Welcome!

Can your believe it? On April 3-5, 2009, Chouteau Grotto will celebrate a half-century of caving. We hope you can join us for the festivities . . .


An Explanation of the 50th Anniversary Patch:
The grotto actually has three different anniversary dates depending on your point of view. It began in September 1958 as Little Dixie Speleologists. The term Little Dixie historically referred to the slave-holding counties along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Due to the construed possible negative connotations associated with such a phrase, the grotto changed its name in November of the same year to Chouteau Grotto. Chouteau was the last name of a famous explorer and also is the name of a certain layer of rock. It was not until April of 1959, however, that Chouteau Grotto officially joined the National Speleological Society. Current grotto members chose this third and last date as the official anniversary date. Steve Taylor, the patch designer, cleverly found a way to recognize both names as important parts of the grotto’s history.

We’ll have good food, the opportunity to see familiar faces (and lots of new ones), re-connect with old friends, make new ones, laugh and drink around the bonfire, celebrate with a banquet and awards, listen to cave-related presentations, relive the glory days, and find out what Chouteau Grotto is up to these days. And as always, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to go caving with one or more of the various caves trips we’ve set up for the weekend!

Please check out this following website to find out all the details! Be sure to use our link near the bottom of the page to register online. We hope to see you the first weekend of April!



Dave Webster at the Chouteau Grotto picnic.

Events/Schedule

 Friday
Noon Campground opens; registration for cave trips begin.
1 p.m. Possible "Early Bird" cave trips; hiking in Rock Bridge Memorial State Park; and/or socializing at campground.
6 p.m. "Goat roast" BBQ , Potluck and Campfire. See menu.

Saturday
8 a.m. All cave trips depart at 9 a.m.
Lunch On your own
1 p.m. Cave trips A, B, and C depart
6 - Midnight 50th anniversary banquet at Summit Lake Winery, Holt's Summit
6 - 7 p.m. Happy Hour and Chouteau historical displays
7 p.m. Dinner buffet opens
7:30 - 9 p.m. Presentations and speakers
9 - Midnight Grotto jam session and partying!

Sunday
9 a.m. Cave trips depart
6 p.m. Rustic campground closes

Camping/Lodging

Camping
Rustic camping will be available at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park in the Special Use Area (marked as “C” on the eastern portion of the map). The area features two fire rings, clean pit latrines, several picnic tables and a large grassy area for tents. Pop-up campers and RVs are not permitted.

Running water and electricity at not available at the site, although water jugs may be re-filled at the park office. Chouteau Grotto will provide the firewood, but participants may bring their own under the following stipulations: to reduce the chance of introducing invasive insects such as the emerald ash borer (which likes to hide in firewood), the park recommends using only local wood and burning all that you bring.

Parking is extremely limited (fits about 10-15 cars) so carpooling or shuttling is highly recommended. Chouteau will provide a free shuttle service between the campground and the designated parking areas. The campground opens at noon on Friday and will remain open until 6 p.m. Sunday evening. There is no fee for camping as it is included with the $5 event registration fee which can be mailed in or paid to Chouteau upon your arrival (see “Cost.”)


Lodging
Chouteau Grotto has reserved a block of rooms at a reduced rate at two area hotels: Stoney Creek Inn and the Courtyard by Marriott.

Hotel group rates are available at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Columbia located at 3301 Lemone Industrial Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201 just east of the Hwy 63 and AC exit. Reservations are $79 per night. Reservation deadline to secure the group rate is March 15, 2009. A photo tour and map are available at their website.

Marriott reservations can be made by calling the front desk at 573-443-8000 or Marriott Reservations direct at 1-800-MARRIOTT (627-7468) or online at www.marriott.com/coucy and use the group codes to reserve rooms in the block: Kings ‘CGMCGMA’ and Double Queens ‘CGMCGMB’.

For those that like the more rustic, log cabin feel, but with all the amenities of a modern hotel, Stoney Creek Inn is the way to go. The hotel is located at 2601 S. Providence Rd, Columbia, MO 65203 next to the Waffle House and Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site. Reservations are $79 per night. A photo tour and map are available at their website:

Stoney Creek Inn Reservations may be made by calling the front desk at 573-442-6400 at anytime; or toll-free at 1-800-659-2220 Monday- Friday. Please reference “50th Anniversary Chouteau Grotto.” Deadline for the group rate is March 11, 2009.

For additional hotels, please contact the Columbia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 573-875-1231 or 800-652-0987.



Directions

Friday Night:

Friday night's festivities will be at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park in the Special Use Area (marked as “C” on the eastern portion of the map).

Directions from St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, and all points north of Interstate 70:
Take Interstate 70 Exit 128 and head south on Hwy 63 about five miles. You will pass the Broadway, Stadium, AC/Grindstone Parkway and Discovery Parkway exits. Exit at Hwy 163 which will have a right turn lane but no big green exit sign. Turn right.

Continue two miles, passing the Shooting Star Trailhead sign on your right. At the next road, turn right onto Raylea Lane. Raylea Lane is a small dead-end gravel road located along a bend in the highway. As soon as you turn onto it, you’ll see a trailer on the left, a cemetery on the right, and an open wooden gate straight ahead. It is easy to miss, especially in the dark. If you pass Fox Lane and the Karst Trailhead or reach the Pierpont Store at the intersection of Hwy 163 and Rt. N, you’ve gone too far. Continue down Raylea Lane Ľ mile until it ends. Upon arrival, due to limited parking non-campers and late arrivals will be directed to park elsewhere and will be shuttled back to the campground.

Directions from Jefferson City and all points further south:
Head north on Hwy 63. About six miles north of Ashland, pass the Deer Park/AB exit. Get in the left lane and turn left at the next exit which is Hwy 163. Drive across southbound 63 (you’re now heading west). Continue two miles, passing the Shooting Star Trailhead sign on your right. At the next road, turn right onto Raylea Lane. Raylea Lane is a small dead-end gravel road located along a bend in the highway. As soon as you turn onto it, you’ll see a trailer on the left, a cemetery on the right, and an open wooden gate straight ahead. It is easy to miss, especially in the dark. If you pass Fox Lane and the Karst Trailhead or reach the Pierpont Store at the intersection of Hwy 163 and Rt. N, you’ve gone too far. Continue down Raylea Lane Ľ mile until it ends. Upon arrival, due to limited parking non-campers and late arrivals will be directed to park elsewhere and will be shuttled back to the campground.

Saturday Night:

Saturday’s night’s festivities will be at the Summit Lake Winery in Holt’s Summit just off of Hwy 54 and just east of Jefferson City at 1707 South Summit Drive, Holts Summit, MO 65043, Telephone: 573-896-9966. Click here to see pictures of the facility.

Directions from Columbia: Take Hwy 63 south. Just before Jefferson City, get in the left lane and follow signs for Hwy 54 East /Hwy 94 S (Holt’s Summit/Mokane). (Do not take Hwy 54 West or you will end up crossing the Missouri River Bridge). Turn left onto Hwy 54 East and head uphill toward the bluff. Go about one mile, exit at Summit Street and turn left onto Summit Drive. The Summit Lake Winery entrance will be the second right. Please note that the attached map is not oriented to north.


Cave Trips

The cave trip schedule is still being developed but our current plans are to offer trips on Saturday and Sunday to a variety of caves. Trips are limited to about 10 people per cave. You may register for trips upon arrival at the campground or winery. Most trips will be offered more than once.

Click on each cave name to see the name of trip leader, length of the cave trip, any special equipment needed, where to meet, a description of the cave, and photos if available. Length of the cave trip includes travel time to and from the cave. Maps and driving directions to the caves will be available at the BBQ Friday night and at the banquet on Saturday.

Caves that are paired together below will be offered on the same trip. Shorter cave trips will be offered twice on Saturday (morning session and afternoon session). As with all cave trips, don’t forget your helmet, three sources of light, rugged shoes and clothing, and a daypack with snacks and drinks.

 Trip A: Bruce   Trip B: Foxrun/Kirby   Trip C: Twin Pits   Trip D: Rutherford   Trip E: Holton/Foxrun   Trip F: Lewis and Clark 

Trip A: Bruce Cave / School House Cave (Moniteau County)
Trip Leader: Matt Hodges
Length of Time: 4 hours round-trip
Special Equipment: Wetsuit suggested only if exploring the spring level in Bruce. Bring carrots for the horses.
Description:
Bruce and School House Caves are located in Moniteau County a few miles west of Wooldridge.

Bruce Cave, the larger of the two, is a “through cave” with multiple entrances only a short walk from the parking area. Mostly walking passage with several short branches including a karst window, a tall dome and a steep climb to an upper room. A lower stream level is believed to be navigable all the way to a spring exit. Several shallow pools host some cave life. Some minor crawling over chert and nuisance water is required to exit. The exit requires some easy climbing out of a sinkhole; no ropes required.

School House Cave is located in walking distance from Bruce. The entrance can be hard to spot; it’s a crack about a foot high and three feet wide and requires sliding down a slope about 20 feet. The cave contains about three rooms, the first being the largest, the second requiring some crawling to enter, and the third may require some digging to enter.


Speakers/Presentations/Banquet Schedule

We hope you will enjoy the schedule we have outlined for the 50th Anniversary Banquet. It’s a chance to clean off that cave mud and see if we recognize each other in fancier clothing (your definition of “fancy”). Join us early (6 p.m.) for drinks and a chance to see exhibits on both the grotto’s history and recent projects.


Menu

Friday Night "Goat Roast" and Potluck: Chouteau will provide pork steaks, bratwursts, hot dogs and burgers. Please RSVP so we know how much meat to buy! Guests should bring a side dish to share and their own beverages. Bonfire and the usual Chouteau socializing to follow! Firewood, plates, and utensils will be provided by Grotto.

Saturday Night Anniversary Banquet: Dinner will be prime rib or chicken quarter, herb-roasted red potatoes, green beans and dinner salad. Tea & water are included. A custom sheet cake will be made for dessert.

Alcohol Policy: All adult beverages are available at cash bar, or we can bring homemade and specialty beverages if the winery does not carry them. Click to see their wine list. They also carry domestic beers and imports (Miller, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob, Michelob Light, Corona,Smirnoff, Killian's, Boulevard, and Guinness). The winery does not carry Jack, tequila, crown or good vodkas.


Cost

Event Registration: $6 to be collected upon arrival or paid in advance. This fee includes cost for the Friday night BBQ and Potluck, optional camping, free shuttle service to and from the campground and designated overflow parking areas, and access to all cave trips.

Additional Fees: There is an additional cost for the Saturday night banquet and optional shuttle service to and from Columbia and the banquet facility in Holt’s Summit:

Children: Prices for children during the Holts Summit Winery Banquet are as follows:


Transportation

If you’re traveling to and from the St. Louis or Kansas City airports, you may wish to reserve a shuttle with Mo-X airport Shuttle Service which offers 12 round-trips to St. Louis daily and five to Kansas City at affordable rates.

Shuttle service during the 50th Anniversary:

Friday: Due to limited parking at the Special Use Area campground Friday night, non-campers and overflow traffic must park in designated overflow parking areas. The grotto will offer free shuttle service as needed to and from the parking areas.

Saturday: The grotto will offer a commercial shuttle service from Columbia to the winery and back for $1 per person. The shuttle will make only one trip to the winery and one trip back. Please register for the shuttle service in advance so that we don’t leave without you.


Registration

Sorry, but registration is now closed. For those who attended I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. For those who were unable, I hope to see you at other Chouteaut events in the future.

Contact Information

Kirsten Alvey, Event Coordinator: (573) 338-8670
Kathryn DiFoxfire, Grotto President: (573) 214-2102
Courtyard Marriot Hotel: front dest at (573) 443-8000;
or Marriot Reservations direct at 1-800-MARRIOTT (627-7468).
Stoney Creek Inn: front desk at 573-442-6400; or 1-800-659-2220.
Mo-X Airport Shuttle Service: 573-256-1991 or toll-free at 1-877-669-4826.