Luray Caverns

Sep 6

One of the first sites we saw after entering the caves was Dream Lake. The still water was reflective, wide and shallow, like a mirror or a portal. I was struck by the size of some of the caverns, imagining them flooded and cold, slowly wearing away into what they are now.

Some of the formations were remarkable in their complexity, or else in their history. There is a massive spilled stalactite in between two of the marked paths. There are numerous stalactites that formed dripping down in mushroom-like cascade formations, and many roped off paths where a person could get stuck or fall deeper down.

As pleasant as the caves were, as much as I wanted to be left down there long enough to lose my sense of time, and therefore possibly gain a different perspective, I think the hedge maze was one of my favorite parts of the entire location. I don’t see hedge mazes often. Why would anyone in my neck of the woods manage topiaries so beautifully when they can just do a pop up haunted house from September through October? I love hedge mazes. This one was particularly enchanting. It was pleasant to hear the laughing of the other parties ahead of us. There’s a built tower near the end of the maze that lets you look out on the whole layout, and just past that is a fountain and a small pool.

I can’t recommend Luray Caverns enough if you’ve the time and you’re near Luray, Virginia.

One of the tourist destinations we visited in Virginia last week was the Luray Caverns. Formed from very slightly acidic water wearing away at the stone over millions of years. I found out later that it is well known for the number of stalactites and stalagmites within the cave system. There are self-guided tours marketed alongside a fine little hedge maze on the outer grounds.

A cascade formation that looks a lot like fungi

The Cathedral Cavern was the largest and widest of the caves I think. It had a particularly interesting musical instrument, the Great Stalactite Organ. It spans a ridiculous amount of the caverns covertly, using rubber mallets on various stalactites to produce small tones. The organ itself plays every few minutes, the attendant encouraging visitors to stand in the center of the Cathedral for the best sound. We also learned that dances and weddings used to be held in that same cavern, and I ached for photos or illustrations of those dances from the attendants. The Cathedral is nearer the end of the tour and leaves a profound impact on the mind of someone wondering at their formation, at their persistence in existing over uncounted years.