Jabba the Hut Meets Raiders of the Lost Ark
Or maybe it was Journey to the Center of the Earth, inside the Dixie Caverns in Salem, Virginia with my sister Trish and her family who were visiting from Massachusetts.
The caverns were named after the dog named Dixie who fell through a hole in the side of the mountain in 1920. Some farm boys followed to rescue her and the caverns were discovered.
People have gotten married at this formation called the wedding bell, but I called it Jabba the Hut. I wonder if cave bats came to the weddings. They were all sleeping when we were there.
We hiked up inside the mountain to a massive opening called the Cathedral Room. The crystallized stalactites hanging suspended over stalagmites were not in amazing colors like those depicted in the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” but they were impressive. It’s cold in the caverns and hard to take good photos. Everyone oohed and ahhed at the reflecting pool. At the end of the 45 minute tour our guide shut the lights out so we could experience total darkness. A little boy cried.
Post notes: See a video clip taken inside the caverns HERE and a video I call “Smile. You’re on Youtube” HERE.
Comments
That first picture came out awesome and lots of this brought back memories......esp the first video. xo
Posted by: Sherry | August 4, 2009 7:42 AM
neat place. I think I read of it once, long ago, unless dogs are in the habit of finding caverns like that. the acoustics in there must be wondrous as an orchestra. difference but also holy.
Posted by: Pearl | August 4, 2009 2:45 PM
i am always fascinated by caverns but always hesitant to visit them since i am claustrophobic. i am afraid i would feel too closed in and would have trouble breathing. :(
Posted by: sky | August 4, 2009 5:36 PM
These ones were pretty wide and expansive. Lots of climbing up steps though.
Posted by: colleen | August 4, 2009 5:48 PM
I have always wanted to tour some caves, but the only ones we've been to were in Barbados, where you had to ride in a tram.
Posted by: kenju | August 4, 2009 5:59 PM
I love caves, but I haven't been to Dixie in over 30 years. It is a great cavern, though.
Posted by: CountryDew | August 4, 2009 8:44 PM
I had always thought caves were more narrow openings and caverns were wide open. I did some research and learned that many people think of them this way, but that they can also be used interchangeably.
Posted by: colleen | August 4, 2009 8:58 PM