NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KOLN) – Tucked behind Cody Go-Karts Family Fun Park is a mini golf course that’s been an ongoing project for 34 years. But there’s more to Crystal Cave and Falls Adventure Mini Golf than what meets the eye.
“This is the only classified nature trail mini golf course in the United States,” said co-owner Duanne Gaedke. “All of the plants I put in from seed. My wife Dixie and I used to water it all by hand until we installed the driplines, but we still weed it by hand.”
Duanne embedded 20 holes within this botanical garden.
“The reason for the extra holes is because some of them are raised up on platforms that aren’t as easy for people in wheelchairs to get to,” Duanne said. “That’s why we designed more holes that are more accessible.”
Throughout the nature walk, visitors can enjoy 17 waterfalls and pools, all named after friends and family of the Gaedkes. In fact, a family member inspired Duanne to build Crystal Cave and Falls.
“It started basically with the drawings I made in 1991 when my dad was in the hospital,” Duanne said. “I took the time to do the design work.”
He and his wife Dixie have been married for 56 years, and she helped make this vision possible.
“(Our kids) grew up working out here,” said co-owner Dixie Gaedke. “We built Cody Go-Karts in 1980 – 1981 was our first year. Before that, we had B & D Office Supply.”
“We could see there was a shortage of entertainment in the city,” Duanne added. “And frankly, I got tired of wearing a suit everyday.”
Now at 78 years old, Duanne wears a hat while maintaining structures that are named after historic figures. The structures include a 22-feet deep well that Duanne dug by hand and a log cabin named after explorer Jim Bridger.
“During the wintertime we had to build plastic buildings over each structure so we could continue to work on them in the off-season,” Duanne said.
Duanne grew up 8 miles west of Wellfleet and has deep roots in the area. His great-granddad came from Germany to work on Buffalo Bill’s ranch.
“All of these buildings down here – the pump houses with exception of the blacksmiths shop – were made of the old lumber of the milk barn that I grew up milking cows in,” Duanne said. “It was built in 1912, the same year as the Titanic sank.”
Instead of pickaxes, golfers bring putters to the makeshift ore mining town. The rocky embellishments and cave were cast using molds from 122 rocks that saved Kingsley Dam at Lake Mcconaughy in 1972. When the dam almost failed due to high winds, an emergency order was made to get rocks from Wyoming.
With permission from the dam’s superintendent, Duanne camped out for 40 days to make casts of the rocks. It takes even longer for him to paint the concrete by hand.
“I had to go over the structures three times with a two-inch brush to get the colors to blend properly,” Duanne said.
Duanne also scattered copies made of dinosaur footprints for children to spot in the waterbeds. Even after three decades, the Gaedkes aren’t done adding to Crystal Cave & Falls Adventure Mini Golf.
“You lay in bed at night, and you think of, ‘What do I need to do?’” Duanne said. “And you come up with some interesting ideas at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.”
It’s all worth it to grow this attraction for families.
“I love talking to people in the gift shop,” Dixie said. “I’d say that’s my favorite thing because I ask everybody where they’re from, and they’re from all over,” Dixie said.
Crystal Cave and Falls Adventure Mini Golf is located at 805 Halligan Drive in North Platte. For more information and hours of operation, people can visit their Facebook page and website.
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