Forbidden Caverns

Useful Information

Location:	Near Sevierville. 35 km from Gatlinburg, 70 km from Knoxville. I-40 exit to Sevierville at Newport, U.S. 441 North.
Open:	APR to NOV Mon-Sat 10-18. Closed Thanksgiving Day. [2009]
Fee:
Classification:	Karst cave river cave.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=14 °C.
Guided tours:	D=60 min, L=800 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Forbidden Caverns, 455 Blowing Cave Rd., Sevierville, TN 37876, Tel. +1-423-453-5972.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1920s-1943	used as a hideaway for making "moonshine", homemade whiskey.
1964	development of the cave planned by a group of business and professional men.
JUN-1967	opened for the public.

Description

Forbidden Caverns is famous for its numerous calcite formations. A huge wall of dripstones, which are called cave onyx in this area, are said to be the largest one of the world.

Hundreds of years ago, Forbidden Caverns was known to the Eastern Woodland Indians. They used the cave as a shelter and the cave river as a constant supply of water.

This river was also a reason, why this cave was used for making moonshine many years later. Monshine is the local word for illegally homemade whiskey. The water was used as cooling water in the distillation process.

At the end of each tour, a special sound and light show is an additional highlight. It is a presentation about the cavern's history.