Caverns celebrates 50 years

Cumberland Caverns president Roy Davis was one of the driving forces behind opening the cave to the public in 1956. He remains with the tourist attraction today.

That?s why cave officials are proud of Cumberland Caverns? 50th anniversary celebration, taking place at the cave this Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

?Warren County is not a tourist area. Warren County is not even on a tourist route,? said Cumberland Caverns president and founder Roy Davis in a previous interview with the Standard.

?Cumberland Caverns is not what it could have been if it was in another area. And that?s not to say our purpose was to build a successful tourism business. In 1952 when we started developing the cave, we didn?t even know what tourism was. We wanted people to see the beauty of the cave and the beauty that we loved. That could have happened to a greater extent if we weren?t so far out of the way.?

Davis says around 35,000 people visit the cave annually with about a 50-50 mix of in-state and out-of-state tourists. That means roughly 17,500 out-of-state visitors travel to Warren County each year to see the cave.

?When we first started, a lot of people didn?t think we would make it,? Davis said yesterday. ?And we?re making it. We?re thankful for our first 50 years and we?re looking forward to the next 50 years.?

This Saturday?s celebration will serve as a thank you to the community.

?We just want to say thank you to Warren County,? said Cumberland Caverns manager Carol Pedigo. ?So Warren County residents will get tickets half off.?

Cumberland Caverns touts itself as America?s second largest cave and Tennessee?s largest show cave, with a maximum depth of 550 feet underground and 30 miles of caverns. It opened its doors in 1956. Since that time, tours have been offered from May 1 to Oct. 31.

Attracting visitors from all over the world, the cave offers those who visit the chance to see impressive cave formations, including towering stalactites and stalagmites, as well as flowstone and an underground waterfall and pool. It also boasts a 3/4-ton chandelier.

In honor of the cave?s anniversary, there will be free popcorn and lemonade served from a Jack Daniel?s barrel.

?That was served when the cave first opened,? said Pedigo. ?We thought it would be only right if we offered it this time too.?

Popcorn and regular lemonade will also be available for children and any adult who don?t want to partake of that particular brew. Homemade snacks, hot dogs and drinks will be on sale throughout the day.

Lending music to the celebration will be Coopers Creek, David Morrison and Not Half Bad. Music will begin in the amphitheater at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. It?s important to bring a blanket for the amphitheater concerts.

During the band breaks, there will be storytelling by Wally and Pat Bigbee during the morning and storytelling by Lea Chrisawn in the evening.

Within the cave, live organ music will be available in the volcanoes room.

Comfortable shoes are recommended and a light jacket due to the cave being a constant 56 degrees. Cameras are permitted (400 speed film and a flash are recommended).

General admission is $12.50 plus tax for adults, $7.50 plus tax for children 6-12 and children 5 and under are admitted free. Cave admission will be half price to all Warren County residents with ID.

For more information call 668-4396 or visit the Web site at www.cumberlandcaverns.com.