Grand Caverns, Grottoes, Virginia
Posted by: 
hzoi
N 38° 15.625 W 078° 50.126
17S E 689379 N 4236925
Grand Caverns is perhaps the oldest continually operated show cave in America and boasts over 500 rare shield formations. Operated by the Town of Grottoes, there is an admission fee for guided tours.
Waymark Code: WM15TFA
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 02/23/2022
Views: 2
Grand Caverns claims to be the oldest show cave in the United States. It was discovered by 18-year-old Bernard Weyer, who was looking for one of his traps. The cave was opened for tours in 1806 and visited by soldiers from both the UNion and the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Grand Caverns is relatively unique among the other caves in the Shenandoah Valley. Limestone is formed from sediment, so it naturally forms in flat layers over time. Here, however, tectonic forces pushed the limestone bedrock, so that the layers are nearly vertical. This may be the reason why Grand Caverns has an unusually high number of shield formations, flat disks of rock hanging from the cave wall or ceiling.
While you're here, why not tour the cave and log our earthcache?
Type of Land: Local Park
Managed By: Town of Grottoes
Contact Info: (888) 430-CAVE (2283)
Website: [Web Link]
Type of Cave: Karst Cave
Contains Stalactites: yes
Contains Stalagmites: yes
Contains Bats: yes
Price of Admission: 21.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a digital photograph of the cave which documents your visit and any information that may be helpful for future visitors.