet or more in thickness.
The Blowing Cave itself is very inconspicuous in its quiescent state and might be taken for a rabbit's burrow. It is said that its opening, now choked with stones and partially decomposed leaves, (1908) was formerly much larger, and that the phenomenon for which it is noted, acted with greater force.
At the present time. there are visible only three small openings, or crevices, with a combined cross-sectional area of less than 50 square inches. Through these crevices, at the time of my visit at 2 p.m. December 12. 1905, the air was passing outward with such force, that leaves, and other light material thrown into the opening, were immediately blown out.
A clump of hickories and pines marks the exact spot of the Blowing Cave (1908). It is situated on the side of a shallow, somewhat circular lime sink, about 1oo feet in diameter and less than 20 feet deep. On the south slope of the sink, just above the cave, is an exposure of limestone forming layers two feet or more in thickness.
The Blowing Cave itself is very inconspicuous in its quiescent state and might be taken for a rabbit's burrow. It is said that its opening, now choked with stones and partially decomposed leaves, (1908) was formerly much larger, and that the phenomenon for which it is noted, acted with greater force.
At the present time. there are visible only three small openings, or crevices, with a combined cross-sectional area of less than 50 square inches. Through these crevices, at the time of my visit at 2 p.m. December 12. 1905, the air was passing outward with such force, that leaves, and other light material thrown into the opening, were immediately blown out.
The air within was much colder than the outside air, and it readily condensed the breath of a person standing near the cave. As the early morning was chilly and the afternoon was warm, I would say that the outflowing air nearly approached the former temperature than the latter. However, as I had no thermometer. I was unable to verify this statement.
The sound produced by the air escaping from the opening was to be distinctly heard thirty feet away. I was informed by a colored man, who lived nearby, that the air passed into the cave in the forenoon and reversed its direction in the afternoon. No definite information was confirmed by observations or instruments
More recent information from online sources
Historic Blowing Cave has been a natural attraction in South Georgia since the area was first settled in the 1820's.
The cave has silted up over the decades and can no longer be entered as a result. By the mid-1960's, the entrance had been closed off to less than about two square feet of space by this siltation.
It is located in northwest Grady County, Georgia. It is about two miles west of the Hawthorne Trail, Ga. Hwy. 112 and about 8 to 9 miles northwest of Cairo, the county seat. It is just west of Mizpah Baptist Church, which is located just west of Hawthorne Trail near the Grady County - Mitchell County boundary. It was clearly located on the "Grady County Soil Map" published by the Georgia Geological Survey in 1908.
The sound produced by the air escaping from the opening was to be distinctly heard thirty feet away. I was informed by a colored man, who lived nearby, that the air passed into the cave in the forenoon and reversed its direction in the afternoon. No definite information was confirmed by observations or instruments
More recent information from online sources
Historic Blowing Cave has been a natural attraction in South Georgia since the area was first settled in the 1820's.
The cave has silted up over the decades and can no longer be entered as a result. By the mid-1960's, the entrance had been closed off to less than about two square feet of space by this siltation.
It is located in northwest Grady County, Georgia. It is about two miles west of the Hawthorne Trail, Ga. Hwy. 112 and about 8 to 9 miles northwest of Cairo, the county seat. It is just west of Mizpah Baptist Church, which is located just west of Hawthorne Trail near the Grady County - Mitchell County boundary. It was clearly located on the "Grady County Soil Map" published by the Georgia Geological Survey in 1908.
References
- McCallie, Samuel W.; A Preliminary Report Phosphates and Marls of Georgia, Bulletin# 5-A, Georgia Geologic Survey, 1896
- McCallie, Samuel W.; A Preliminary Report on the Underground Waters of Georgia; Bulletin 15, Georgia Geologic Survey, 1908
- Cooke, C. Wythe; Geology of the Coastal Plain of Georgia, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Bulletin 941, 1943
- Cooke, C. Wythe; Cenozoic Echinoids of the Eastern United States, Geologic Survey Professional Paper 321, U.S. Dept of Interior, USGS, 1959
- Blowing Cave, Southwest Georgia's Wonderful Waterfalls and Caves (oocities.org)