Missouri’s known for its many caves – more than 6,000 by some accounts. Our favorite commercial caves – Fantastic Caverns and Meramec Caverns, among them – draw visitors from all over with guided tours. Lesser-known, nameless caves dot Missouri’s state parks and landscape, discovered as we hike along scenic trails. However, did you know there are also underground cheese caves in Missouri - aptly named Springfield Underground? Yep, and they’re just what they sound like. Read on to discover more about these unique caves in Springfield Missouri.
Hidden beneath Springfield are cheese caves that once stored millions of pounds of cheese. You might have heard of this cheesy tale that started way back in the 1970s.
During the 1970s, the United States grappled with a dairy shortage. The lack of dairy, combined with the demand, meant outrageous prices at the grocery store. In response, President Jimmy Carter put forth an initiative that, beginning in 1977, would give more than $4 billion to the dairy industry.
Thanks to Carter’s actions, famine turned to feast with consumers having no problem buying dairy and dairy-related products. Unfortunately, the United States now faced a problem of a different kind. There was simply too much dairy.
To ensure the excess milk didn’t go to waste, the government bought it and turned it into cheese. Even then, there was the question of where all that cheese – rumors were it was in the billions of pounds – would go.
The billions of pounds was exagerated; it was more like millions of pounds of cheese.
It turns out it would go in what would become known as cheese caves under Springfield. In reality, the caves were underground storage facilities that stored the blocks of cheese and other dairy products, including butter.
The underground storage facilities were originally limestone mines, which first opened in the 1940s and, in 1960, the area began serving as warehouses.
But what would happen to all of that cheese underground? Another recession rolled around, and this time then-President Ronald Reagan created a temporary food assistance program that would provide those with a low income and the elderly with blocks of cheese.
Today, the cheese caves in Missouri still exist, sort of. The underground caves are actually refrigerated warehouses known as Springfield Underground, renting out space to hundreds of companies, including Kraft Heinz.
While the companies employ hundreds, Springfield Underground isn’t open to the public, although it has hosted tours to school groups in the past.
Described as an underground business park, Springfield Underground spans more than two million square feet.
Curious about Springfield Underground? Visit the Springfield Underground website. Or, stop by the Springfield Underground Facebook page.
Have you heard of these unique caves in Springfield, Missouri before? Let us know in the comments! While you can’t visit the cheese caves in Missouri, you can visit Fantastic Caverns, the only ride-through cave in America.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/missouri/fantastic-caverns-ride-mo/
Or here’s another unique adventure in Missouri that’s an experience unlike any other.
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