[2008]
[2008]
Karst cave
| Location: | 5km from Route 33 at Riverton, 18km from Seneca Rocks. |
| Open: |
closed [2008] |
| Fee: |
closed [2008] |
| Classification: |
Karst cave
|
| Light: | electric |
| Dimension: | T=13°. |
| Guided tours: | D=60min |
| Bibliography: | |
| Address: |
Seneca Caverns, HC 78 Box 85, Riverton, WV 26814, Tel: +1-304-567-2691, Toll Free: 1-800-239-7647,
E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/07/01 20:32:46 $ |
| 1400s | discovered by Seneca Indians, one of six Iroquois confederacy tribes. | |
| 17th + 18th century | used by the Seneca tribe for ceremonies and as refuge. | |
| 1742 | re-discovered by Laven Teter, a European explorer. | |
| 1928 | cave opened for lantern-lit tours. | |
| 1930 | opened to the public. | |
| 1982 | purchased by Earl "Buzz" Hedrick, a retired Washington, D.C., contractor. | |
| FEB-2008 | cave closed due to financial reasons. |
The name of Seneca Caverns derives from the Seneca tribe, which used the caverns for ceremonial purposes and as a refuge from cold winter storms and enemy tribes. They used the cave for hundreds of years, before it was discovered by the white settlers. It is said, that Chief Bald Eagle held many council meetings in the chamber now called Council Room. The biggest chamber is the Grand Ballroom, which is 20m long, 10m wide and up to 24m high.
Nearby is a second cave, called Stratosphere, which is used for spelunking tours. Old clothes, long pants, headlamps and sturdy shoes are required for those tours.
Unfortunately the cave has been closed to the public in FEB-2008, due to financial problems. The owner, Greer Industries, explained, the business plan was simply not working. Greer Industries is a limestone producer, but they disclaimed any plans to mine the limstone around the cave.
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