The Kraft Caves, Springfield MO

Deep under Springfield, Missouri, lies a cheese cave of industrial proportions, a 2-million-square-foot refrigerated warehouse called Springfield Underground. Since 2008, Kraft Foods has rented 400,000 square feet of the repurposed limestone mine as a massive distribution center, from which to ship 680-pound, Velveeta-bright barrels of Oscar Meyer meats, Philadelphia cream cheese, Velveeta pasteurized processed cheeses, Jell-O, and Lunchables.
Unlike traditional cheese caves, which can impart the particular flavors of time and place—the unique combinations of bacteria, yeast, and mold that cheese makers call terroir—Wired magazine explains that in the case of Kraft's cave:

[jasons]

You walk through a supermarket and just have no idea all the different journeys various foods took from farms to store shelves... incredible.

[PetuniaIii-pdww]

30 years ago my very first delivery as a brand new truck driver was to the caves in Kansas City, Kansas...it was much, much more dark and much, much more narrow than these Springfield caves...i remember the intructions on the qualcomm saying watch out for this, watch out for that, and wondering just what i had gotten myself into...i only went to the caves twice more over the years but it was an eye opening experience as a brand new driver...

[chadkennedy]

If we have facilities like this known to the public what does the government have we don't know about🤔

[tammycox]

I've been fascinated by the caves in Kansas city but never seen the inside of caves until this video. I'm having a wow moment going on for me.

[Dragging]

My first trip with my trainer was the Springfield caves. I've long since moved on from stevens but still amazes me driving through the caves.

[scottsather]

Holy crap! Imagine the actual complex on the other side of the walls…..

[benchipley]

My nephew lives in Springfield and drives long haul reefer loads. He was describing these caves in Missouri. They are all over. Thanks for the visual!! God bless and safe travels.

[alexmanne]

This is really cool. Never knew a facility like this existed. Thanks.

[stitchergary]

I used to work at a Kraft cheese plant in Northern NY prior to 2004 where we put 600+ lbs in wooden boxes... I had heard they were transfered to caves in Missouri, but had never seen one....That trailer would have been a crumpled mess if I were driving....thanks for an interesting video....

[clintontinyclark]

I had a similar situation at Sams Club in SLC my first year OTR, the FLD120 i was driving just couldn't make the swing and i was having a problem with my lift axle on the tractor dropping while backing up which is the EXACT opposite of what supposed to happen lol.... a yard dog told me to just drop it and he'd whip it in there and he sure enough did. Hats off to that man! Made a stressful night a little easier haha

[annieyahu]

And these are the 'caves' you've allowed to see and know

[wcoyote]

anytime I’ve been down there I always thank the good Lord to see sunlight👍

[oldhardrock]

Really cool! These are old limestone quarries or mines. The rock is super stable, and a great use of space. Conserves surgace space, conserves energy because the temperature probably stays a constant 65 degrees. They've done a great job of lighting and road building.

[ibbylancaster]

I went out to KC years ago when I was driving 18’s. Living in NC, we have no such things like this. Pretty cool engineering. And of course, my power steering went out as I was backing into the dock. That was a pain in the sitting spot to get out of with no power steering. Much love from North Carolina and be careful out there.

[TheAksleepy]

I've been there many times and to that exact location and door. It's not difficult to back in but it does take a bit of getting used to. Your initial setup to back into the door has to in most cases be spot on or you make another lap around and try again. There is another older cave system to the west/north of there about and hour and a half away that is a nightmare!!! Very tight and way darker than that one. Seemed like when went to the older cave system i always got the blind side back in position. Nothing like fighting for half hour or more just to back in without tearing something up!

[aof]

This is awesome!!! Thanks for the video

[michele]

OMG I have been in those caves in a big truck from 2000 to 2010.... Those caves are so awesome and what they have down there is so cool right I used to live in Strafford off of exit 88 on interstate 44.... I also lived in Ozark so this was awesome to see brought back some awesome memories and awesome friends cuz I'm no longer in that state

[NotWhoYouThoughtRU]

So glad I found your channel! My father (RIP) was a trucker all his life doing short and long haul as well as picking up any overturned semi trailers and moving them from the crash scene; we lived in a rural area. I do miss seeing the road, various locations and of course the language🤭. Keep up the great content!

Congrats on your first visit to the caves in Spfld, MO. There are also caves in Quincy, IL (right along the Mississippi River) that houses a bevy of products such as Pepsi, frozen foods for Kohls Warehouse and so very much more. The caves are very intricate indeed and are amazing to see. I hope someday your travels take you there!

[leslieryanlefever]

I've been in the caves... Amazing how small the tractor trailers look. These installations are all over the country there's probably one in your own back yard

[venusoboyle]

Me and my husband got to go in yesterday, it was fascinating and phenomenal. I took recordings too. Super fun driving through in a big rig.