Subterranean Screenings: Old Spanish Treasure Cave turns into underground cinema

Old Spanish Treasure Cave turns into underground cinema

Tracy and Paul Linscott have owned the Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Sulphur Springs for a little more than 20 years. Following a date night in the cave’s Big Council Room, where they watched “Sleepy Hollow” starring Johnny Depp, the couple decided to offer the experience to the public. “Movies Underground in the Old Spanish Treasure Cave” will show the 1985 adventure classic “The Goonies” tonight and the 1987 vampire film “The Lost Boys” next Friday.
Tracy and Paul Linscott have owned the Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Sulphur Springs for a little more than 20 years. Following a date night in the cave’s Big Council Room, where they watched “Sleepy Hollow” starring Johnny Depp, the couple decided to offer the experience to the public. “Movies Underground in the Old Spanish Treasure Cave” will show the 1985 adventure classic “The Goonies” tonight and the 1987 vampire film “The Lost Boys” next Friday.

Tried and true traditions, such as movie date nights, are great, but sometimes it's fun to tweak things a bit.

If you are Paul and Tracy Linscott, owners of Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Sulphur Springs, you know just which part of movie night to tweak.

FAQ

‘Movies Underground

In the Old Spanish Treasure Cave’

WHEN — 7 p.m. tonight and Sept. 2; arrive 30 minutes early.

WHERE — Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Sulphur Springs, 14290 N. Arkansas 59

COST — $8

INFO — 787-6508 or spanish-treasure-ca…

FYI

Reserving Movie Tickets

Visit spanish-treasure-ca… and fill out the reservation form. Old Spanish Treasure Cave will send you an email message about your reservation. You then will have to call the office at 787-6508 to pay for the tickets. Old Spanish Treasure Cave will then send you a confirmation email.

FYI

Old Spanish Treasure Cave Legend

Spanish conquistadors took refuge from a brutal winter in the cave almost 400 years ago. On their journey from Spain to what is now Arkansas, they traveled through Mexico and accumulated treasure, likely stolen from native settlements in that country and present day United States. The conquistadors hid the treasure somewhere in the cave before they were discovered and killed by Native Americans. At least one conquistador survived and concealed the entrances to the cave. It remained untouched until 1885 when a Spanish man, who found documents and maps in a family Bible that had been passed down through his family, made the discovery with the help of locals who were familiar with the woods in the area.

— Source: Paul Linscott

The couple turned the cave's Council Room into a temporary theater, complete with projector, large screen and sound system, for "Movies Underground in the Old Spanish Treasure Cave." They screened their first film, "The Goonies," last Friday night.

The event, which includes a tour of the front half of the cavern, was announced on Facebook, and within 24 hours, all the tickets had been reserved.

"Our minds were boggled at how fast it sold out," says Paul Linscott. "I had to break the link on the Internet so people would quit reserving tickets."

A second sold-out showing of "The Goonies" is slated for tonight. Reservations are still being accepted for the Sept. 2 showing of "The Lost Boys." It is the last scheduled showing, but the Linscotts haven't ruled out the possibility of more movie nights in the future.

"We'd like people to contact us on Facebook and let us know which movies they want to see," Paul says.

As long as their licensing agency has the rights to the film, they can screen it in the cave, he says.

The Linscotts ask people to arrive for the movie about 30 minute early so they can get concessions -- which are allowed in the cave -- and learn about the rules of the cave.

"Before we had never allowed anyone to bring food in the cavern. We thought, 'We cannot show a movie and not let people eat popcorn and have something to drink,'" Paul says. "We just told people to please pick up their stuff and not drop anything. When everybody left, it was all clean. That eased our minds. They were tremendously respectful of the cave."

The moviegoers are escorted into the cave in a group and are never left alone. Ushers are in the Council Room during the film and can escort people out of the cave to use the restroom, he says.

The Linscotts bought the cave and surrounding property 20 years ago. At that time, Paul, who has been caving for more than 40 years, says he thought the Spanish treasure talk was a gimmick.

"When I bought the cavern, I didn't believe anything about the treasure," he says. "Being a caver and loving caves, this is a fantastic cavern. I didn't believe it until I did some research, and I found some artifacts."

On one of Linscott's earlier treasure hunts, he found a sword blade and belt, he says. Other artifacts include helmets, pieces of armor, weapons, a few gold coins, a bracelet.

Tracy Linscott says they often are told by people in Northwest Arkansas that they didn't know about the cavern. They hope the movie nights help spread the word about the cavern tours and the other things offered on site, including Scout programs, gem panning and a rock shop.

"The whole project is to help connect with the community," Paul adds. "We want to make it fun and affordable for everyone. It's a neat experience."

NAN What's Up on 08/26/2016

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