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This place is the oldest show cave in the country and is a must see if you're in the area. It's also the perfect thing to do if you're looking for something to do on a rainy day. You get to see a variety of different areas in the large cave and learn about its interesting history, Including the Civil War. There's also an older but interesting museum that has some interesting artifacts you check out while you're waiting for your tour. I enjoyed visiting here and it's definitely a must see.
I love caves, so getting to visit the longest continuously operating show cave was incredible. We stayed in Massanutten, so this cave was about 30 minutes away. We bought our tickets online and once we arrived to the visitor center, they told us where to meet our tour. We did the walking tour. Overall, the tour took about 75 minutes. The tour has gravel paths and some occasional stairs, but it does not require you to be in good shape. The hardest part of the tour is the hill to get to the hill entrance, but it is not too bad. Our guide was great, and he provided us with so much information about the cave. They have multiple rooms with so much to look at. Once you finish the tour, you'll want to grab a souvenir, they have plenty of cute options.
Don't usually leave reviews, but park ranger Kai gave such a wonderful & detailed tour! Wonderful personality, super engaging. I am so happy I got to experience the tour, especially during this heatwave. Huge step up compared to Luray, you can tell how much love & respect everyone here has for these caverns. The "wishing well" moment of silence really touched my heart. Thank you!! Will definitely be coming back :)
Very large and long cavern. Highly decorated with many types of rock formations of all stages - shields, stalactites, stalagmites! Great guided tour, reasonably priced. Worth the drive.
Touring Grand Caverns was such a great experience! We booked a tour of Grand Caverns in the slower season during November and ended up receiving our own private tour! We had an awesome guide, Anna, that was very knowledgeable and made the tour an overall great time! Luray Caverns are very popular in this area, but I would highly recommend touring Grand Caverns if you want something less touristy. I believe Grand Caverns are the oldest caverns in continuous operation as well- you can see many signatures on rocks going back to and predating the civil war which was very interesting to see. Highly recommend touring the caves and spending some time in their surrounding park area. They offer different tours and I definitely will be looking into one of the longer more intense tours next time I visit. You may also end up with your own private tour if you come at the right time like we did!
Really enjoyed it. Had a great guide, Luke. Nice history of a 200-year-old oldest in the country. They hold events there still, we can concerts. Large rooms, easy to see all the formations in the walkways are easy to pass through. Quite a few steps for those who are challenged to do physical walking but otherwise it's pretty cool. Been to quite a few caverns and this was one of the better ones and a lot to see.
So grateful that we decided to take the "Rock Bottom" tour! Lori and Anna were informative and funny and very concerned with our safety. We have gone on many Cavern tours, but never before have we gone into one that has no lighting. I am 59 and I was a little scared in some areas. Lori was very clear with her instructions and patient with my hesitations. It was muddy and slippery and magnificent! Definitely take the time to make this memory!
Grand Caverns, a National Natural Landmark, is the oldest continually-operating commercial caverns in North America. While staying at the Massanutten Resort recently (late August, 2023), we decided to take a side trip to these caverns. We had visited other caverns and caves (Luray Caverns; Shenandoah Caverns; Endless Caverns; Mammoth Caves), but this would be our first visit to Grand Caverns. Reservations are required. You can purchase your tickets online, or they're available at the Welcome Center (a beautiful old stone building that also serves as a gift shop and has restrooms j. We chose the "Grand Caverns Walking Tour", which is a 70-minutes tour that is offered daily for those aged 3+. (Check their website as there are some renovations going on that are closing the caverns on some week days). Adult tickets (ages 13-59) are $25; child (3-12) are $15.50. Seniors (60+) are $23.50. There are discounts for AAA members, military, public servants, AARP members, Grottoes residents, and large groups). Some practical considerations: -- The tour is NOT handicap-accessible. Neither wheelchairs nor strollers are allowed in the caverns, nor is there elevator access. To access the caverns, you need to walk up a steep paved road from the Stone House, and then a flight of stairs. The actual tour consists of approximately one mile of walking at a leisurely pace with frequent stops. There are several stairs, but all are well-lit and have handrails. -- The temperature in the caverns is 54-degrees year-round. This was a welcome relief, with a light jacket, from the sweltering outside temperatures! -- There are no restrooms in the caverns. Also, food and beverages are not allowed. -- Touching of rocks or formations is prohibited and protected by Virginia law, as the oil on your skin may stop the growth of formations. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. We were in a group of approximately 20, with a good mix of adults, kids, and elderly. The tour guide did a great job at "mixing it up" -- providing a naturalist's perspective on the geology (stalagmites vs. stalactites) and ecology (bats) of the caverns, while at the same time making it interesting for the kids. For instance, she pointed out formations that resembled animals. The Rainbow Room showcases the caverns with colored lights. At one point, the guide also, with warning, shut off all of the lights so participants could experience the total darkness of the cave. Grand Caverns also offers other tours, as well as caving adventure tours. Following our tour, we enjoyed other park amenities. We ate our packed picnic lunch at a picnic table in one of the picnic shelters, and then walked the flat loop Walking Trail in the 100 acre park. My husband did a few of the exercises at the Fitness Stations. Part of the trail is along the South River. We had planned to also go to the 18-hole miniature golf course (only $3), but the entire course was in the unshaded hot sun, so we passed. There's also a Hiking Trail to an overlook, fishing on the stocked South River, and a playground. Advertisements also mention a public pool, that is supposed to be open in the summer, but it was drained during our last August visit. We enjoyed our visit to these caverns and its 100 acre park. While it's smaller than the caverns down the interstate, we appreciated that it was much less commercialized and cheaper. We also enjoyed the access to the park with picnic shelters and walking trails.
We have been to several caves over the years but Grand Caverns by far is the best. Ceilings probably 30/40 foot high and a mile over 60 minute mile and a quarter tour was still not enough time to digest the wonder that is found underground in these caverns. The tour a bit cheesy as they usually are, but interesting nonetheless. Our guide was perky and friendly and was eager to answers questions that others had in our group. We were not rushed and were able to stop and marvel at the glory Grand Caverns had to offer. Well worth a visit if your traveling 81 in VA
Wonderful tour in a beautiful park! Ms. Lori our tour guide was so knowledgeable, kind, and enthusiastic. My family and I had never been on a cave tour before and we couldn't have asked for a better experience.
I haven't been here in years. We came here with me and my family. The caverns are amazing and our tour guide was so fun. Little babies aren't allowed, so my infant had to stay with my dad. It's not handicap accessible, unfortunately
2 months ago
8 days ago
First time visiting caverns, and it was an amazing experience. A must for anyone that likes caves and 54°. read more
6 days ago
This was a great experience and Tim did amazing. Would love to go back and do one of the premium tours! read more
This place is the oldest show cave in the country and is a must see if you're in the area. It's also the perfect thing to do if you're looking for something to do on a rainy day. You get to see a variety of different areas in the large cave and learn about its interesting history, Including the Civil War. There's also an older but interesting museum that has some interesting artifacts you check out while you're waiting for your tour. I enjoyed visiting here and it's definitely a must see. read more
21 days ago
I love caves, so getting to visit the longest continuously operating show cave was incredible. We stayed in Massanutten, so this cave was about 30 minutes away. We bought our tickets online and once we arrived to the visitor center, they told us where to meet our tour. We did the walking tour. Overall, the tour took about 75 minutes. The tour has gravel paths and some occasional stairs, but it does not require you to be in good shape. The hardest part of the tour is the hill to get to the hill entrance, but it is not too bad. Our guide was great, and he provided us with so much information about the cave. They have multiple rooms with so much to look at. Once you finish the tour, you'll want to grab a souvenir, they have plenty of cute options. read more
3 months ago
Don't usually leave reviews, but park ranger Kai gave such a wonderful & detailed tour! Wonderful personality, super engaging. I am so happy I got to experience the tour, especially during this heatwave. Huge step up compared to Luray, you can tell how much love & respect everyone here has for these caverns. The "wishing well" moment of silence really touched my heart. Thank you!! Will definitely be coming back :) read more
4 months ago
Very large and long cavern. Highly decorated with many types of rock formations of all stages - shields, stalactites, stalagmites! Great guided tour, reasonably priced. Worth the drive. read more
2 years ago
Touring Grand Caverns was such a great experience! We booked a tour of Grand Caverns in the slower season during November and ended up receiving our own private tour! We had an awesome guide, Anna, that was very knowledgeable and made the tour an overall great time! Luray Caverns are very popular in this area, but I would highly recommend touring Grand Caverns if you want something less touristy. I believe Grand Caverns are the oldest caverns in continuous operation as well- you can see many signatures on rocks going back to and predating the civil war which was very interesting to see. Highly recommend touring the caves and spending some time in their surrounding park area. They offer different tours and I definitely will be looking into one of the longer more intense tours next time I visit. You may also end up with your own private tour if you come at the right time like we did! read more
7 months ago
Really enjoyed it. Had a great guide, Luke. Nice history of a 200-year-old oldest in the country. They hold events there still, we can concerts. Large rooms, easy to see all the formations in the walkways are easy to pass through. Quite a few steps for those who are challenged to do physical walking but otherwise it's pretty cool. Been to quite a few caverns and this was one of the better ones and a lot to see. read more
1 year ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
So grateful that we decided to take the "Rock Bottom" tour! Lori and Anna were informative and funny and very concerned with our safety. We have gone on many Cavern tours, but never before have we gone into one that has no lighting. I am 59 and I was a little scared in some areas. Lori was very clear with her instructions and patient with my hesitations. It was muddy and slippery and magnificent! Definitely take the time to make this memory! read more
Grand Caverns, a National Natural Landmark, is the oldest continually-operating commercial caverns in North America. While staying at the Massanutten Resort recently (late August, 2023), we decided to take a side trip to these caverns. We had visited other caverns and caves (Luray Caverns; Shenandoah Caverns; Endless Caverns; Mammoth Caves), but this would be our first visit to Grand Caverns. Reservations are required. You can purchase your tickets online, or they're available at the Welcome Center (a beautiful old stone building that also serves as a gift shop and has restrooms j. We chose the "Grand Caverns Walking Tour", which is a 70-minutes tour that is offered daily for those aged 3+. (Check their website as there are some renovations going on that are closing the caverns on some week days). Adult tickets (ages 13-59) are $25; child (3-12) are $15.50. Seniors (60+) are $23.50. There are discounts for AAA members, military, public servants, AARP members, Grottoes residents, and large groups). Some practical considerations: -- The tour is NOT handicap-accessible. Neither wheelchairs nor strollers are allowed in the caverns, nor is there elevator access. To access the caverns, you need to walk up a steep paved road from the Stone House, and then a flight of stairs. The actual tour consists of approximately one mile of walking at a leisurely pace with frequent stops. There are several stairs, but all are well-lit and have handrails. -- The temperature in the caverns is 54-degrees year-round. This was a welcome relief, with a light jacket, from the sweltering outside temperatures! -- There are no restrooms in the caverns. Also, food and beverages are not allowed. -- Touching of rocks or formations is prohibited and protected by Virginia law, as the oil on your skin may stop the growth of formations. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. We were in a group of approximately 20, with a good mix of adults, kids, and elderly. The tour guide did a great job at "mixing it up" -- providing a naturalist's perspective on the geology (stalagmites vs. stalactites) and ecology (bats) of the caverns, while at the same time making it interesting for the kids. For instance, she pointed out formations that resembled animals. The Rainbow Room showcases the caverns with colored lights. At one point, the guide also, with warning, shut off all of the lights so participants could experience the total darkness of the cave. Grand Caverns also offers other tours, as well as caving adventure tours. Following our tour, we enjoyed other park amenities. We ate our packed picnic lunch at a picnic table in one of the picnic shelters, and then walked the flat loop Walking Trail in the 100 acre park. My husband did a few of the exercises at the Fitness Stations. Part of the trail is along the South River. We had planned to also go to the 18-hole miniature golf course (only $3), but the entire course was in the unshaded hot sun, so we passed. There's also a Hiking Trail to an overlook, fishing on the stocked South River, and a playground. Advertisements also mention a public pool, that is supposed to be open in the summer, but it was drained during our last August visit. We enjoyed our visit to these caverns and its 100 acre park. While it's smaller than the caverns down the interstate, we appreciated that it was much less commercialized and cheaper. We also enjoyed the access to the park with picnic shelters and walking trails. read more
2 years ago
We have been to several caves over the years but Grand Caverns by far is the best. Ceilings probably 30/40 foot high and a mile over 60 minute mile and a quarter tour was still not enough time to digest the wonder that is found underground in these caverns. The tour a bit cheesy as they usually are, but interesting nonetheless. Our guide was perky and friendly and was eager to answers questions that others had in our group. We were not rushed and were able to stop and marvel at the glory Grand Caverns had to offer. Well worth a visit if your traveling 81 in VA read more
1 year ago
Wonderful tour in a beautiful park! Ms. Lori our tour guide was so knowledgeable, kind, and enthusiastic. My family and I had never been on a cave tour before and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more
2 years ago
I haven't been here in years. We came here with me and my family. The caverns are amazing and our tour guide was so fun. Little babies aren't allowed, so my infant had to stay with my dad. It's not handicap accessible, unfortunately read more
6 months ago
6 months ago
8 months ago
4 years ago
We had a blast on this tour! Worth every penny. It's a guided 1.5hr tour, you can buy tickets ahead of time online or go in person. We showed up 30min before 2pm and was still able to get tickets last minute. Our group was around 30 people but it never felt too crowded. And I liked that it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves vs constantly running into other tour groups. Other useful facts to help with your planning: - There is no food served here nor are food/drinks allowed. So eat beforehand. - It's kinda chilly inside the caverns (54 degrees to be exact) so if you run cold like me, bring a jacket - There are stairs so it is not wheelchair/stroller friendly - If you are claustrophobic (as my partner is), some parts will trigger you but overall the magical splendor of the caverns should hopefully keep that fear in check - There is a part of tour where they turn off all the lights, I really enjoyed experiencing that but might not be everyone's cup of tea - Bring a fully charged phone just in case you need a flashlight (the group before us were stuck in darkness because lights wasn't turning on) The pictures don't do it justice but the smaller feel of the caverns made it such an intimate experience. Felt like an adult playground. read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
The caverns themselves are marvelous. I've seen a lot of caves, and these were definitely at or towards the top of the list. We chose a walking tour, but "adventure tours" that go deeper into the caves are also available. Our tour guide, Diana, may have been the best tour guide I've had the pleasure of following in my entire life. At the beginning of the tour, a little girl expressed her apprehension. Without missing a beat, Diana called her over to a formation where she shone her flashlight and pointed out the sparkling calcite to help her see how magical (not scary) it was. She was upbeat, funny, projected well, and she answered every question asked of her. She kept things moving at a good pace (not too rushed, but quick enough that we could see as much as possible). She remembered that I had asked about helictites halfway through the tour, and she took special care to point out one as we exited (and of course gave a great explanation of the science behind them). She did a great job of balancing her commentary between the history and science of the caverns. She pointed out the imagined shapes and corresponding names (e.g. a "zoo" of animal-shaped rock formations), but she didn't dwell on them to the point of tediousness the way I've some cave tour guides have done in my experiences elsewhere. Perhaps most importantly, it was thoroughly apparent that she loves caves and teaching people about them. Please give Diana a raise (and a laser pointer) ASAP! read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
2 years ago
Wow! Thank you Amy and Daisy for a great time Everyone needs to do the Rock Bottom Adventure Tour at least once in their lives! I love how it is a bit challenging but just enough to where anyone of any age can do it. The challenging parts is for sure part of the experience however it's all optional and you are not forced to do anything you do not feel comfortable doing. You are still able to enjoy the deep cave tour without the optional crawling or climbings. Our group was pretty fun to be around. Met some great people who were willing to help each other out. Even walked away making a new friend! I will for sure be back again to attempt the more advanced tour! Needs to know before hand: you will get dirty so either wear the jumpsuit that they offer or wear clothes you wouldn't mind getting muddy. Same goes for your shoes. You cannot bring a bag of any sort in so be prepared for that as well. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
genuinely so interesting and something i think everyone should go to see if in the area. our tour guide was very well informed and pointed out a lot of interesting parts of the caves. i had a great time and learned a lot! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Best caverns I've been to in the USA. Ask for Daniel when you tour. He's funny and informative. If you're a AAA member, show your card to save a few bucks. It's a small hike to the caves after ticket purchase but well worth it. It's also a park with swimming pool and putt-putt. Great place for the family. The easy tour is a little over ma hour. The advanced trip is 3-4 hours. read more
1 year ago
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More info about Grand Caverns
5 Grand Caverns Dr
Grottoes, VA 24441
Directions
(540) 249-5705
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http://www.grandcaverns.com
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Ask the Community - Grand Caverns
Would this be good for a 3 year old? I read that it's not stroller accessible and there are many stairs, but those things would be fine. Is there climbing and/or squeezing through small spaces, etc?
It's not stroller accessible at all. We went when my daughter was a year and a half old and my husband carried her in a baby harness. There's no climbing or squeezing through small spaces if you do the regular walking tour. Just keep in mind that…
Do you offer elevators for those who cannot climb long lengths of stairs?
They do not have elevators. Their cavern isn't handicap accessible or stroller friendly. The inside of their cavern has gravel pathways, and 6 sets of stairs which you go in and come back out on. Each set of stairs only has about 10 steps, except…
Review Highlights - Grand Caverns
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