The name[1] is derived from the 60-foot (18 m) natural limestone slab bridge that spans the amphitheater setting of the cavern's entrance.

Due to the porosity of the limestone, rainwater travels downward through the layers of rock, where it dissolves out calcite, a weak mineral that makes up all the speleothems at the Natural Bridge Caverns.

The caverns were discovered on March 27, 1960, by students Orion Knox Jr., Preston Knodell Jr., Al Brandt, and Joe Cantu[3] from St. Mary's University[4] in nearby San Antonio.

[3] Development on the cavern began in 1963 and work on lights and trails continued until opening day, July 3, 1964.

[8] During excavation of the entrance trail, a human tooth, arrowheads, and spearheads dating from 5000 BCE were found.

This leads many to believe that the uppermost areas of the cavern were used as a shelter by early peoples and animals at some point.

In 1967, speculation on a southern extent to the North Cavern was confirmed when test drilling indicated the presence of a large void approximately 90 feet (27 m) beneath the surface.

Further investigation near the bottom of the Jaremy Room revealed a strong likelihood that another passage existed beyond a pile of rocks and boulders.

According to the landowners, the change in names better reflects the discovery and exploration history of the cavern and removes some confusion for guests.

Bracken Cave, near the Natural Bridge Caverns, is home to one of two large bat colonies in Texas.

Bats control the insect population, help to pollinate plants, and are a food source for other animals, making them a valuable part of the ecosystem.

The cave was the focus of a 2013 episode of the syndicated anthology television series Texas Country Reporter, hosted by Bob Phillips.