Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
29 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
29 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
29 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
29 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Missouri Ridgedale Bat Bar in Lost Canyon Cave
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Bat Bar in Lost Canyon Cave

If there's another drive-through golf-cart bar in a bat-filled cave on top of a mountain, we don't know about it.

Ridgedale, Missouri

Added By
Luke Fater
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  jackievanderploeg/used with permission
  jackievanderploeg/used with permission
  Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
  Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
  janeroser/used with permission
  redonthehead0483/used with permission
  Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
  sfgamchick/used with permission
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  numbersgrl/used with permission
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
  Kristen / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the Missouri Ozarks, the Bat Bar gives new meaning to the term "watering hole." It's next to a waterfall within a mountaintop cave. The good thing is it's never all that crowded, unless you count the bats. 

Visitors park at the Top of the Rock welcome center and take two- or four-person golf carts through a 2.5-mile woodland path over streams and bridges, stopping at both a butterfly garden and a scenic overlook called Eagle Pass. Shortly into the trip, the trail dips into the Lost Canyon Cave, wherein lies the one-of-a-kind bar. 

Tipplers remain in their carts as they park next to the wood-built bar constructed in 2014. "Better Settle Your Nerves," reads a paint-splashed board below the counter. They can choose from a number of cocktails, from John L's Hoop-de-Hoo (vodka, tonic, and grapefruit), the Cannonball (amaretto, bourbon, and pineapple juice), or Bat's Blood (vodka with strawberry and peach lemonade). Bottled beer and wine by the glass are also available.  

Take your time rolling through the Lost Canyon Cave: It's home to a natural waterfall, a live bat colony, and the skeletons of both a saber-tooth tiger and a short-faced bear. Visitors aren't allowed to walk around the cave itself, but a railed pathway snakes around the waterfall pool at the heart of the lantern-lit cave.

If the bar does get the best of you, Big Cedar Lodge always has overnight housing available.

Related Tags

Unique Restaurants & Bars Drive Through Alcohol Caves Bars Golf Bat Caves Mountains Trails Hiking Beer Wine Cocktails Woods Forests Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

Carts are available for rentals from 8:00 a.m. until 45 minutes before sunset. Drivers are permitted alcohol, but not before signing a liability waiver.

Community Contributors

Added By

lukefater

Edited By

cait7911, Kristen

  • cait7911
  • Kristen

Published

November 8, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Bat Bar in Lost Canyon Cave
150 Top of the Rock Road
Ridgedale, Missouri, 65739
United States
36.53459, -93.249082
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ralph Foster Museum

Point Lookout, Missouri

miles away

Ozark Medieval Fortress

Lead Hill, Arkansas

miles away

Cosmic Cavern

North, Arkansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Missouri

Missouri

United States

Places 178
Stories 6

Nearby Places

Ralph Foster Museum

Point Lookout, Missouri

miles away

Ozark Medieval Fortress

Lead Hill, Arkansas

miles away

Cosmic Cavern

North, Arkansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Missouri

Missouri

United States

Places 178
Stories 6

Related Stories and Lists

The Most Remote Restaurants in the World

List

By Luke Fater

Related Places

  • Sign announcing Wampahoofus Trail, with the Forehead in the distance

    Underhill, Vermont

    Wampahoofus Trail

    This path is named for a mythical half-boar, half-deer creature that once roamed the Green Mountains.

  • The view of the Blue Ridge Mountains here is spectacular.

    Canton, North Carolina

    Black Balsam Knob

    On a clear afternoon, you can see mountain peaks more than 40 miles away from this clearing in the Pisgah National Forest.

  • The Herrick Sawmill

    Florence, Colorado

    Herrick Sawmill

    An abandoned sawmill from more than 134 years ago stands testament to the ambition of one man.

  • Entrance to the ice cave at Bixby State Preserve.

    Edgewood, Iowa

    Ice Cave of Bixby State Preserve

    Chilly air billows out from the entrance of an abandoned mine on a steep hillside, providing a refuge for Ice Age fauna and flora.

  • Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

    Kentucky Club

    When life gives you Prohibition, open a bar in Juárez.

  • Round Rock, Texas

    High Country Market Bistro & GastroPub

    This gas station offers wine tastings and craft beer.

  • Belgrade, Serbia

    Gavez Klub

    Tucked in an urban forest, this restaurant specializes in homemade, healing rakijas.

  • Julia’s deck.

    Minturn, Colorado

    Julia’s Deck

    An ADA-accessible trail and deck offering stunning views of Colorado’s Mount of the Holy Cross.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.