Marengo cave was designated as Marengo Cave National landmark in 1984 by the national park service and it is the most visited cave in the southern Indiana area. Marengo cave has been open year round for tours since 1883 and was discovered accidently by fifteen year old Blanche Heistand and her eleven year old brother Orris. They climbed down the small opening in the ground, discovered the cavern and notified the landowner. Several days later the cave was open to the public.
The Marengo caverns offer two tours, Crystal Palace Tour and Dripstone Lake Tour.
Crystal Palace Tour is one third of a mile long. This tour offers the scenic Mirror Lake which is an underground lake that offers a jungle like thickness of formations and modern technology has added a music and light show in the below ground amphitheater.
Dripstone Tour is a mile long tour that offers a view of the upside down wishing well commonly called penny ceiling. The thick mud made mostly of silt is a perfect resting ground for coins. This century old tradition is done by making a wish and throwing the coin at the ceiling. The coin will stick in the mud and legend has it the wish will come true. After decades of coins collecting on the roof it was decided to remove the coins to open up new space for additional coin throwers. Five hundred pounds of coins were collected with denominations from Canada, France, Belgium, Japan, Korea and The United States.
Marengo caverns maintain a yearly temperature of 52 degrees.
Included in the Marengo Cave National Landmark is the land designated as the national park. Blue River offers canoeing and kayaking. Hiking trails run along the Blue River or for the less energetic folk the park is filled with places to sit and relax. The park offers two levels of camping. Quaint cabins can be rented that offer spectacular views and they are located in the woodlands of the park. The cabins are rustic and campers are encouraged to bring their own bedding, and personal products. The cabins offer grills, electricity and community bathrooms and showers. The campsite camping offers creek side camping with on site water available, but there are no hook ups and no dumping stations. Of the twelve sites, four offers electric and the remaining eight are non electric. All twelve sites have a free standing 11 x 11 pavilion. A one car limit per site and no more than two tents are permitted.
The popularity of the park is enhanced by the modern attractions. A gemstone mining camp is set up in the park. For a nominal fee the miner gets to experience what original panning for gold felt like. There is a cave simulator that is a wooden maze that allows the traveler to crawl, twist and move in a narrow passage without the mud and water experienced in a natural cave.
Marengo Cave National Park is located at 400 East State Road 64, Marengo, IN 47140. To contact is writing, PO Box 217, Marengo, IN 47140. Phone (888) 702-2837 or (812) 365-2705.
