- Linville Caverns
Linville Caverns is a privately owned
show cave located in theLinville Valley north ofMarion, North Carolina .Deep inside of the Humpback Mountain lie the Linville Caverns, the only limestone caverns open to the public in North Carolina. These caverns were first explored by the white man almost 200 years ago. It is said that in 1822 a fisherman noticed trout swimming in and out of the mountain and he began looking for a way to see where they were going. While visiting the caverns you can experience the awe this fisherman felt upon viewing the inside of his discovery.
In the 1860's,
American Civil War deserters from both sides used the caverns as a hideout. Two soldiers were hiding out and having a camp fire. They were later captured after soldiers on top of the caverns saw smoke coming out of the ground.In 1909 two boys spent two days locating their way out after one of them dropped their lantern in the stream that runs through the caverns. Eventually they found their way out by following the flow of the stream to the entrance.
They were opened commercially in 1939 by John Q. Gilkey.
Linville caverns remain active as mineral deposits continue to form the stalactites and stalagmites. The water, produced by this mountain, with it's carbon dioxide created the caverns by dissolving limestone and dolomite thus creating natural passageways into the mountain.
During the winter and early spring you may get to view an Eastern Pipistrelle Bat, which hibernates here, hanging from the ceiling, but be sure you don't desturb it because this would be fatal to the bat.
Linville Caverns is open daily from March 1 - November 30.Our hours of operation each day are as follows:
March - 9am-4:30pm
April & May - 9am-5pm
June 1 - Labor Day - 9am-6pm
September & October - 9am-5pm
November - 9am-4:30pm
Cost of admission:
Adults - $6.00Child - $4.00 (ages 5-12 years)Senior - $4.50 (age 62 & over)Children under 5 are free
Guided tours leave every 10 - 15 minutes & the tour lasts 30 - 40 minutes.Caverns temperature remains a constant 52 degrees.Linville Caverns is mainly wheelchair accessible. (There are 2 areas in caverns not accessible)
Linville Caverns is located at 19929 US 221 North, Marion, NC 28752, just 4 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Telephone: 800-419-0540
Email: info@linvillecaverns.com
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