Cave exploring in Tennessee (Clarksville, Kingsport: schools, dangerous, safest)

[gemkeeper]

I found an interesting website on Tennessee caves for you cave explorers. There are over 100 caves in E. TN alone.

The motto on each page is what I found so interesting:

"Take only pictures, leave only carefully placed footsteps, and kill nothing but time."

A thought that might apply to any natural wonder that we visit and appreciate.

Has anyone on the forum visited any of these caves? Are they safe to explore?

Tennessee Caves

[alleycat]

You might be interested in this thread:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/tenne...ore-caves.html

[gemkeeper]

Wow, thank you, alleycat. That is a fascinating thread and loaded with websites and photos. Thank you.

My four grown sons will be especially thrilled as two of them have gone caving. My #2 son has explored underwater caves - not my cup of tea, but fascinating nonetheless.

[alleycat]

My brother was into caving when we were younger and we went to a lot of caves.

Rumbling Falls Cave near Fall Creek Falls looks really interesting.

[gemkeeper]

That is great that you have some experience with caving, alleycat. Does your brother still go?

I agree with the Rumbling Falls Cave. I'm glad that there are so many within a relatively short driving distance. This will be very exciting for my guys.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by gemthornton

That is great that you have some experience with caving, alleycat. Does your brother still go?

I agree with the Rumbling Falls Cave. I'm glad that there are so many within a relatively short driving distance. This will be very exciting for my guys.

No, nowadays he runs drugstores in Atlanta.

There are caves everywhere in Tennessee. Some of them haven't even been explored fully.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by gemthornton

Has anyone on the forum visited any of these caves? Are they safe to explore?

While attending ETSU in the early '80s, friends and I ventured into Worley's Cave (Sullivan Co., near Bluff City) several times. We were always ill-equipped which made for some stupidly exciting adventures! It's privately owned but some local adventure outfitters offer trips to the cave, which is probably the best (and safest) way to go. It is not very dangerous & I highly recommend it:
TDEC: DNH: Morril's Cave State Natural Area
Morrill Cave

[Beretta]

Growing up in Kingsport we went on field trips each year to one of the caves in the area. I remember being so grateful to get to go because the caves were so cool and our schools were not air conditioned.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

Growing up in Kingsport we went on field trips each year to one of the caves in the area. I remember being so grateful to get to go because the caves were so cool and our schools were not air conditioned.

There's a cave called Dunbar Cave near Clarksville (it was once owned by Roy Acuff). In the old days back in the thirties and forties it was "the place to go" because it was cool in the days before air conditioning. They had dances and concerts there. There was also a swimming pool and a small lake. It was on the way out by the time I was a kid but I remember going to a music concert there (I think Flatt and Scruggs and some other Opry stars played).

Now it's part of the Dunbar Cave State Recreational Area (or something like that).

[gemkeeper]

Thanks, all. I have made notes for our grand adventure. Anybody want to come along?

Thanks for the websites, kamoshika. I'll have to coerce my kids to use a guide, but I agree, that is the safest way to go. Especially, since I am not as nimble as I used to be!

It is really cool that you have all had great childhood experiences in the caves. You must have felt like Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Becky poking around those spooky caves.