Did the beginner's caving tour and it was great! Around 2 hours. I think all of the crawls/routes…read morehad options to skip, if you end up getting inside and feeling like it's too much for you. The tour guides, Evan and Kaylee, were amazing guides! Anna at the front desk was awesome on the phone and in person. They also had a great mini golf course outside. Highly recommend this place. I was also able to put a go pro with a helmet strap on the caving helmet and use it.

If you've toured the Grand Caverns walking tour and find yourself peering into the dark recesses of…read morethe cavern, the Fountain Cave adventure tour is a must on your next visit. Visiting on a day when temperatures were only forecast to reach a high of 42F, it was pleasantly warm inside Fountain Cave and did not require bundling up for most people. Long sleeves, long pants, and boots, are required due to the terrain you "may" cover in addition to keeping the [damaging] oils from your skin off the cave features. Helmets, mounted lighting, gloves and knee pads are provided and were all in good condition. The floor of the 1800s walkway is mostly dry but moist areas are present throughout the tour and can be very slippery; following the instructions provided by the tour guides (three points of contact) will ensure everyone stays upright in these areas. Dana and Ashelynn were our guides for a group of 7 and always took point and rear to ensure everyone was safe and accounted for. Dana took the prominent role in discussing the history, and geology, of Fountain Cave and was a very engaging guide. While Fountain Cave is not as large as Grand Caverns, getting to tour this cave by headlamp and put yourself INTO the exhibit is truly an awesome experience. The bonus comes in the form of the Adventure "opportunities" that run near or parallel to the original 1800s pathway; for those not able or interested in taking the Adventure routes, you simply stay on the 1800s walkway and meet up with the rest of the group a small distance down the path. There are a few instances on the tour where a break is taken in total darkness. The first is a short ways into the tour and is designed to show you the amount of light that can be picked up from the entrance way after your eyes are given time to adjust. The second sets the stage to show how the cave would have been illuminated by a small candle. Note: please be respectful of the other guests if taking photos in these black-out moments; lowering your camera to the lowest brightness setting and staying back from the group prevents ruining the experience for others. IMO, the only way to make the Fountain Cave tour better is to increase the length of time spent within. Just like the Grand Caverns tour, I still found myself peering into the areas off the guided tour path wondering...is there more to this cave that hasn't been discovered yet.

Saw this place on 'things to do' in the area and it seemed from the limited information from other…read morereviews, their website, and photos it was a historic center that would provide history and tours of Brethren and Mennonite and how the people of this faith lived during the 1700 & 1800s. Unfortunately, this was not it. This is more of a religious educational experience. Its all about the religion and what the Mennonite faith is about. The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. There are many old/historic buildings on site but our guide really didn't seem interested in talking about history. He was very interested in talking about the Mennonite religion. We wished it was more of a historical tour/experience.

First time visiting caverns, and it was an amazing experience. A must for anyone that likes caves…read moreand 54°.

This place is the oldest show cave in the country and is a must see if you're in the area. It's…read morealso 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.

Absolutely fascinating history at these caverns! We're Civil War buffs and honestly did not know…read moreabout these caverns. It was amazing. Our tour guide (I forget her name - so sorry) was amazing. She was knowledgeable and mixed historical content with geological content. The fact that experts from The Smithsonian came here to collect the artifacts (both Native American and Civil War) and authenticate several signatures (I believe from further research I did and then saw at the site, they cataloged the signatures as well) gives this site authenticity. For anyone that is into history, just the thought that you are standing in a place where Native Americans were before Europeans came to this continent AS WELL AS where Civil War soldiers etched their name for future generations, this is a MUST SEE. Is it pricy? Sure. But I give grace there. These caverns have been owned by the same family (they are on the 10th & 11th generation) since the original Harrison family acquired the land in 1748 by a land grant from King George. This isn't a gov't owned site. And from what I have seen and read, this family is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the caves. That can't be cheap. And I will say, it's worth it for the history alone. That is what sets it apart from all the other caverns in the Shenandoah valley. Could the gift shop be better? Sure. If you have helpful suggestions for improvement, let them know. They are all incredibly friendly. Don't wait and just complain in a review, We will recommend a visit here to any and everyone who is in the area seeing the sites. In fact, this cave is still being explored and new rooms and spaces are being discovered. Our guide told us they are working on adding a new room to the tour. So do we anticipate we'll be back when in the area again? Absolutely!

Worth the detour and the 1.5 hrs. If you have been in caves before, guess what? This looks like…read morea cave system too. However, unlike any other cave system I'm aware of, these caverns were actively used during the civil war. The evidence is everywhere within the caverns. Pretty neat, unusual. This is a small, quaint, friendly operation. Our guide Reagan was wonderful.

Not what I expected. I had low expectations and they were exceeded. A bunch of maps and guides and…read morea nice video. Very small room. I guess it would be helpful if you are going to really go into finding Civil War locations. Parking lots are near

This place is a little hidden gem. They provide a good base of information about the civil war in…read morethis area and there is a video to watch as well as displays. The staff are uber helpful and the lady I talked to took me through areas of the house to help me visualize the local history. She told me several times that she was not a historian, but was a total wealth of information. I recommend stopping by this place, there is a parking lot right there at the building.

My husband, Sister, and I took the Potomac Eagle All Day Petersburg trip on June 27, 2026. For my…read morehusband and myself, this was our second "Ride to the End of the Line" and although our first trip was great, this one exceeded any expectations we had; it was a wonderful all-around experience. There are three reasons this Potomac Eagle experience is worth repeating, and why the value is exceptional: 1. First and Foremost: The Potomac Railroad Employees From first contact to disembarking upon return to Wapacomo Station the employees made us feel welcome and valued. Although all of the employees were great, three young men stood out among their peers...Lucas, Carlos and Kalib made our trip a truly memorable experience. Immediately upon boarding, they offered us coffee or tea and throughout the day, they not only checked-in to see how we were doing, they stopped by and talked to us. I watched them treat other guests in our car the same. When we learned these young men were working their first jobs, we were amazed; they truly epitomized superior customer service. In today's world, I rarely see such outstanding care and service. Potomac Eagle is doing something right; other service providers could learn from the Potomac Eagle version of excellence. 2. Second: Superior Food throughout the trip Since we were on the all day trip, our reservation included breakfast and lunch appetizers with a small treat before we disembarked at Petersburg. Upon reboarding, Lucas and Carlos immediately welcomed us back with coffee and Arnold Palmer (lemonade-sweet tea) drinks. They kept our cups and glasses full for the entire return trip. The true value from our trip, however, was our Superior Dining experience. Chef William prepared a four-star, four-course dinner (Superior Dining class) that will bring me back later this summer for another excursion. We had beef tenderloin and Chilean Sea Bass w/Lemon for our main courses with appetizers, salads, and desserts. I felt like I gained 3 pounds from the outstanding dinner alone!! 3. Third but not least important: The Trough Canyon Experience Approximately mid-way to Petersburg, the train stops to allow passengers into their open-air gondola car for a 45-minute unobstructed view. While the train goes through the Trough Canyon, passengers see eagles soaring, dear foraging, and other natural wonders. The trip offers an opportunity only available via the Potomac Eagle...driving a car wouldn't be the same. For all the great things I can say about the Potomac Eagle experience, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the opportunities and people in Petersburg. The trip offers an additional excursion to Smoke Hole Caverns. For those who do not go to Smoke Hole, there are small vintage shops, museums, restaurants, and/or a chance to sit back, relax and to just be in the moment. It's a day away from the normal grind...Ride the Potomac Eagle to the End of the Line. Take a step back in time and enjoy!

What we liked, we loved: The long lines moved quickly due to tickets sales being well organized…read more The day before our trip, we received an email reminding us of directions and what to expect. This kept me from having to dig through old emails looking for our initial reservations that I had made months earlier. The staff were incredibly attentive to my 86-year-old mother. They offered us priority seating allowing us to board the train early without me asking. They seemed especially aware of the needs of their older riders. The scenery was beautiful for the most part--and we did see bald eagles! What we didn't like, we REALLY didn't like: The windows in our car really needed cleaning. When you are there for the view, you really need clean windows! Overall, the entire car could have used some serious sprucing up. The paint on the ceiling was peeling, and the PA system didn't work well. What we could hear of the narration sounded interesting, but the faulty PA system kept fading in and out. At the end of our ride, we were told the gift shop would be open--it wasn't. And finally, West Virginians--you have a naturally gorgeous state and everyone we have encountered here has been an absolute delight. Please, show some pride! As I said, the scenery from the train was beautiful FOR THE MOST PART. We had to look past a lot of unkempt homes, junky yards, and abandoned farm equipment. I saw what looked like a crumpled, plastic kiddie pool in the woods next to the tracks and a boat trailer that had been dumped in the river. I was told if we came back for a winter ride, we would see more eagles--maybe so, but with the leaves off the trees, we'd probably see more trash, too.

Our group of seven had a wonderful float today aboard Will and Will2's handcrafted batteau! The men…read moredid an incredible job of showing us a beautiful and unspoiled stretch of the James River; they educated us on the history, the boats, and the commerce of those early days of our nation's founding, and as if that were not enough, treated us to a five-star luncheon and music. John B. Richmond, VA

We loved our dinner cruise on the Batteau. Will and Will were excellent hosts. We met them at a…read morelocal park and then followed them down to the river where we boarded the batteau. There were two batteaus tied together with six guests in each boat with Will and Will and the chef. It was a beautiful evening with a perfect temperature. We really enjoyed the stories told along our route. During the delicious dinner we enjoyed Will playing guitar and singing. It was a fun, unique and memorable experience that our group of six really enjoyed.

Unfortunately due to the rain our ride was cut short. BUT the characters still put on a show for us…read moreand made their way around interacting with the passengers and sharing a lot of historical information. If you're looking for a unique scenic experience in Virginia this is a great one to experience. There are limited themed rides so check in often and book upon interest. I look forward to getting a full experience on my next ride!