Comments on: Luray Caverns: No Respect

By: Richard Auger

Richard Auger — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:05:39 +0000

I checked out your post and other blogs, awesome job shooting with available light! Looks like your family had fun. Adults have to do a little more ducking than kids. Keep up the good work!

By: Lewis Nelson

Lewis Nelson — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:19:51 +0000

I posted my short review, although with a different purpose than yours (which I highly agree with), as well as pics I took (without flash or tripod by the way) last weekend. If you have a chance, check out my post. I'm not a photographer like you, but I do love taking pictures! Thanks for your posting by the way.

By: Richard Auger

Richard Auger — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:17:56 +0000

Hey Lewis, thanks for your comment. As long as you avoid the weekends and especially the major holidays, I think you would be ok to visit. I went there on Memorial Day in 2010, and it was an absolute madhouse. It was very nice and cool inside the cave, and was quite a nice walk. The real disappointment was the touching of the rock formations, which I remember from other caverns was grounds to be thrown out. From other comments and emails, it seems that the private management has fallen apart.

I’ll try to add a few shots of the Shenandoah Valley at the end of the post, I’ll let you know if I do. I remember that it was cloudless and the sun was intense that day, and I didn’t like the photos too much. I’ll take a look through my archives this weekend and see what I did up.

Thanks for commenting!

By: Lewis Nelson

Lewis Nelson — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 12:06:38 +0000

Enjoyed the posting… I went to the caverns almost every year as a kid growing up in Manassas and my wife and I were thinking of escaping the Charlottesville heat today by bringing the kids up. My very first thought was… I bet it will be really crowded. I remember the groups being so large that I would hardly get to see much as a little kid and always felt crowded. But I also remember loving the caverns and being amazed at the beauty. I was shocked to see flash photography being allowed… I actually remember signs and guides telling us flash photography was not allowed. I also remember being told not to touch anything. I haven’t been since about 1990 so I guess things change.

I would love to see the pics you took of the Shenandoah Valley. I’m sure they are long forgotten in your queue of shots, but you would have at least one admiring blog viewer!!

By: Kenzie

Kenzie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:01:52 +0000

Did you voice your opinion to a member of management or even ask those around you not to touch the formations? As a former employee of Luray Caverns, I find it difficult to hear you compare a small caverns in Florida to the 64 acres that make up the 3rd largest caverns in the United States that is Luray Caverns. The reasoning behind the “Wishing Well” (where the coins are thrown in) is because tourists were throwing coins in all the bodies of water. The management thought the best solution was to designate one area.

Luray Caverns is privately owned, it is not part of any park system. The Great Stalacpipe Organ was created in the 1950′s by a man who specialized in making organs. He had a strict agreement with management to use plastic gloves as he used a rubber tipped mallet to search for perfect tones to fit the notes of the organ. The organ has been recognized by National Geographic, the Guinness Book of World Records (the organ is the world’s largest natural instrument), and even Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. It was produced with the greatest care, and in my opinion should not be taken out.

As for the tourists doing as they please and the use of headsets for tours, I do agree that this hurts the trip for most other people. I was employed by Luray Caverns in the days of guided tours and stricter rules, but with half a million visitors each year, I suppose the headsets are the only solution to keep unruly lines down.

For your enjoyment, I recommend you visit other larger caverns in the United States, such as Mammoth Caverns and Carlsbad, the 1st and 2nd largest caverns in the US. I wouldn’t recommend Shenandoah Caverns, it is small and uses colored lights to make their small formations seem attractive; which isn’t exactly what a photographer of your stature is looking for I’m sure.

I hope I provided a little more insight into your Luray Caverns experience, and next time, please voice your opinion to management!

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:26:23 +0000

I absolutely agree! When Mercedes and I saw Luray Caverns we had the same sad impression. Especially, since we saw the Shenandoah Caverns just one day earlier. There is a big, big difference between the two. We also met the owner of the Shenandoah Caverns in his float exhibit. I would still prefer the Shenandoah Caverns without the gravel floor, but that’s better than the concrete in Luray Caverns. As long as tourists visit Luray Caverns and pay, the owners will keep raping this wonderful peace of natural artwork…

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:10:02 +0000

Thanks for your comment Allison. Next time I visit my brother in Arlington, VA I’ll go check it out. I drove through part of the Shenandoah Valley, it was quite beautiful. I’ll eventually post those pictures as well.

By: Allison Dugan

Allison Dugan — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:03:09 +0000

Next time you are in Virginia, please visit Shenandoah Caverns, where we offer personalized tours and have the state’s only cavern elevator making it very accessible. We have level walkways and 17 cool rooms with very unique and pristine formations. Luray Caverns are beautiful and the most “popular”, but give us try and let our Family of Attractions entertain your Family.