This place is on my handy dandy map of caverns and a bucket list item. Water levels were unusually low while we were here. I think I'd like to come back when they are higher, as some of the under water lights were at eye level and may have caused temporary blindness. Just kidding, but they were very bright. Our tour guide was Elijah and I think he did a good job of keeping the group together. There were at least 10 kids under 10, and several toddlers. Often we couldn't hear what was being said over the kids, so if you really want to hear what's going on, maybe come on a weekday while school is in session. At $100 for 3 people, this was kind of pricey, but worth it to me. There are so many things to see, and the history and artifacts are fascinating. I can now say I've been on a boat, in a cave, on an underground lake. Pretty cool in my opinion. The sweet shop was closed while we were there, but the glass blowing shop was open. They had a ton of interesting figures for sale, big and small. Definitely check this place out! read more

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It's awesome to go underground & take a boat ride. Very Tolkien-esque. No, actually the history & "discovery" (rediscovery) are all very interesting. Viewing the old stills & imagining times past. Albino bass are creepy & sad. Reminds me of The Descent creature, but hey, a cool adaptation /observation. My favorite aspects were the wonderment & the crystals in the gift shop. read more

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A hidden gem below the Smokey Mountains in Sweetwater! The staff was amazing! We were delayed arriving for our scheduled tour. We called and the staff was so kind to change us to a later arrival time! So appreciated! Our guide, Aiden, was so informative and friendly. We learned a lot about the history of the cave! The temperature was 58 degrees. Cool enough for a light jacket! Highly recommended!! read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

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We went an hour and a half out of our way to visit The Lost Sea. After the experience, I'd do it again. This isn't just a cave tour. It's an underground adventure. The journey takes you about three-quarters of a mile through the cavern at a comfortable 58 degrees, so bring a light jacket unless you enjoy pretending you're on an episode of Survivor: Chilly Cave Edition. The climb back out is roughly the equivalent of 14 stories, though there are three scheduled rest stops to remind you that oxygen is still available. Like many attractions, your experience depends heavily on the guide. Ours, Sam, was knowledgeable and professional, but more matter-of-fact than entertaining. The information was there; the excitement wasn't always. Fortunately, the real star of the show doesn't need a microphone. The underground boat ride across the second-largest known underground lake is absolutely fascinating. Gliding through the darkness while seeing rainbow trout swimming in waters hidden beneath the mountains is one of those experiences that's genuinely hard to describe until you've seen it yourself. The cavern is also packed with history, but I'll let your guide tell those stories rather than spoil part of the adventure. One bonus: they offer free-roaming spelunking areas for those who want to do a little exploring on their own. Five stars. Unique, memorable, and absolutely worth the detour. Some attractions are tourist traps. The Lost Sea is something you'll actually remember. read more

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This is another unique place. How often do you see a 4 acre lake underground. Pretty cool. This place is a little remote, but worth the detour if you have the time. You'll start by going down a long tunnel and entering the cave system. The walk is pretty easy and there are various formations you get to see. The discovery of the cave was around the late 1800s and an adjoining cave (not on the basic tour) was a designated a fallout shelter in the 50's. After venturing around a bit, you come to a large open room where the lake is. It's really pretty neat to see. There you take a short boat ride around the lake before heading back to the entrance. The tour takes about an hour+. They also have a few other attractions at the location. Most were closed when I was there. read more

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This was my friend's most wanted to go as a kid. It did not disappoint. The caverns were interesting and our guide was very knowledgeable. We got to ride in the boat and we had another girl steer and tell us more about the underground lake. It's a little cool in some parts and wear good walking shoes. read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Pictures don't do it justice since it's dark and you're underground but wow! What a neat experience. They emphasize the importance of physical fitness in trekking down and back but it's really not that bad. Maybe we had the same amount of stops going down as going up but I remember the stops going up lasted longer as some people needed to catch their breath. There are benches to sit. Mind you, our guide was a teenager in jeans (and possibly crocs?) leisurely walking. There are lots of railings too. Our guide clearly has a rehearsed spiel but was very informative and didn't sound robotic, answered questions professionally, and appeared to enjoy her job. The coolest part for me was when they turned off the lights to experience total natural darkness. It's a well run tour, great for families (but no bathrooms underground so be mindful of that!) - Make sure not to touch unless told you can! read more

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Very interesting and informative tour. Loved the boat portion and our host Kieran was especially fun! Everyone from the front desk to the shop was polite and helpful! Definitely a muse see in TN. Must be sure of foot and capable of a short hike. There is uneven terrain and some wet ground. read more

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Pictures really don't do this justice.... But... it's a lake, underground, which is just mind-blowing really. The cave also has cave flowers, the highest concentration in the world, and they are really pretty! Like purple crystal flowers growing out of the ceiling! There was a prehistoric jaguar, confirmed to have been huge, that was found in the cave, and you can see a skull casting replica in the gift shop. The little village on site looked like it would be pretty fun in season, too, but was mostly closed in March. Had tour guide Logan and he was hilarious! Absolutely worth the ticket price!! read more

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Very good tour. Our guide was Christian (not Bob)- he was knowledgeable and funny. It is amazing to see how large the cavern is. It is mostly walking with a short boat ride. Will see rainbow trout. It's a little steep, slightly strenuous. An elderly lady was moving very slowly on the climb back. Was here 30 years ago, neat to see all the improvements the new owners have added. The glass blower store in the village has a ton of items. read more

Took a guest visiting from Germany to The Lost Sea on the outskirts of Sweetwater, TN. Our young witty guide, Noah, led a large group of us through Craighead Caverns, with its stalactites and stalagmites, and to America's largest underground lake. There we boarded 2 small boats and slowly drifted around the lake to see schools of rainbow trout swimming in the cold water, eager to snap up "Purina trout kibbles" that our guide sprinkled in the water. The terrain throughout the cave is mostly level but also steep in parts, though there's a handrail along the sides for safety. The best part: 58 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cave with a fair amount of humidity -- a pleasant contrast to the 92-degree temperature above. Ten years ago, the modern Visitors Center didn't exist. Now 1.5 years old, it includes a gift shop, and on the premises, a sweet shop and a glass blowing workshop. read more

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Our family visited the Lost Sea last week while on a road trip. We all throughly enjoyed the experience. It's not often you can explore a cave with a lake at the bottom and take a boat ride. They also have fish in the underground lake! (granted they were stocked there for research purposes). The tour guide will feed the fish to get them to come up to the boat. The hike down wasn't terribly difficult although there were a few steeper areas where someone older or with balance issues might need to be careful. You also need to book a timeslot before you arrival. There is also a pretty cool glass blower shop outside and you can watch him do his thing. read more

You go down approximately 7 stories down to see the America's second largest underground lake inside a cave. You will get to go on a boat ride and see the fish. Is an amazing experience. Is a little of a workout walking those incline ramps. read more

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The Lost Sea is misleading but it's a decent stop to check things out. Quite a hike in the cave up and down a pretty good clip. The sea is basically a very small lake... Kind of like a below ground pond. They continually add fish because they die off with no oxygen in the water and no natural light. Very strange. Not a lot to see in the cave except for the history behind it. There are many caves in Tennessee that are amazing compared to this. read more

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My 8 y.o. and I very much enjoyed the tour and learning a lot. It was a great pit stop on a long journey. We think our tour guide Logan was funny and knowledgeable. Thanks for a good time! read more

The Lost Sea - Underground lake - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

It was interesting. I think it was worth visiting if you were in the area. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. I had different expectations so it was me and not the place. read more

This place is beautiful. The under lake looks pretty cool it's a fun experience to see the Lost sea cave . Property has nice attraction buildings . It's easy to book online reservations so I can know I will be able to do tour when I was down here . Ticket taking was very friendly people . The tour guide very in depth knowledgeable on lost sea cave and lake . The only thing I had was the tour guide could be more helpful and friendly and thank me for traveling to see the attraction . I thought the tour guide just needs to fine tune their people skills instead of joking around . The pictures came out amazing. Attraction was good to see . It's been a National covered attraction on cbs and wanted to see what was special about the attraction. It's something different to do .its just a lot of walking and step paths that climb up and done . read more

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The Lost Sea is America's largest underground lake and Registered National Landmark located in beautiful Sweetwater, Tennessee. The visible portion of the lake is 800 feet long by 220 feet wide. You go deep into the Craighead Caverns walking, and by glass bottom boat.( Lots of rainbow trout) 140 feet below ground, the Lost sea is the largest under ground lake in North America. 4 acres of the lake are visible, there are at least 13 more discovered acres beneath the surface. Divers have uncovered a series of rooms beneath the water. Way cool! So there is more to someday explore! It's in the 50's down there so be sure to dress for cool. And get ready to walk, on uneven terrain and there is darkness. It is amazing, beautiful and there is a lot of history.Cherokees Indians used artifacts have been discovered. During the 1800's: When the first white settlers arrived in the Tennessee Valley in the 1820's they also discovered the cave and used it for storing potatoes and other vegetables. One of the cave's earliest visitors was a giant Pleistocene jaguar whose tracks have been found deep inside the cave. Some 20,000 years ago the animal apparently lost his way in the darkness and wandered for days before plunging into a crevice far from the daylight he sought. Some of the bones, discovered in 1939, are now on display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. read more

The Lost Sea - Beautiful colors - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

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Super cool little side trip highly recommended for kids lots of walking uphill so be prepared and wear the right shoes.

The majority of the tour is walking to and from the lake. Down down down and up up up. Not recommended for anyone with asthma as conditions are damp with mold and mildew especially in the yellow metal tunnel. Steep climb and poor breathing conditions triggered an asthma attack. read more

The Lost Sea - Underground lake - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

My husband and I adventured to this place while on a camping trip. We did one of the late afternoon time slots and booked/paid online. We didn't have any issues booking or finding parking. The tunnel is pretty cool looking. There aren't really steps to deal with, BUT coming back up all the inclines was a lot for me. I am admittedly out of shape and overweight. If you are too, then just keep in mind that going down the inclines is much easier than coming back. There were times I felt like I was fighting for my life!! My heart was beating out of my chest and I was breathing hard. My face was super red when I made it out. I stopped 3 times on the way back out....so I could rest and catch my breath. The boat ride was cool. It's not super long but you get to see the fish. Getting in and out of the boat was a little scary for me, but overall not bad. I hope this review helps someone in a similar situation be able to make an informed decision. read more

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Did a tour today and enjoyed it :) Chuck was a funny tour guide for our group, kept us entertained with jokes here and there. The tour itself was about an hour and half, you walk down the yellow tunnel at the beginning and then walk in and out different caves, the whole hike would be like walking 5 flights up which is not too bad especially since they built in different rest stops too. Boat ride was cool at the bottom, with wide caves. Cool to check out. Wear comfy walking shoes, the red dirt will get on a bit but washable with soap or toothpaste. read more

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Amelia and Cordelia were our tour guides and they were very nice. We were the last group which was nice and quite boat ride. The rainbow trout were big. It was really neat and a good workout read more

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The was so awesome! Such a cool experience and definitely worth it. It is a little over a mile walk around over clay, make sure you wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. The incline may catch up to you, but the tour guide takes plenty of breaks. Bring water and a sweatshirt. read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

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Tour guides are immature and unprofessional "kids" that enjoy shining their flashlights on each other during the guests tour and "mucking" it up with each other. They recite memorized tutorial of the adventure with no other independent knowledge when asked questions. Our guide was so boring that we tuned him out completely just to enjoy the experience. There is a disclaimer for the physicality of this adventure however it's dark, footing is poor and the uphill at the end is something I would never recommend for an elderly person. The guide walks so far ahead of everyone that some get left behind and can not hear the warnings during the tour. This attraction is mediocre at best. Expensive. Boasted a "Village" with vendors and side attractions. All of it was closed up except for the glass blower. There was no note of any seasonal closures so this made for an even worse experience. Best part is the 5 min boat ride and seeing the lake at the bottom. But again meh. Opinion - spend your money elsewhere. It's not that spectacular. Hard pass. Really hate to give such a poor review but our group was disappointed. read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Locals that have never been in 20 years. We took our youngest daughter and wow was it amazing. Hearing the history and stories throughout the entire tour was wonderful. The souvenir shop at the exit we loved. And the glass blower OMG breathtaking. See pictures!! read more

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These experiences are what you make of them. Our initial experience wasn't good. We couldn't hear the guide. We also had a lot of loud kids in the group and finally the guide seemed rushed. In our large group we got closer to the guide. When compared to our other cave visits there wasn't very much to see. Going on a boat ride in a cave was a first. The water was very clear and the fish were ever present. This made the experience. read more

So glad we drove out of our way to see this. Really beautiful and our tour guide, Kaiden, was so entertaining and made it really fun. read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

This was a great activity! I've been wanting to come here for many years. The tour guide was very informative and the boat tour was great. There is a place to get ice cream next door. read more

The Lost Sea - Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

I have been there 7 times in the last 20 years. Today we took our son for his 10th birthday and it was the best visit yet. All thanks to our amazing tour guide Dixie she was Amazing. Informative and entertaining and Funny the whole Trip. Thank you Dixie. read more

Very cool experience! It's a bit of a walk to get down to the lake but it's worth it ! Were comfy shoes and bring a camera! It is a guided tour and all of the tour guides were great ! They give you a lot of info and keep you entertained read more

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If you love Mother Nature and caves, definitely an awesome experience! The view of the lost sea is gorgeous, something you must see. Big groups is a little disappointing specially having so many tourist getting behind and the rest of the group having to wait for them to join the group. Smaller groups at the time would make it better. If you like to hike, explore and have fun, definitely something you must do here, just wear some good footwear to HIKE, since it could be slippery read more

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This was a very cool experience! For north America's largest underwater cave it was worth it. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars was because I felt like it was a bit rushed, and I would have liked to have taken a little more time to really experience the cave. read more

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What an interesting history lesson. The tour guide was very informative as well as humorous. There were no children in our group however, if there were, he would have held their interest throughout the tour. It was not the most spectacular cavern I have toured but it does have the most interesting past. read more

Definitely worth a visit, when else would you see an underground lake? This is not meant for small children, people with disabilities, or anyone who can't walk up/down a steep incline. I think the place is kid friendly, but definitely for older kids who don't need to be carried up a steep incline. You will probably come out of here with your heart racing a little and sweating, definitely a little mini workout to get to the top. Wear running shoes or something you're not going to slip in, the walkways are pretty safe and very well maintained but some spots are a little easy to slip. Overall this was definitely worth the visit and the money, you'll also be able to see some super cool aspects of the cave on the way down, I wish we had stopped a little longer as some of the cool formations, but I think the guide was aware that we're all here to sea the lost sea not the cave, but the cave part was so cool too. The guide was very knowledgeable about everything. read more

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Wow wow wow amazing seriously a must try biggest cave I've ever been in and some cool history and the lake like what what read more

The Lost Sea - Amusement Parks Near Me - Sweetwater, Tennessee

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We have been on several cavern tours, so any time we are in an area with caverns, we find time to explore them. We ordered tickets online since we wanted the noon tour & saw online "only two tickets remain!" When we got to The Lost Sea, we parked down the hill, putting sweatshirts in our backpack since several reviewers mentioned how cool it was inside. At the ticket counter, we saw the sign "No backpacks." So we checked in, and trudged down the hill to get rid of the backpack and to move our car to a parking space in front of the entrance. We kept our sweatshirts, and waited inside until the tour started. Several people came in and bought tickets for the noon tour. Weren't they sold out? Our tour guide was JD. He had a wonderful voice, perfect for movie trailers and radio shows. He educated us about the caves, pointing out formations and sights along the way to the lost sea. He was excellent. Five stars for JD. I found myself looking down most of the tour, trying not to trip and fall. It should have been better lit by our feet so I could have spent more time looking up, noticing the cool caverns we transversed. It was also more breathtaking literally than figuratively. Steep inclines had me checking my pulse and catching my breath. JD was patient, waiting for us old timers in the rear so he could keep the group of about 30 together. I'm glad I wore hiking shoes, as it was dusty and muddy at some parts. The highlight of the tour was the underground lake. We got on the small boat, and were warned not to put our fingers in the chilly water. JD said the fish have sharp teeth and like to nibble on fingers. The fish are huge, and greedily devoured the food thrown over the side by JD and another guide on a second boat for our group. A reminder to keep our hands inside the boat. The climb back up to the tour entrance and the end of the tour was intense. JD did stop 3 times for all of us to catch our breath. We did enjoy our hour inside the caverns, and once was enough. Overall, three stars. But for JD and the lake, a final score of 4 stars. read more

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I came here with my great aunt(70+) and cousin(17). I haven't been since I was a child, probably 20 plus years ago, so I vaguely remember that visit, it was nice to experience it again as an adult. Our tour guide Skyler did a great job, he spoke loud and clear, and was even a little funny at times! He did a great job pointing out all the low passage areas so we knew where to duck. He clearly knows the key talking points very well and made the experience an enjoyable one! If you go, be prepared to hike, it's only three quarters of a mile round trip, but there are some pretty steep declines and inclines, so you're gonna want to wear good walking shoes. I think I was the only person in flip flops, and it was manageable, but I definitely would have felt more confident going down in sneakers. The boat tour was really neat, and informational, as was the entire hike down to the lake. The boat guide, which was a young lady whose name I can't recall at the moment, told us all about the trout in the lake and the different depths of the water, and the many things they've learned about the underground lake. The trek back up has multiple rest areas, which we stopped at for a couple minutes each for more history on the caverns; my aunt greatly appreciated the moments of rest along the way. This is a great outing for older kids, the little ones likely won't appreciate it, and I can't imagine it would be fun having to carry them the entire time as one parent in our group did. There are a couple of shopping opportunities on the premises - gift shop at the cave, and a general store across the way, as we as a sweets shop that serves ice cream. read more

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The Lost Sea has a lot to recommend it in terms of natural rarities you aren't likely to see too often in a lifetime, and with some upgrades and organizational changes, it could easily be a 5-star experience. Right now the building that houses the entrance to the cave is undergoing construction, so be prepared for that. That combined with the red clay and the 58-degree temperature inside the cave means you need to dress appropriately, including wearing solid shoes with good traction. Our tour guide was moderately entertaining, but the group sizes are way too large, which makes for a lumbering pace and a challenge to hear if you're not at the front. The boat ride is certainly slow and unremarkably thrilling, as many reviewers have shared, but if that bothers you, you kind of missed the point of a cave tour. We went on a Friday, and the cafe was not open. You could gem mine if you want to waste your money on something touristy that has nothing to do with the cave or the history of the area, although the map of gemstones from around the world gave my third grader a good opportunity to apply the map skills she is learning while we waited for the tour to start. There is a gift shop with all the souvenirs and prices you'd expect. The restrooms are in dire need of upgrading, and the pavilion where we waited for the tour guide was flanked by a giant trash barrel that was filled with water and swarms of hatching mosquitoes. Is it worth the trip? Absolutely. Could the experience be much better with a few tweaks? Absolutely. Don't go in expecting a sparkly customer experience for your $24.95 ticket ($14.95 for kids); just go to soak up the incredibly cool tricks of Mother Nature, and you'll leave a happy spelunker. read more

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It's interesting. Get your tickets on line. They have plenty of time slots. Our group had a total of around 20 people. Not bad. Off you go into the cave, led by your guide. The walk is about 3/4 mile total. Coming back is a steady uphill. Nothing crazy. The cave part is ok. The underground lake is the end game, though. Pretty surreal looking. Water is clear and stocked with rainbow trout. You'll quietly and slowly motor around the lake aboard an aluminum boat. Ride is about 15 minutes. Total tour time took about 1:30. read more