Lost World Caverns


Useful Information

Location: Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia. I-64 exit 169.
(37.832652, -80.446842)
Open:  
Fee:  
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=11 °C, L=1600 m, VR=72 m.
Guided tours: VR=30 m, D=35 min.
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography:  
Address: Lost World Caverns, Rt. 6 Box 308, Lewisburg, WV 24901, Tel: +1-304-645-6677, Fax: +1-304-645-6677
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

1960s surveyed.
1970 a steep shaft was dug into the main chamber with a circular stairway leading into the cave.
1978 closed for extensive improvements
1981 reopened with a new tunnel.
1985 a new lighting system was installed using sodium vapor lights.

Description

Thhe Lost World Caverns has several notable speleothems. 40 meters below the surface lies the Snowy Chandelier. This huge white stalactite is estimated to weigh some 30 tons, and has the form of a chandelier, hence the name. Another highlight is the 10 meters high War Club stalagmite. It became famous when a man named Bob Addis sat on it for 16 days, which earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. The owners tell neither the man nor the stalagmite got harmed. We doubt this, as speleothems stop growing for some decades when simply touched, but obviously the damage was acceptable for the owner, as he got a lot of publicity in return.