Cliff Cave

Taken May 31, 2025

Just south of St. Louis in Oakville, Missouri, tucked into the bluffs above the Mississippi River, you’ll find Cliff Cave. It has had many uses throughout the years. French Trappers ran a tavern out of the cave (reportedly). The Cliff Cave Wine Company used it for wine storage, and Anheuser-Busch eventually got in on the act, leasing the space to store beer. These days, the cave is gated to protect endangered bats, and the surrounding park is a haven for hikers and bikers.

This image was captured with a DJI Mini 4 Pro. I used the drone to provide a different perspective than other shots taken at this location. Sometimes just gaining a few feet of elevation can completely reframe a scene.

ISO 100 | 6.72mm | f/1.7 | 1/250 sec