The Luray Caverns: Welcome to the Largest Caverns in the Eastern United States
Despite being the largest caverns in the Eastern US, Luray Caverns isn’t as well known as you might initially assume — at least not for the international traveller. That being said, if you’re exploring Virginia in-depth, then a stop at Luray Caverns is a must, as this as an otherworldly site as there is in the nation.
There’s nowhere else quite like the Luray Caverns.
If I’ve learned anything in travel, it’s that perspective is everything.
As human beings we’re naturally wired to go hunting for that “bird’s eye view” — to get up to a particular viewpoint so that view all that is around us.
There’s nothing wrong with that idea, and in many cases it will serve you well, but that strategy of exploration shouldn’t stop us from considering the magnificent worlds beneath our feet, and in this case, exploring the largest caverns in the eastern United States. For reference, you’ll find these caves in the Shenandoah Valley, just to the west of the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.
In truth, caves have never really been my thing, but that’s likely because I started “caving” when I first travelled to Southeast Asia, and found myself in a few spots that I was keen to quickly get out of, if I’m totally honest.
In retrospect, that unfairly coloured my perceptions of caves, but what I found at Luray Caverns was something pretty special. It’s now, without any exaggeration, an entertainment complex of sorts where any traveller can stop by and spend some meaningful time.
Whenever I can think back on an experience and vividly recall it, it’s always the first sign to me that it was something special — a place that promotes presence and awe. That, my friends, is Luray Caverns in a nutshell.
As the Smithsonian Institution noted so aptly back in 1880:
“"[I]t is safe to say that there is probably no other cave in the world more completely and profusely decorated with stalactite and stalagmite ornamentation than that of Luray."
The Discovery of the Luray Caverns
The Luray Caverns were discovered on August 13th, 1878, by five local men in the area. The story goes that their attention was initially on a protruding limestone outcrop, and a sinkhole that appeared to have some cool air coming out of it.
The men (as men do) thought, “why not do some digging to see what’s going on here?”
Four hours later, a hole was created for two men to squeeze down into. They used a rope to get down, then explored by candlelight. They set eyes on a column, named the Washington Column, and then entered what’s now known as "Skeleton’s Gorge,” where they found bone fragments hundreds of years old that seemed to be embedded in the calcite.
The owner of the land was in debt, and a court ordered auction of the land was set. After some legal proceedings and some transfers of land, eventually it was bought in 1893 by the Luray Caverns Company.
Despite a handful of ongoing legal disputes, tales of the caverns' stunning formations quickly gained traction around the region, the country, and the world at large.
Explorers stopped what they were doing and headed the way of Luray, and The Smithsonian Institution even dispatched a team of nine scientists to study the caverns. In fact, the next edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica dedicated an entire page and a half to their wonders. At the time, by the way, that was unheard of, and a signal of how much interest there really was.
As you might imagine, Bri and I are not the first ones to write about Luray. In fact, Alexander J Brand, a correspondent for the New York Times was the first professional travel writer to come visit around this time (late 19th century).
That being said, I can’t say that this is a site that many of my fellow Canadians would know, or even a site that gets the credit it should nationally. Regionally, it’s prized, but based on what I saw there, more people should be coming to set eyes on its wonder.
What’s the Allure…of Luray?
The initial draw was the sheer volume of “stalactite and stalagmite ornamentation,” but further exploration they only provided more and more reasons to be excited.
The best way I can sum it up is that the caverns are a masterpiece of nature's artistry — with breathtaking “speleothems” (think structures like towering columns), rippling mud flows, delicate stalactites, sturdy stalagmites, and shimmering flowstone, all reflected in crystal-clear mirrored pools (making it a photographer’s dream come true, I might add)
You’ll enter the cave via a path from the parking lot and gift shop etc. that curves down through to and then through the cavern. It’s well lit, and the entire trek is about 2.5 kilometres in length. Generally speaking, I’d budget roughly an hour to see everything if you’re tight on time, but you could easily spend 2-3 hours in there if you wanted to.
The mirrored “Dream Lake” was my favourite spot!
On that note, what is it that you’re looking out for? Well, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, but let me walk through some of my highlights that I feel you should spend a moment at.
At the heart of this wondrous place is the Great Stalacpipe Organ—a one-of-a-kind lithophone that transforms the cavern itself into a musical instrument. It’s been dubbed, rightly or wrongly, “the world’s largest musical instrument.”
My personal favourite place in Luray Caverns was “Dream Lake.” Once you see it, you’ll fully comprehend why it bears this name. It’s a crystal-clear- mirror like pool that reflects the stalactites up above to create an optical illusion of depth that feels like it’s straight out of a mind bending film like Inception.
Giants’ Hall is a massive chamber that showcases some of the caverns’ largest formations. There’s one column in particular that’s nearly 50 feet in hight, called “The Double Column,” and it’s the perfect example of what happens stalactites and stalagmites come together.
Saracen’s Tent captured my imagination because I’m honestly not sure I ever quite understood what “drapery formations” were until I saw this. It looks like they’re silken rocks, and smooth as butter.
Pluto’s Ghost, which was also perfectly named (you’ll see what I mean when you see its white, ghostly appearance), is one of the most photographed and talked about parts of the Luray Caverns.
The Wishing Well is brilliantly bright blue pool filled with coins. It’s more for families, I’d say, as kids just love throwing coins in, but what I loved was that all the coins thrown in here are purportedly donated to charity.
The most fun formation, I think most people agree, are the Fried Eggs. It’s a fun and quirky formation resembling—you guessed it—fried eggs! I sometimes expect things like this to not necessarily resemble what they say they will, but these were…cave fried eggs!
It’s Not Just the Caverns That Are the Draw
Luray Caverns isn’t just about stunning underground formations — it’s also, rather clearly, about family fun.
Outside the caverns, if you’re looking for a touch of movement, visitors can tackle the Rope Adventure Park (which is suitable for visitors of all ages, I might add), or navigate the Garden Maze, a half-mile labyrinth crafted from 1,500 dark American arborvitae.
Your ticket also includes access to three museums which are on the property:
Toy Town Junction Museum is where vintage miniature trains, collectible dolls, and nostalgic toys aim to transport you right on back to your childhood.
The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum showcases nearly 150 items that showcase “early transportation” — from a Conestoga wagon to an 1892 Mercedes-Benz.
Finally, there’s The Shenandoah Heritage Village, a little recreated slice of rustic 19th-century Shenandoah Valley life, and the Luray Valley Museum, which houses regional artifacts (including a rare 1536 Zürich Bible and a quirky patented dog-powered butter churn). You know, because, why not?
Consider planning time to visit the Shenandoah Heritage Museum, as well!
What Else Should You Know, Before You Go?
The Luray Caverns are open 365 days a year. From April 1 to June 14 (9am – 6pm), from June 15 to Labor Day (9am – 7pm), after Labor Day to October 31 (9am – 6pm), and from November 1 to March 31 (weekdays 9am – 4pm, weekends 9am – 5pm).
Tickets at the time of publication are around $35 for adults, around $15 for children, and then kids under 6 are free, and they typically have a seniors rate as well that may be worth asking about depending on your age at the time of visit. If you want to do the guided tour (the first tour starts at 9am typically), that will be around $65 for adults and $35 for children.
In terms of accessibility, Luray Caverns is one of the rare underground wonders offering tours along fully paved, well-lit pathways, and one with a step-free entry option.
That being said, while the step-free entrance can accommodate wheelchairs, Luray Caverns is not officially classified as fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. Upon further research, that’s largely because the 1.25-mile tour path includes some moderate grades where assistance may be needed, so keep that in mind if accessibility is at the forefront of your travels.
Finally, you can buy a ticket there and won’t need to make an online reservation beforehand, typically.
What’s Around the Luray Caverns That You Can Build Into Your Itinerary?
If you’re coming out this way, I’d strongly recommend that you spend some time in Luray, Virginia. First, I’d stroll through the picturesque downtown area filled with boutique shops, local eateries, and historic sites (with plenty of signage for context). I’d also put aside some time to visit the Hawksbill Greenway, and take a walk, camera in hand, along the creek. There’s also a brewery there that I like, Hawksbill Brewing Company.
You should also plan to visit Shenandoah National Park. The easiest way to do this would be to spend some time driving along “The Skyline Drive,” which runs over 150 kilometres north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bri and I did just that, and then stopped to take photos where it made sense, and even stopped for a few forest strolls. It’s a lovely drive, though, if you’d rather just stay in the car and listen to a great album, podcast, or audiobook.
On that note, you could also choose to spend a day on the Shenandoah River. You can rent kayaks, canoes, tubes and more. Fishing and paddleboarding are also popular on the river.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the state at large is their wine (which is fantastic). If you haven’t yet had the chance to sip on some of Virginia’s finest, Wisteria Vineyard is only about a ten minute drive from Luray Caverns. That being said, if you’re not in a rush and you’re spending a fair amount of time in the state, I’d urge you to simply keep your eyes open to road signage etc. to see what wineries you can stumble upon. Throughout our Virginia trip, we likely visited about 10 wineries — only about 4 of those were planned, and the rest were off-the-cuff and added a lot of value (and flavour) to our trip.
If golf is your thing, the Caverns Country Club & Golf Resort is only about 5 minutes away, and is more or less connected to the facility.
Finally, on my recent visits to the US, I’ve been focusing quite a bit on Civil War history (especially on my trip to Franklin, Tennessee). That inspired me to look at what was around the Luray Caverns as well. Within about 30 minutes or so, you’ll find New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, A little further away, you’ll find Fisher’s Hill Battlefield, the Harrisonburg Civil War Sites and the Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg Battlefields.
We’ve been fortunate enough to spend time all over Virginia, and to create content about those experiences. You can also read more about:
Richmond (and the Quirk Hotel)
And for cyclists, I’ve written all about the Virginia Capital Trail.
The Luray Caverns Await
Longtime readers will know well that Bri and I are always seeking out destinations and experiences that are humbling.
I love places that not only pause me in my tracks and force me to relish a moment of sheer awe, but also remind me that I have more to learn. In this case, at the very least, I had to learn the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite (fun fact: stalactites form on the ceiling and grow downward toward the floor, and stalagmites form on the floor and grow upward), but I ended up learning far more than that.
I’ll be honest, this place has become a sort of theme park built around a cave, and some people might be thrown off by the kitsch (I was a touch apprehensive at first), but the core of the experience, walking through this marvellous cave, is an intriguing experience indeed. Also, I saw a lot of families here having a ball because it’s become a sort of one stop shop for a day (or more) of memories.
This is, ultimately, one of the largest caverns in the eastern US, and its natural formations are otherworldly, and something I won’t soon forget.
I want to thank Virginia Tourism (and the Luray Caverns) for hosting us as media for this visit. All opinions expressed are completely our own.