What is the difference between a cave and a caverns? -- “Cave” refers to the entire structure; “caverns” refers to the individual rooms within the cave. Shenandoah Caverns contains 17 unique caverns or rooms.

Shenandoah Caverns claims to have thrilled visitors for 100 years. It is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. As of this date, the two RV Gypsies have been to 14 other caves previously and all can be seen by using the TOC button at the bottom of most pages on this website, or choose the letter "C" and scroll down to caves. More caves are likely to be in their future. IF you go there now, please return here to finish this page, or finish this page before using the underlined link above.

Shenandoah Caverns is a commercial show cave located near Mount Jackson, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley and it is said to be the ONLY cavern in Virginia that has elevator access. It was discovered in 1884.

The Shenandoah Caverns has a mile-long guided tour and its temperature naturally remains at 54 degrees year round. Seventeen "rooms" of connecting chambers are traveled through during this time. Geological formations have been named: the Diamond Cascade, the Grotto of the Gods, the Rainbow Lake, the Oriental Tea Garden, and the Capitol Dome, and these are lighted for display. The "bacon" formations were featured in a 1964 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Below: Karen Duquette took photos in the playground outside of Shenandoah Caverns

Below: Lee Duquette approached the Shenandoah Caverns Entrance and gift shop

Below: The Sign says "the smallest post office?" The sign has a Question Mark there. But someplace, Karen Duquette remembers seeing another post office with the same claim, but she could not find the photo to be sure.

Below: Signs by the Elevator door in the gift shop

The two RV Gypsies chose to ride the elevator down into the caverns. After exiting the elevator, Karen Duquette took a photo looking up at the 79 stairs they avoided. The two RV Gypsies do not know why Rock City elves are here. Guess they wanted to visit the Caverns.

Below: Warning sign and temperature gauge. Yet, Karen Duquette did not think it felt as cold as other caves did.

Below: Listening to the welcome speech by the caverns tour guide. It is about a one-mile long guided tour.

Below: As with all caverns, it is completely dark until the guide turns on lights. Without the lights being on, a person can NOT even see their own hands waving in front of their face. Of course, this was demonstrated to everyone on the tour. Many areas had lights embedded in the formations to provide visitors with better views. Some areas even had colored lights as will be shown later down this page.

FYI: Stalactites form along ceilings and hang downward. You can remember this with the phrase “Stalactites hang TIGHT to the ceiling.”

When stalactites are actively forming, they drip water. Where that water hits the floor, a mound-shaped stalagmite will form. You can remember this with the phrase “Stalagmites push up with all of their MIGHT.”

Flowstone refers to sheets of calcium carbonate that form along cave walls. Flowstone hangs downward and may create curtain-like sheaves along ledges, better known as draperies - as shown below.

Below: "Bacon strips" overhead

Below: Looking up at the ceiling in the cavern.

Below: The ONLY spot in the cave were visitors are allowed and encouraged to throw coins into a shallow pool of water and make a wish. (Do NOT throw paper money even though some paper money was already in there)

Below: Between the path and the formations on the side of the cavern, there was a very narrow strip of very clear water with great reflections.

Below: Across from the photos just above, there was a small opening with colorful lights

Below: Zoomed in views of the area shown just above. It was not a very big opening.

Below: Looking up at the ceiling to see the "Angel Wings"

Below: Looking up to a very small section overhead in the cavern was adorned with colorful lights.

Below: The guide turned on different colored lights in this area.

Below: A colorful area with a great reflection in a few inches of water

Below: Karen Duquette in front of the bright colors reflecting in the water. Lee Duquette did not know how to turn on the flash, which the guide said was okay to do. Everyone else was waiting for their turn here, so Karen told Lee not to worry about it. There were a lot of people on this tour.

Below: Is this the Abominable Snowman - cave style???

Below: And again, the guide showed the same formation shown above but with different colored lights shining on it.

Below: Fossils