MOONSHAFT
Decades of Investigation

Search Efforts

Since the 1960s, numerous expeditions have attempted to locate the Moonshaft. Speleologists, researchers, and enthusiasts have explored thousands of caves across Slovakia's mountain ranges.

Suspected Locations

Low Tatras (NĂ­zke Tatry)

Most frequently cited location based on Horák's descriptions of terrain and altitude. Extensive limestone cave systems exist here. Multiple expeditions have searched this area.

Extensively searched, ongoing

Slovak Karst (SlovenskĂ˝ kras)

Major karst region with numerous caves and shafts. Some researchers believe Horák's topographical descriptions better match this area than the Low Tatras.

Partially searched, access restricted in areas

West Tatras

Alternative location proposed by researchers who interpret Horák's account differently. Less explored than other candidate areas.

Limited searches conducted

Muránska planina

Recently identified as potential location based on new analysis of partisan movement patterns. Contains extensive cave systems, many poorly documented.

Recent reconnaissance, detailed search planned

Slovak Paradise (SlovenskĂ˝ raj)

Some local traditions suggest this area, known for dramatic gorges and vertical features. Less favored by researchers due to intensive tourist development and thorough mapping.

Considered unlikely, limited recent activity

Major Expeditions & Research Efforts

June-December 1970

APRO First Expedition Planning (1970)

In June 1970, Donald Richmond, an APRO member and deputy sheriff in Pueblo, presented Horák's account at APRO headquarters in Tucson. APRO began assembling a team (including Theodore Phillips and later Allan Hynek) and was prepared to fund a rapid expedition to Czechoslovakia. From August to December 1970, the mission was repeatedly delayed through correspondence citing unavailable contacts, weather, and political safety risks after 1968. The project was ultimately canceled in December 1970.

APROPuebloTucsonArchival Sources
Download PDF: First Expedition (1970)

Courtesy of Peter Sittek

Current Research Community

Slovak Speleological Society

Professional speleologists continue systematic cave documentation across Slovakia, maintaining interest in the Moonshaft mystery.

Independent Researchers

Multiple individuals pursue personal investigations, combining historical research with field exploration.

Academic Institutions

University geology and history departments occasionally incorporate Moonshaft research into broader cave and historical studies.

Search Challenges

Geographic Scope

Slovakia contains thousands of caves across multiple mountain ranges. Systematic exploration of all potential locations would require decades and enormous resources.

Access Restrictions

Many cave systems lie within protected natural areas with restricted access. Permits require extensive justification and don't always get approved.

Terrain Changes

Eighty years of geological activity, including erosion, rockfalls, and forest growth, may have obscured original cave entrances or altered the landscape.

Documentation Gaps

Wartime records are incomplete, and Horák's published accounts lack precise coordinates. Reconciling vague descriptions with actual terrain proves difficult.