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Once you have explored nature's handiwork
beneath the hills of Luray, you can well imagine the awe Andrew Campbell
and Benton Stebbins felt in 1878 when they discovered the labyrinth. With two
helpers, young Billy Campbell, Andrew's nephew, and Trent Lilliard, they had
been searching for a month for a cave in the hills outside this sleepy Virginia
community in the Shenandoah Valley. They searched so long they became the
butt of good-natured jokes around town. Being called a "cave rat" and
"phantom chaser" discouraged young Trent and he gave up the quest. On
August 13 the remaining searchers found a sinkhole on Cave Hill that looked
promising. Digging all morning in the August heat they were cooled by air
welling up from below. When they finally had an opening large enough
Andrew Campbell was lowered into the cave. What he saw was beyond the
trio's wildest dreams: a cavernous palace with columns of stalagmites meeting
hanging stalactites, crystals
that glistened like diamonds and pristine white formations that gave dramatic
contrast to the onyx-colored walls. There is even a formation that resembles a
plate of fried eggs.
At Luray you see the caverns just as they
looked when discovered. Only the walks and lights have been added.
There is no artifice, no colored lights nor special effects; none is needed to
enhance the natural beauty of this subterranean fantasy world. The
dripping stalactites continue forming just as they have for millions of years.
The limestone base rock in the caverns was formed during the Paleozoic age over
400 million years ago.
The caverns opened several months after
they were discovered and have been open every day since. One addition made in
1954 is worth noting: the Great Stalacpipe Organ in what is called the
"Cathedral" room. Ripley's Believe It Or Not television crew filmed this
one-of-a-kind organ. The stalactite formations have been tuned by reshaping and
are played from a large organ console.
This is not the only musical attraction at
Luray. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 P.M. you can hear
a free 45-minute recital on the 47 bells of "The Luray Singing Tower," an
outstanding carillon built on the grounds above the caverns.
While at Luray Caverns you can also explore
the Historic Car and Carriage Caravan. The 75 vehicles in this
collection are all polished and ready to go. There are some sporty models to
see, including a 1908 Baker Electric, a 1927 Bugatti, a 1927 Rolls Royce that
belonged to Rudolph Valentino, a 1930 Cord and a 1935 Hispano Suiza. You can
also decide whether you would have preferred a Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge when you
view all three manufacturers' models for 1915.
Admission covers both the caverns, a U.S.
Registered Natural Landmark, and the historic vehicle museum. The first tour of
the caverns is at 9:00 A.M. every day and the last tour is given at 7:00 P.M.
from mid-June until Labor Day. From Labor Day to November the last tour is at
6:00 P.M. From November until mid-March the late tour on weekdays is at 4:00
P.M. and on weekends at 5:00 P.M. From mid-March until mid-June the last tour
is at 6:00 P.M.
Directions: From I-95 take the
Fredericksburg exit, Route 3 west to Culpeper. Then continue west on Route 522
to Sperryville and Route 211 to Luray. From the Washington Beltway I-495/95, it
is a 90-minute drive; take I-66 west to Route 522 at Front Royal and pick up
Skyline Drive, or Route 340 south. Then head west on Route 211 to Luray. From
I-81 take Exit 264 at New Market and head east on Route 211. Luray Caverns is
15 minutes from the central entrance to the Shenandoah National Park.
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TRAVEL
WRITERS WANTED
FREE
trial lesson in new
"WRITING TO
PUBLISH WORKSHOP."
Send us
an
email for details. Publication
is guaranteed for those
accepted in program. Instructor is
former president of the Society of
American Travel Writers.
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