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Mystic Caverns Up for Auction

By Robert J. Korpella

First posted on 11-05-2008

Mystic Caverns, once a tourist destination for travelers passing through the Harrison/Jasper, Arkansas area, is reportedly up for sale on eBay.

Steve Rush, owner of the property, has the 28 acre site listed with a minimum bid of $899,999. Included are three caves (two of which are safe for visitors and the other still to be developed) and a gift shop.

Mystic Caverns has been an attraction since the 1940’s and at one time became associated with Dogpatch, USA. That theme park closed operations in 1993 but Mystic Caverns continued to operate as an attraction.

Although the closing of Dogpatch dropped attendance to Mystic Caverns, Rush said the caves are still visited by about 15,000 people annually.

Rush had been shopping the caves quietly for a couple of years, but decided to try eBay after no one he spoke with showed interest in purchasing the property.

For a related story about Dogpatch, USA, check this article: http://freshare.net/article/anyone_remember_dogpatch_usa/

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Comments:

I’ve been to this cave many times- it is beyond beautiful and should be protected as one of our national treasures. Why not donate it to the state for use as a state park?

By Bishop on November 14, 2008 - 6:18 am

With all the history behind the cave and all it seems like it could be like Blanchard. Is that a state park?

By Tamara on November 14, 2008 - 1:07 pm