If eating a meal 750 feet below the earth appeals to you, you’re not going to find a better place to do it than the Underground Lunchroom of the Carlsbad Caverns. This might seem like a strange place to put a restaurant, but it makes perfect sense when you consider that Carlsbad Caverns National Park is visited by over 350,000 people per year. That’s a lot of hungry explorers, and I doubt the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico are teeming with other food options.
Today, you can pick up a sandwich or hot beverage in the Underground Lunchroom. When it opened in the 1950s, the restaurant had a more extensive menu. Unfortunately, any kind of cooking in the cavern was put on hold until someone discovered a way to prepare a meal without upsetting the cavern’s delicate ecosystem.
The Carlsbad Caverns Underground Lunchroom in the 1950s.
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Despite the fact that any type of soufflé is probably out of the question, the Underground Lunchroom is still a cool place to dine. Where else can you enjoy a sandwich without having to worry about a bird swooping down and grabbing it? If you don’t think that’s a legitimate concern, then you’ve never had that happen to you. Plus, they sell t-shirts and other cool memorabilia now.
The Underground Lunchroom in more modern times.
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If a unique place to eat like that isn’t enough to get you to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, perhaps these beautiful stalactites will draw you in. You can’t eat them or wear them on your person, but they sure are nice to look at.
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This sure beats anything I’ve ever seen on my lunch break. It makes me want to go cave dwelling, since I know I don’t have to pack a lunch.
