Luray Caverns

The Luray Caverns are undoubtedly the best caverns we've ever visited. One of the things we appreciated was the absence of a guided tour, allowing us to explore the caverns at our own pace and wait for the perfect photo opportunities. Additionally, staff members are positioned at various points to highlight key features for visitors. The sparkling lake creates stunning reflections of the impressive stalactites hanging from the ceiling, making for beautiful visuals. However, I found the Great Stalacpipe Organ somewhat disappointing. I had hoped for a wider variety of tunes, especially considering it's the world's largest musical instrument. It produces music by gently tapping stalactites across three acres of the caverns, but with so many visitors present, it can be difficult to hear. Nonetheless, it remains a unique musical phenomenon found nowhere else in the world.

Visiting the cave is definitely an exciting experience, but the management seems to be neglecting it. Over the past decade, prices have increased, and the tours are no longer guided. During our visit today, it felt chaotic inside the cave, with many people touching the rock formations and leaving trash behind. Given the fragile nature of the caves, I wouldn't be surprised if they end up being closed to the public in the future.

In addition to the cavern, there’s a café, a toy store, a caravan and transportation museum, and a delightful maze garden where you can wander and lose yourself for a little while. There’s even a gas station in the parking lot, making it a perfect stop for those on a long journey. I can’t help but think about how much my partner Mikey would have loved it here. You really need to check it out!

Luray Caverns, a mesmerizing underground wonderland, captivates with its stunning formations and enchanting beauty. Nestled in Virginia 's Shenandoah Valley, this majestic limestone cave boasts awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites, creating a surreal experience for all visitors. Wander through the illuminated chambers, be amazed by the Stalacpipe Organ producing hauntingly melodic sounds, and marvel at the sparkling pools that mirror nature 's artistry. Luray Caverns promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of Earth 's splendor, making it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a thrilling and breathtaking underground adventure.

On one Sunday in June my son I decided to leave Washington DC and head off in search of the Luray Caverns. We found them quite easily and parked for free in the extensive car park which was already quite full. It is clear that this place is fully designed for tourists. The facilities here are quite commercialized with a range of attractions, cafe, restrooms etc. We decided to focus on the main event – the caverns.Having paid our entry fee in the shop and general reception area we walked the long, windy covered pathway down to the actual entrance to the caverns themselves. There is a good deal of information available on the history of the discovery of the caves themselves and you are provided with a short, informative flyer which provides details of the dozen or so main viewing points within the caves. And they are magnificent. The clear, easily walkable path leads into the bowels of the earth. And the well illuminated points of interest are fantastic. The caves are full of impressive chambers with flowstone draperies hundreds if not thousands of stalactites and stalagmites with reflective rock pools which provide wonderful opportunities for reflective photographs. We took our time and, like many other visitors, took loads of beautiful photographs. I was reminded of my geology lessons at school – stalagmites go up and stalactites go down... To me it was clear that when they constructed the pathway they must have destroyed quite a few of these geological formations which had taken literally millions of years to form.