Ruby Falls

Lookout Mountains Caverns

Useful Information

Location:	Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Eastbound on Highway I-24, take Exit 174 and follow signs to Lookout Mountain. Westbound on Highway I-24, take Exit 178 and follow signs to Lookout Mountain. From TN Aquarium, take South Broad Street and follow signs to Lookout Mountain.
Open:	APR to MAY daily 8-20. Memorial Day to Labour Day daily 8-21. SEP to OCT daily 8-20. NOV to MAR daily 8-18. [2004]
Fee:
Classification:	Karst cave Jurassic limestones
Light:	electric
Dimension:	L=1,280m.
Guided tours:	D=60min.
Bibliography:	Ed Brinkley (1980): The History of Ruby Falls, 80 pp, Service Printing Co, 3d ed edition (1980) John Wilson (1977): Lookout: The Story of an Amazing Mountain,
Address:	Ruby Falls, Rt. 4 Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37409, Tel. +1-423-821-2544
Last update:	$Date: 2008/07/01 20:32:44 $

History

Description

The original Lookout Mountain Cave had a natural entrance on the banks of the Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain. It is known for centuries, first used as a campsite by American Indians, later a hideout for outlaws, and a Civil War Hospital. Many visitors left their traces, and there is a signature of Andrew Jackson who also visited the cave. This natural entrance was permanently sealed by a railroad tunnel built by the Southern Railway in 1905.

Leo Lambert, a local cave enthusiast, tried to open the historic Lookout Mountain Cave to the public again. In 1923 he formed a corporation for this purpose and purchased land above the cave. In 1928 a site for an elevator shaft into the original cave was selected and drilling began. After some time, when the shaft reached a depth of 79m, a small crevice was opened, 60cm wide and 1.20m high. Mr. Lambert immediately decided to explore it and spent 17 hours on his first exploration trip. He came back with a description of a cave with beautiful formations and an amazing 46m high waterfall, located 335m inside Lookout Mountain. On his second trip he was accompanied by his wife Ruby Lambert. On this trip he named the waterfall - after his wife - Ruby Falls.

Mr. Lambert decided to develop both caves and to offer two caves tours. After 92 days of work, day and night, the elevator shaft reached the original cave. After installing the elevator and preparing the paths of the original cave it was opened to the public in 1929. Development continued in the new cave and 1930 the second tour to Ruby Falls was also opened to the public. At first the two caverns were shown on separate tours but the popularity of the falls far exceeded that of the lower cave and that trip was discontinued in 1935.

The entrance building looks like a 15th century Irish castle and is called Cavern Castle. It was constructed from limestone excavated from the elevator shaft. Today it contains a Visitor Center with a small exhibition on cave formation and speleothems.

See also

• Biggest Underground Waterfalls
• Search Google for "Ruby Falls"
• Ruby Falls, official website.
• Ruby Falls Rocks, official website, designed especially for school children and teachers.
• Haunted Cavern at Ruby Falls official website, for the Haunted Cavern event in Qctober 2004.
• Chattanooga, Tennessee - Ruby Falls at roadsideamerica.com.
• Ruby Falls Presents the Haunted Cavern
• Our trip to Ruby Falls (January 2001), a nice cave by a visitor.
• If You Are Anywhere Near Chattanooga Be Sure To Visit Ruby Falls, an epinion by a visitor.

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