Location
Jack Charles Burch
Topics
Description
Born near Springer, Oklahoma, Jack Burch grew up exploring caves in the nearby Arbuckle Mountains, together with a close friend and fellow caver, James Papadakis. In 1957, he visited what was then know as the Mayfield Cave near Sonora, Texas. Together with Papadakis and the Mayfield family, he developed what became known as the Caverns of Sonora. When it opened to the public in 1960, it brought a novel way of both sharing and protecting the cave’s marvels, using carefully installed walkways and lighting and humidity controls to celebrate, yet guard, the cave’s delicate stalactites, stagmites and helictites. Carrying on the same idea of conservation through commercialization, Burch went on to develop Natural Bridge Caverns near Georgetown, opened in 1963. Burch was also active in spelunking groups, serving as chair of the Texas Speleological Association, and being honored as a Fellow of the National Speleological Society.
Location Notes
Given his role in popularizing the Caverns of Sonora, it seems best to place a marker near its entrance.
Bibliography
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Jerry Atkinson. “Jack C. Burch, NSS #2175, Obituary.” The Texas Caver, 3rd Quarter, 2009.
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Dan Cipriani. “Jack Burch Shared Caves’ Beauty.” San Angelo Standard Times. July 8, 2009.
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Carl Kunath. “Jack C. Burch, NSS #2175, Obituary.” The Texas Caver, 3rd Quarter, 2009.
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Era Nadler-Olenick. “Angel Wings and Coral Trees: Caverns of Sonora.” Texas Highways, September 2010.