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My husband and I are cave people. We just can’t get enough caves! We love exploring caves, cave hotels, cave spas, cave animals, cave everything!
While I wouldn’t consider us a daring pair of spelunkers by any means, we love exploring these underground spaces, admiring incredible natural formations, and appreciating just how old these caves can be.
On our PCS move from New Jersey to Colorado, we stopped at several caves along the way. The first one was Lost World Caverns, a unique cave system located in Lewisburg, West Virginia. This hidden gem is shielded by an unassuming entrance consisting of a charming wooden gift shop complete with a running watermill, a black bear-shaped bench, and even a few resident llamas! It was also my first time in West Virginia, so I was excited to see all that this beautiful state has to offer.
Stepping into the cave, we embarked on the general admission, 45-minute self-guided cave tour. The experience was truly unique as we explored the entire cave system at our own pace, taking in the beauty and history of this place. It was the perfect amount of time to visit the cave, and it kept us on schedule for our long cross-country road trip.
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History of Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns was discovered in 1942 by researchers from Virginia Tech after a sinkhole was found. The sinkhole was previously used as a place for surrounding farmers to dispose of trash (there are still some remnants of this part of its history).
In the 1960s, researchers discovered over a mile of interconnected passageways. In 1964, scientists discovered the remains of a prehistoric cave bear species, and in 2015, they found the remains of one of the oldest black bears in West Virginia.
Things to See (Notable Formations)
We did the general admission tour, a 45-minute self-guided cave tour. Signage at each significant formation makes it easy to navigate the cave passageways while learning about the cave’s incredible history.
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The Ice Cream Wall
The Ice Cream Wall was my favorite formation in Lost World Caverns and one of the first ones you’ll see as you step into the cave. This wall actually looks like a massive glob of melting ice cream, both chocolate and vanilla. It’s incredible to see this solid rock that looks like it’s melting. It honestly made me a bit hungry for some ice cream, something the gift shop should seriously consider selling.
Bridal Veil
The bridal veil is one of the most stunning formations in the cavern. This gorgeous column is made of pure calcite crystal, which is why it’s so shiny and sparkly. A limestone column is created when a stalactite (from the ceiling) and a stalagmite (from the floor) meet and grow into one formation. This process takes thousands and thousands of years to happen.
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Goliath
The aptly named Goliath is the largest column in Lost World Caverns, standing 40 feet tall. It is estimated that this mammoth column is five million years old! You can see it standing tall over the rest of the formations in the cave system on the right side of this photo.
Snowy Chandelier
The breathtaking Snowy Chandelier is an enormous stalactite towards the end of the cavern’s loop trail. It’s estimated that this massive stalactite weighs more than 30 tons and is one of the largest stalactites ever discovered.
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The War Club
This towering 28-foot-tall stalagmite became famous when caver Bob Addis sat on top of it for nearly 16 days, making it into the Guinness Book of World Records for “stalagmite sitting.” I have so many questions…
Looking for a more thrilling experience? Lost World Caverns offers an incredible four-hour Wild Cave Tour. On this tour, you’ll navigate through narrow passageways and dark cave corners and crawl through some mud. Be prepared with clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, hiking boots, a towel, and a change of clothes. Lunch, snacks, and water are provided.
Where to Stay Near Lost World Caverns
There are several hotels just a few minutes away from Lost World Caverns. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lewisburg and enjoyed our stay there. The room was large, the staff was friendly, and you can’t beat a free breakfast. Here are a few other nearby hotels:
- Hampton Inn Lewisburg
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lewisburg
- Quality Inn Lewisburg
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Lewisburg
- Super 8 by Wyndham Lewisburg
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Tips for Visiting Lost World Caverns
- Get there early. If you want to have the cave all to yourself, I recommend getting there as soon as it opens! Lost World Caverns opens every day at 9 a.m. We got there as soon as it opened and were the only ones in the cave until shortly before we exited. This allowed us to go at our own pace and read all about each unique formation.
- Wear non-slip shoes. You’ll have to walk at a slight decline to get to the actual cave entrance from the gift shop. Once inside the cave, the ground will be damp. I didn’t have any issue with slipping since the path is fairly flat, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Bring a jacket. No matter the outside temperature, Lost World Caverns stays at a constant 52 degrees year-round. I brought a hoodie and wore athletic leggings, and felt absolutely fine.
Click here to book your admission to Lost World Caverns!
Address: 907 Lost World Rd, Lewisburg, WV 24901
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