Grand Caverns

Weyer's Cave


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

Useful Information

Location:	Near Grottoes. I-81 exit 235, Weyer's Cave, onto Rt 256 to the town of Grottoes. Signposted.
Open:	All year daily 9-17. [2010]
Fee:	Adults USD 18, Children (6-12) USD 11, Children (0-5) free, Seniors USD 16. AAA: Adults USD 15.50, Children (6-12) USD 9. Public Servants: Adults USD 15.50, Children (6-12) USD 9. Public Servants are military, police, fire, and rescue personnel with proper id. Grottoes Residents: Adults USD 11, Children (6-12) USD 8. Groups (12+): Adults USD 13, Children (6-12) USD 8. [2010]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	electric
Dimension:	T=12°C
Guided tours:	L=1,600m, D=70min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Grand Caverns, PO Box 478, 5 Grand Caverns Drive, Grottoes, VA 24441, Tel: +1-540-249-5705, Free: +1-888-430-CAVE. E-mail:
Last update:	$Date: 2011/12/13 09:11:37 $

Image: The Cataract. From David Strother (): The Adventures of Porte Crayon and his Cousins.

History


1804		discovered by 18-year-old Bernard Weyer, a young trapper, looking for his missing trap.
1806		opened to the public, first show cave of the United States, named Weyers Cave.
26-SEP-1864		visited by W. W. Miles.
1889		electric light installed.

Description

Image: Solomon's Temple. From David Strother (): The Adventures of Porte Crayon and his Cousins.

Grand Caverns is the oldest show cave in the USA. It is open for the public continually for nearly 200 years. At first it was called Weyer's Cave, after an early owner of the cave, later it was renamed Grand Cavern. The cave is famous for its numerous formations. Most unususal are the rare shields, which are shaped like disks. Grand has an abundance of 250 shields. Cathedral Hall is 85m long and 21m high, the biggest chamber in this cave and one of the largest rooms of any cavern in the East.

The caves of the Shenandoah Valley were formed in mostly horizontal limestone layers. This cave is extraordinary, as the limestone is folded at this place. At the place of the cave, the layers are vertical not horizontal, turned on-end by tectonic forces.

Around Grand Cavern several smaller caves are also open to the public. They can be visited by groups after appointment.

During the Civil War the cave was visited by both Confederate and Union soldiers. As common in this times, the visitors left their names on the walls of the cave. More than 230 signatures on the walls could be identified being from civil war soldiers.

A funny story is told about the famous Confederate General, Stonewall Jackson. He once camped nearby and allowed his men to visit the cave. But when asked, if he was going to enter the cave, he answered "No, I think not. I fear I shall be underground soon enough, and I have no desire to speed the process!"

Grand Caverns

Weyer's Cave

Useful Information

History

Description

See also