Sponsored Post – Visit Shenandoah County hosted our visit to Shenandoah Caverns. All opinions are my own.
Shenandoah Caverns are located along Interstate 81, near Mt Jackson, Virginia. The address of the caverns is 261 Caverns Road, Quicksburg, VA.
A guided tour is available to explore the caverns. The tour lasts approximately one hour and covers about one mile. Reservations are not required, but tickets can be purchased online. When arriving you’ll be assigned to a tour group which will meet by the steps leading down to the caverns.
The Shenandoah Caverns entrance is inside the main building. This makes it a great activity during inclement weather, as there’s no need to run through the rain to get to the cavern entrance. The cavern floor is gravel, making it fairly easy to navigate. The cavern is a consistent 56 degrees. Bring a sweatshirt or jacket in the summer.
Cavern Tour
There are many steps that lead to the bottom, however, an elevator is also available. Once at the bottom, your group tour guide will give detailed information about the cavern formations, pointing out special areas of interest.
The cavern has a wishing well inside of it. Coins or pieces of gravel can be thrown into the well to make a wish. Remember to bring your pennies! Every few years they clean out the money and donate it to charity.
Note that some of the walkways can have a bit of a low overhead clearance. Some ducking and bending may be necessary to navigate the cavern passages. Railings and non-slip surfaces help make the walk easier.
The caverns have many unique formations, such as this great example of “cave bacon”. Be sure to carefully take in the scenery, as there’s something new to see around every corner.
Some of the areas of the caverns light up with colorful lights, making for great photos. Other areas have the ability to change colors based on the light, as your guide will show you. There’s even an opportunity to see what the caverns look like with no light at all.
Some of the formations glisten in the lights and even seem to sparkle. As you make your way along the one mile tour, the guide will also provide the history of the caverns. This includes the story about the discovery of the caverns, many years ago.
At the end of the tour, feel free to ascend to the top by taking the elevator. You’ll arrive back in the gift shop, where you can explore the other attractions.
Main Street of Yesteryear
Main Street of Yesteryear shares the same building as the Shenandoah Caverns. The entrance is to the right of the main door, and it’s beside a small post office. It’s a great place to explore while waiting for your caverns tour to begin.
Head down the hallway toward the large bear display. Plaques on the wall tell the history of the displays.
The bears were originally used in the 1993 Rose parade. Many more parade floats and backdrops are on display at American Celebration on Parade, which is a museum located next door. Keep in mind that it’s a seasonal attraction. American Celebration on Parade closes for the winter.
Continuing up the stairs will lead to many displays that used to grace the windows of major department stores in America. The displays are very elaborate and animated.
Looking for more fun places to visit in the area?
Check out American Celebration on Parade, Route 11 Chips, W.O. Riley Park and Mount Jackson Lion’s Park.
Sponsored Post – Visit Shenandoah County hosted our visit to Shenandoah Caverns. All opinions are my own.
