When I was glued to my TV set last year watching the rescue of those soccer boys trapped in a cave in Thailand, I thought about times I had been in caves. Most of those experiences were in Tennessee. Caves in Tennessee are fascinating. One of my encounters was in a primitive cave near South Pittsburgh. Usually a primitive cave is one that is undeveloped, with no pathways, no paid guides, and no admission fees. Those types of caves are on private property. Of course, all of the well-known caves were once primitive, until someone saw the opportunity to make a little money.

I was younger when I did that cave near South Pitt, adventuring with a group of teen-age girls on a church outing. In some places you had to crawl on your hands and knees, and you certainly had to carry your own flashlight, sometimes in your mouth. Yes, the owner was there, too.

It was awesome! There is a kind of raw power in a cave and you feel very small. It is exhilarating, knowing that some higher hand was in the formation of a place so massive. When people say that it feels like the walls are sometimes closing in, yes, I understand that, but seldom felt it.

I have also never had claustrophobia in a cave. The claustrophobia I saved for my first MRI. Perhaps if I had gone through the Fatman’s Squeeze in Lost Sea, I might be talking a different tune.

Speaking of which, Lost Sea is near Sweetwater, Tennessee. It is unique in that when you go down into the cave you also get a boat ride on the large underwater lake. They claim that it’s the largest underground lake in the world. It’s a fascinating adventure along paths that are pretty safe. The fish in the lake have been there so long they are blind.

The guides give you a great deal of information, including the fact that a couple of farm boys discovered the current entrance. Before that, the cave had a variety of purposes, including a saltpeter manufacturing operation during the Civil War. Indian artifacts were found in parts of the cave, too. After its most recent discovery, it had been used as a social club during the prohibition. It was found that alcohol reacted differently in the human body a hundred feet underground.

Another place is Tuckaleechee Caverns near Townsend in Blount County. It is not quite as commercial or developed as Lost Sea, but it has spectacular stalactites/stalagmites.

This is where the guide turns out the lights so you can feel and hear what it’s like being underground. They boast one of the largest underground caverns in the world. The “Big Room” is 400 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 150 feet high.

Cavers once had a banquet in the Big Room. There is a spectacular falls and the guides are some of the friendliest around. It also houses one of the most sensitive earthquake and nuclear test seismic stations in the world.

Further south, in Chattanooga, is a cave called Ruby Falls. It sits on the side of Lookout Mountain, right off I-24, and is open almost all year round. This cave was not accessible until the 20th Century, having no natural opening to the outside, so it has no artifacts from the past. It was actually found when a cave enthusiast named Leo Lambert thought the Lookout Mountain cave complex would be a good tourist attraction. His company bought the land and he began drilling above the known caves to make an easier access.

In doing so, he found an 18 inch high, 4 foot wide tunnel that led to the falls. So enchanted was he with this find that he took his wife, Ruby, into the cave and told her he would name it after her. After the access had been dug out and an elevator installed, tours began. The Lookout Mountain cave was closed due to the popularity of Ruby Falls. The falls hosts various themed events throughout the year. It isn’t a strenuous walk, but some areas are a little bit narrow. The falls are worth the effort, backlit for spectacular effect.
These are only a few of the 10,000 known caves in Tennessee. Caves are scary to some folks, but are geologically some of the most fascinating places to visit. If you google Tennessee caves, you will find all kinds, many closer than you think!

Susan Kite is the author of five published books for young adults, including the Mendel Experiment trilogy, which is science fiction, My House of Dreams, historical fiction, and Realms of the Cat, fantasy. She has also contributed stories to anthologies and is a member of Authors Guild of Tennessee.