Submitted photo

 Materials and roughly 400 man-hours were donated to erect the gate at Malheur Cave.

For many years, travelers and residents have paid a visit to the natural wonder known as Malheur Cave.

The cave, located about 50 miles east of Burns, is owned by the Masonic Lodge of Burns and sits on private property. It is a large lava tube, roughly 3,000 feet long, varying in height from eight feet near the entrance to almost 20 feet in the far back. An underground spring fills the lower end of the cave, sometimes bringing water to within 1,000 feet of the entrance.

Since 1938, the Masons have been holding an annual meeting in the cave on the Saturday before the Labor Day weekend. Masons from all over the northwest attend the meeting, often times numbering near 100 members.

Other times of the year the cave was open to the public, but that has now come to an end. After several years of conversations, the Masons decided it was time to put up a gate to the cave to stop the vandalism and graffiti that plagued the site. Over the years, the stone floor has been damaged, visitors have attempted to burn the bleachers located inside, garbage has been littered about, and graffiti spray-painted on the walls.

The Masons regularly maintain the cave, such as cleaning it and replacing wood on the bleachers, but this last August, it was decided to close the cave to the public. Material and labor, roughly 400 man-hours, were donated, and the gate was erected at the entrance.

One of the Masons stated that they weren’t trying to block public access, but rather trying to protect the site. It was also mentioned that liability was a concern, as visitors could easily trip and fall if the floor was damaged, and drowning was also a concern.

The cave may be opened to the public for a special event at a later date, but for now, it remains off limits.