Lost World Caverns - Lewisburg, WV

---

These caverns are a registered Natural Landmark and they showcase a myriad of amazing formations. Discovered in 1942, this world of natural beauty is 1 1/4 miles long and goes 235 feet deep into the West Virginia hills. The temperature is a steady 52 degrees and boasts stalagmites up to 80 feet tall.

You will discover beautiful structures cleverly named The Snowy Chandelier, The Pigtail, Smurf Village, The War Club, the Cathedral, and the Bridal Veil. See if you can pick some of them out in the slide show below.

Since it is located on a lovely Greenbrier Valley farm, outside you will also find some happy llamas, horses, and goats.

They are open daily and have a large picnic area outside to enjoy as well. The only days they are closed are Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

907 Lost World Road, Lewisburg, WV 24901

866-228-3778

www.LostWorldCaverns.com

Inside the Visitor Center you will find a fascinating collection of dinosaur fossils and replicas. There are many other kinds of fossils too, ranging from ammonites and trilobites, to Giant Sloths and Giant Sea Scorpions. These tunnels are famous for the discovery of a prehistoric cave bear whose remains were unearthed in 1967.

There are Self-guided Tours, which is what we did, that last for about 45-minutes, and there are Wild Cave Tours, in which those more adventurous can explore undeveloped parts of the cavern for 4-hours with a guide. All needed equipment is provided. Just bring your hiking boots.

This place also houses a lovely 3,500 square foot gift shop, filled with all kinds of souvenirs. I picked up a collection of rocks and ammonite fossils to go with a geology unit for school while the teens picked up necklaces, rock candy, and stone figurines. 

There are so many types of stones, crystals, geodes, and minerals there that you'll wish you had brought a truck to carry them all in.

And of course, there are your typical souvenirs, like t-shirts, stickers, and rings. 

If your family collects squished pennies from those fun machines (like we did), they have one there too and a giant Big Foot statue and dinosaur you can take your picture with.  

And last but not least, you can "mine" for semi-precious gems, minerals, fossils, and arrowheads, with a screen like they did in the old days using an authentic water sluice.