FOX CAVE

Explore the unlimited TREASURES contained within the walls of this historic cave. You've only dreamed about the endless magic and mystery we hold!

The cave was formed over thousands of years of erosion of the rock by the Ruidoso River -- first, slowly eroding the sides of the mountain and then eventually flowing right through the middle of it creating a waterfall approximately 100 feet tall. Eventually, the river shrank in size to only ten feet wide and located a mere fifty feet from the cave's edge. In the early 1900s, rocks filled in the 100 foot drop. It was not until the early 1940s that cement was poured to fill that area.

For hundreds of years, native tribes that populated the region sought shelter in the cave. Long before Anglo settlers came to New Mexico, the mountains, plains and deserts in this part of the Southwest belonged to the Mescalero Apache people. Thick layers of soot on the cave's ceiling are an indication of the many fires that warmed the cave over the years. The oral history of these tribes reveal that the much-feared Apache warrior chief, Geronimo, and his followers camped often at Fox Cave. Great shelter, an abundance of water and plenty of game made it a perfect site.

In December 2010, the Duke Family purchased Fox Cave and the 50 acres that surround it in a foreclosure auction. Fox Cave is now open to the public 7 days a week, boasting a king's ransom of gems, jewels, rocks, and crystals. The Gem Mine is also open every day where a ten-dollar bucket of gem-rich earth is guaranteed to yield beautiful rocks and minerals.

• Fox Cave History
• Photo Gallery
• Artist Casitas
• Contact Information and Map