Grand Caverns

Last updated
Grand Caverns
Weyer's Cave
Grand Caverns.JPG
Shenandoah Valley.svg
Red pog.svg
USA Virginia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Grottoes, Virginia
Coordinates 38°15′37″N78°50′07″W / 38.26028°N 78.83528°W / 38.26028; -78.83528
www.grandcaverns.com
Designated1973

Grand Caverns, formerly known as Weyer's Cave, is located in the central Shenandoah Valley in the town of Grottoes, Virginia, United States. A limestone cavern, it claims the distinction of being America's oldest show cave, in operation since 1806. [1]

Contents

In 1973, the National Park Service designated the cave a National Natural Landmark in recognition of its shield formations and other features, such as flowstone, stalactites, and stalagmites. [2]

History

"The Drums, The Tapestry Room, Weyer's Cave"; Lithograph from Beyer (1858): Album of Virginia: Illustrations of the Old Dominion. Weyer'sCave.jpg
"The Drums, The Tapestry Room, Weyer's Cave"; Lithograph from Beyer (1858): Album of Virginia: Illustrations of the Old Dominion.

According to legend, the cavern system was discovered in 1804 by 17-year-old Bernard Weyer, manager of the local distillery, looking for a missing trap. Originally, it was called Amend's cave, named after the land's owner, Matthias Amend. In two years, Amend opened it for the public, one of the first show caves of the United States. The locals, however, preferred to name it after the original discoverer. [3]

During the Civil War and the Valley Campaign, the cave was visited by both Confederate and Union soldiers. During their visits, over 230 soldiers signed their names on the cave's walls. One noted signature is that of W.W. Miles, signed on September 26, 1864. Once, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was apparently camped near Port Republic and allowed his soldiers to visit the caverns. [4]

From 1974 until October 2009 Grand Caverns was owned by the Upper Valley Regional Park Authority (UVRPA); they also claimed ownership of Natural Chimneys. In October 2009 Grand Caverns and its surrounding parks were given to the Town of Grottoes; the UVRPA has since dissolved.

In 2004, the Grand Caverns management requested that the Virginia Region chapter of the National Speleological Society conduct a re-survey of the cave system which had not been done since the 1930s. With completion of the re-survey in the original, commercial portion of the cave (2,651 meters or 8,698 feet), the cavers pushed through a 20-centimeter-high (7.9 in) passage, which led them to 3,432 meters (11,260 ft) of unexplored cave. The total surveyed passage now stands at 6,083 meters (19,957 ft; 3.780 mi) making Grand Caverns the 215th longest surveyed cave in the United States as of May 2008. [5] The newly discovered portion of cave (closed to the public) is highly decorated with many forms of speleothems, including the celebrated shields. The passages to the north are fairly dry with abundant brilliant white formations, earning them the name "New Mexico". The southern portion of the new cave includes a series of large rooms with massive breakdown, the largest of which ("Kentucky") is over 100 meters (330 ft) long by 40 meters (130 ft) wide. The highest and lowest points in the cave are found in the new passage.

Grand Caverns is currently open seven days a week. Monday through Friday, tours typically run every hour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday tours run every 45 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m. and continuing until 5 p.m.

Geology

The cave is developed in Cambrian limestone/dolomite, and is known for its abundance of shield formations. It is also replete with stalactites, stalagmites, columns (where stalactites and stalagmites meet), draperies and other flowstone formations. The most stately room, "Cathedral Hall", is 85 meters (280 ft) long and over 21 meters (70 ft) high. It is one of the largest rooms of any cavern in the eastern United States. Other sights include "Bridal Veil", "Stonewall Jackson's Horse", the "Tapestry Room", and "Dante's Inferno". [6]

Grounds and events

The caverns are surrounded by a tourist-driven area. Other activities in the park include hiking and biking trails, five picnic shelters for general use, a swimming pool, and a mini-golf course. [7] The caverns also host an annual bluegrass festival.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stalactite</span> Elongated mineral formation hanging down from a cave ceiling

A stalactite is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble and that can be deposited as a colloid, or is in suspension, or is capable of being melted, may form a stalactite. Stalactites may be composed of lava, minerals, mud, peat, pitch, sand, sinter, and amberat. A stalactite is not necessarily a speleothem, though speleothems are the most common form of stalactite because of the abundance of limestone caves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stalagmite</span> Elongate mineral formation found on a cave floor

A stalagmite is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically composed of calcium carbonate, but may consist of lava, mud, peat, pitch, sand, sinter, and amberat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural Bridge Caverns</span> United States historic place

The Natural Bridge Caverns are the largest commercial caverns in the US state of Texas. The name is derived from the 60-foot (18 m) natural limestone slab bridge that spans the amphitheater setting of the cavern's entrance. The span was left suspended when a sinkhole collapsed below it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speleothem</span> Structure formed in a cave by the deposition of minerals from water

A speleothem is a geological formation by mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves. Speleothems most commonly form in calcareous caves due to carbonate dissolution reactions. They can take a variety of forms, depending on their depositional history and environment. Their chemical composition, gradual growth, and preservation in caves make them useful paleoclimatic proxies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kartchner Caverns State Park</span> State park in Arizona, United States

Kartchner Caverns State Park is a state park of Arizona, United States, featuring a show cave with 2.4 miles (3.9 km) of passages. The park is located 9 miles (14 km) south of the town of Benson and west of the north-flowing San Pedro River. Long hidden from view, the caverns were discovered in 1974 by local cavers, assisted by state biologist Erick Campbell who helped in its preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luray Caverns</span> Cave in Virginia, United States

Luray Caverns, previously Luray Cave, is a cave just west of Luray, Virginia, United States, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878. The cavern system is adorned with speleothems such as columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and mirrored pools. The caverns host the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone made from solenoid-fired strikers that tap stalactites of varied sizes to produce tones similar to those of xylophones, tuning forks, or bells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lechuguilla Cave</span> Cave in Eddy County, New Mexico, U.S.

At 150.4 miles (242.0 km), Lechuguilla Cave is the eighth-longest explored cave in the world and the second deepest in the continental United States. It is most famous for its unusual geology, rare formations, and pristine condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Caverns State Park</span> State park in Alabama, United States

Cathedral Caverns State Park is a 493-acre (200 ha) public recreation area and natural history preserve in Kennamer Cove, Alabama, located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Grant and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Woodville in Marshall County. The park, first known as Bats Cave, was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1950s. Cathedral Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972 and opened as a state park in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cave of the Winds (Colorado)</span> Cave in Colorado, United States

Cave of the Winds is a cave in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Caverns State Natural Area</span> State park in Illinois, USA

Illinois Caverns is a state natural area in the New Design Precinct of Monroe County, Illinois. It features Illinois Caverns which is alternatively known as Mammoth Cave of Illinois. Illinois Caverns is the second-largest cave in Illinois and has more than 9.6 km of passages. The cave has a constant temperature of 58 °F (14 °C), and portions flood during wet weather. Passages can be 20 feet (6.1 m) high and just as wide. It is located off Illinois Route 3, south of Waterloo, near the unincorporated community of Burksville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeita Grotto</span> Cave in Lebanon

The Jeita Grotto is a system of two separate, but interconnected, karstic limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb river valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836 by Reverend William Thomson; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland Caverns</span> Cave in Tennessee, United States

Cumberland Caverns is a national natural landmark and show cave located in McMinnville, Tennessee. It is the second longest cave in Tennessee and the twelfth longest cave in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balch Cave</span> Cave in Somerset, England

Balch Cave is a cave in Fairy Cave Quarry, near Stoke St Michael in the limestone of the Mendip Hills, in Somerset, England. The cave is part of the complex of passages feeding to St. Dunstan's Well Catchment Site of Special Scientific Interest and an abandoned Bristol Water abstraction point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Grottoes</span>

Crystal Grottoes is the only show cave in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located on Maryland Route 34 between Boonsboro and Antietam National Battlefield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neffs Cave</span>

Neffs Cave is a cave in Neffs Canyon on the north side of Mount Olympus, Utah, in the United States. It is one of the deepest caves in the United States but is seldom entered despite its depth and its proximity to Salt Lake City. The United States Forest Service has closed the cave to the public for many years due to safety hazards. In 1977, Neffs Canyon Cave was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost World Caverns</span> Caves and attraction near Lewisburg, West Virginia, US

Lost World Caverns, located just outside Lewisburg, West Virginia, is an underground natural series of caverns. In November 1973, the caverns were registered as a National Natural Landmark as they "feature terraced pedestal-like stalagmites, flowstone, curtains, rimstone, domepits, and waterfalls."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Shasta Caverns</span>

The Lake Shasta Caverns are a network of caves located near the McCloud arm of Shasta Lake in California. It was formerly named Chalk Cave and Baird Cave, named after Spencer Fullerton Baird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gosu Cave</span> Limestone cave in Danyang, South Korea

Gosu Cave (Korean: 고수동굴), alternatively Kosu Cave, is a huge limestone cave near Danyang, South Korea formed over 450 million years ago. It is among the best known natural caves in Korea, and is known as the "underground palace". Gosu Cave is listed as the country's "Natural Monument No. 256".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atta Cave</span> Cave in Attendorn, Germany

The Atta Cave or Attendorn Dripstone Cave in Attendorn is one of the largest dripstone caves in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gruta de Maquiné</span> Cave in Brazil

Gruta de Maquiné (MG-0243), also Lapa Nova de Maquiné, is the oldest and one of the most commercially visited caves in Brazil. It is located about 5 km (3.1 mi) from Cordisburgo and 143 km (88.9 mi) northwest of Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais. The cave has seven huge chambers explored, amounting to 650 m (2,130 ft) (linear) and unevenness of the ground of only 18 m (59 ft). Safety measures like lighting, walkways and handrails allow a multitude of visitors to enjoy safely the wonders of the grotto where the whole journey is accompanied by an experienced local guide.

References

  1. ↑ Huso, Deborah R. (January–February 2010), "The Beauty Below", AAA World, Side trips, vol. 12, no. 1, AAA World Publishing Group, p. 28, ISSN   1557-9107, OCLC   61482791, archived from the original on 28 July 2011, retrieved 3 January 2010
  2. ↑ "Grand Caverns". National Natural Landmarks. National Park Service. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ Duckeck, Jochen (12 October 2008). "Weyer's Cave". Show Caves of the World. Jochen Duckeck. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  4. ↑ UVRPA staff (18 March 2009). "Grand Caverns". Natural Chimneys and Grand Caverns located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Upper Valley Regional Park Authority. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Gulden, Bob; NSS Geo2 Committee (15 December 2009). "USA LONGEST CAVES". NSS Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves. Bob Gulden. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia staff (2010). "Grand Caverns". Virginia is for Lovers. Virginia Tourism Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Grand Caverns". America's Amazing Caves. unknown. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.