Luray Caverns

The cave was found in 1878 by a party who felt cold air coming from a sinkhole and dug in. Word of its formations spread fast, despite two years of court fights over who owned it. The Great Stalacpipe Organ is what distinguishes it: Leland W. Sprinkle conceived it in 1954 and from 1956 spent three years selecting stalactites across roughly three and a half acres of the cavern, shaving them to pitch, and wiring a mallet to each so that a keyboard strikes them - the sound comes from the rock itself and fills the chamber. It is generally described as the largest musical instrument in the world. Dream Lake, a pool only about fifty centimetres deep, reflects the ceiling formations so exactly that visitors mistake it for depth.

What you'll find

• The Great Stalacpipe Organ - stalactites tuned and struck by mallets.
• Dream Lake - a shallow pool reflecting the ceiling exactly.
• A cave open since 1878 - found by following cold air from a sinkhole.
• Large decorated chambers - columns, draperies and flowstone.

When to go

Year round; the cave holds about 12 degrees. Two hours.

Practical notes

It is a paved commercial show cave, busy and moving in groups. Tickets are not cheap and bundled attractions add up. The organ is demonstrated briefly rather than played at length. Summer and holiday queues are long.

Nearby

Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are east.

Key facts