Scenery Below the Surface: Commercial Caverns in West Virginia

West Virginia is known for its panoramic mountain views, but it’s also blessed with scenery below the surface, too. Limestone caverns taking millions of years to develop are laden with stunning rock formations, ancient fossils, and local history. To sample the beauty beneath our feet, there four commercial caverns or “show caves” in West Virginia: 

Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg 
Organ Cave near Ronceverte 
Smoke Hole Caverns near Petersburg 
Seneca Caverns near Riverton

Each has its own claim to fame and offers guided tours to explore them. The tours follow well lighted paths and steps. Here are some things I’ve gleaned from my visits to the caves and from the internet.

Lost World - by Shery Meiresis

Lost World Caverns

Lost World Caverns, a registered Natural Landmark, claims to have one of the nation’s largest compound stalactites (30 tons) called “The Snowy Chandelier.” My most vivid memory is the impressive “War Club,” a 28-foot tall stalagmite. Bob Addis once sat on it for 16 days to establish a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records. Also impressive is the “Bridal Veil,” a lovely column of white calcite. At 1000 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 120 feet high, the main tour chamber is impressive. The cave is 120 feet below the surface and can be toured in about 45 minutes. 

For more adventure, the Wild Cave Tour is a guided excursion to remote portions of the cave to see sights such as the “Angel's Roost,” “Birth Canal,” “Keyhole,” “Glitter Pits,” and the “Hall of the Mountain King.” Website.

Organ Cave - Facebook Photo

Organ Cave

Organ Cave is the second longest commercial cave on the east coast and is a National Natural Landmark as well as a National Landmark of Historic Places. Indeed, Organ Cave is more than an assembly of stalactites and stalagmites, it is a living museum. For instance, the cave played a significant role during the Civil War. For three winters General Robert E. Lee hid as many as 1100 soldiers in Organ Cave. Church services were held in the “Chapel Room,” a cave chamber some 365 feet long by 90 feet wide. It is an impressive opening, and you can almost feel the history there. 

While Union soldiers roamed above ground, Confederate soldiers secretly mined in the cave for saltpeter, an ingredient in gun powder. In fact over 75% of the Confederate Army’s gunpowder came from Organ Cave. Today the cave has the nation's largest collection of Civil War-era saltpeter hoppers. The cave’s history may go back as far as 800 BC when Native Americans explored Organ Cave for flint for arrowheads. 

Among the formations you’ll see are a majestic organ, a frozen waterfall, and sponge beds. For adventurous caving, tours called Exploring Expeditions are also available. Website. 

Smoke Hole - WikiMedia

Smoke Hole Caverns

From smoked meat to moonshine, Smoke Hole Caverns has a colorful history. The caverns get their name from the Seneca Indians who smoked game in the front part of the cave. Smoke rising from the cave entrance attracted the attention of early settlers who named the place “Smoke Hole.” In the many secluded “rooms” of the cave, early settlers and Civil War immigrants cooked batches of corn whiskey. 

But there’s beauty here, too, in the many intricately shaped stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping or flowing from fractures on the ceiling of the cave. The “Room of a Million Stalactites” features the second highest ceiling of any cavern in the eastern U.S., towering 274 feet above the floor. From my visit there, I remember the world’s largest ribbon or bacon stalactite, a rare six-ton formation that has been rippled by gentle air currents that flow through the cavern. As an added attraction, Golden trout swim through the “Crystal Cave Coral Pool,” an underground lake.  Website.  

Seneca Caverns - Facebook Photo

Seneca Caverns

Seneca Caverns are located in secluded and scenic Germany Valley and are a National Natural Landmark. Here’s another cave that attracted the Seneca Indians, who, as early as the 1400’s, used the cave for storage and special occasions. The cave was rediscovered in 1742 by Laven Teter, a settler of Germany Valley. Seneca Caverns was opened to the public for tours in 1930.

The largest room inside the cave is Teter Hall, which is 60 feet tall by 60 feet wide. Seneca Caverns also boasts the state's largest flowstone formation. Website.

Tips for visiting caves. 

The main thing to remember about visiting a cave is that they are a cool and consistent 55 degrees. So wear warm clothing. Also wear a pair of sturdy shoes or hiking boots as the way is sometimes wet.