Dear Friends who have once visited 7 Caves,

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    For those of you who may have visited 7 Caves during the long and historic span it was open to the public (ever since 1928!), please know that cave exploration is no longer part of the offerings at Cave Canyon.

  Can we still see the caves? Under current operations, visitors may walk partway into Marble Cave on the Valley of the Ancients Trail, going far enough in to feel the edge of darkness, and the mysterious, cool humid air of the caves. Visitors who partake of the weekend guided hike option will also walk past the entrances of several caves on the Cave Canyon Trail, as well as tour the high-ceiling open grotto of Dancing Cave, which has natural light. However, we do not consider our visitor gateway of Cave Canyon to be a true cave destination, but rather an outstanding natural area well worth seeing. Although our caves are several in number, they are all quite small. If you want to see impressively big caves, we recommend other cave tour operations in Ohio and Kentucky that specialize in underground tours. If you want to see rare plants, sheer rock walls, and the compelling rock formations of the Rocky Fork Gorge, while learning more about the treasures of our Eastern forests, then we are a perfect destination for you. We highly recommend a visit.

    Why restrict cave access? Since acquiring 7 Caves in 2005 our non-profit has removed the lights in the caves and we are actively restoring them as they once were -- wild caves for wildlife habitat. Cave eco-systems are extremely rare in Ohio and we are managing one of the last wild caves systems to be found anywhere in the state. We are thrilled to report that four species of bats are once again inhabiting the caves. Mammal experts have asked all cave operations in the East to not permit people to enter active bat hibernation sites, in an effort to help stop the deadly disease that is alarmingly destroying bat populations in New York State (harmless to humans) and possibly spreading in our direction. Extinction is now a concern for some bat species, and we are taking the bat experts' recommendations very seriously on behalf of our natural bio-diversity.
    Unfortunately, during the 200 years the caves were open to unrestricted exploration, severe damage was inflicted on the geologic formations. We are sorry to say that when we purchased the caves in 1995, every stalagtite and stalagmite had been broken off. We are pleased to be able to show visitors that they are now growing back, ....ever so slowly. We want to give them all the time it takes, even if it be an eternity!