There are plenty of theories about the Iron Door Cave. Perhaps Bill Keys, the pioneering rancher whose name looms large in Joshua Tree National Park’s recent history, built it as a prison for his schizophrenic son. Or maybe it was a cold storage room. Or perhaps it was a hidden strong room to secure gold from nearby mines ( or maybe just the dynamite ).
The door was made to be barred from the outside and is very well hidden. Of course it is easy to hide something in the jumbled boulders of the Wonderland of Rocks, but this place is especially well hidden. You can walk right by and not spot it. I know I did just that the first time I was in this area specifically looking for it!
