Darkness Retreat with Drinks

All the clocks have been turned ahead an hour and the sun is setting later every day. Before long, it’ll be light outside deep into prime time TV schedule. But if you find yourself kinda missing the darkness right now, Cave of the Mounds offers some relief for your case of shadowy Stockholm Syndrome.

Nestled underground at Brigham Farm in Blue Mounds is a geological wonderland. The caves were discovered by happenstance in 1939 after a dairy farmer allowed part of his property to be turned into a limestone quarry. A routine dynamite explosion unexpectedly opened a passage into a untouched natural marvel.

By the following year the caves were open to visitors, allowing thousands of people to see the incredible rock formations for themselves. Keep in mind that television was in its infancy, and activities like gawking at rocks were their version of the aforementioned prime-time programming.

Fast forward to today, the caves are open year-round and offer tours daily. But we’re going to single out one of their special tours, Black Lights & Brews, since that’s kind of our wheelhouse.

As the name suggests, this adults-only tour allows visitors a chance to witness the natural beauty of glowing fluorescent minerals under ultraviolet light. Plus, there are beers! The tours take place on Friday evenings and your first beverage is included in the price. And it’s not just limited to beer. Wine, frozen margaritas, and sangria are also available.

Now, we’ve all seen what happens when they shine a black light in seedy motel. Hopefully there’s nothing as unsettling as the TV remote down there in the cave. Or, at the very least, they thoroughly wiped the place down with disinfectant after the last group went through.

You can learn more about Black Light & Brews along with Cave of the Mounds other tours at their website. Best of luck with exposure to direct sunlight in the months to come.