Florida Caverns State ParkFlorida Caverns
The Florida Caverns have a long and interesting geologic history beginning about 38 million years ago when the southeastern coastal plain of the country was submerged. Shells, coral, and sediments gradually accumulated on the seafloor. As sea levels fell, these materials hardened into limestone. During the last million years, acidic groundwater dissolved crevices just below the surface creating cave passages large enough to walk through. Dazzling stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and other fragile formations were created throughout the karst.
While moving between the large underground rooms, visitors can observe the many chisel marks made by 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps workers as they enlarged the cave passageways by hand. The CCC lefts its mark. A walk around the 1,300-acre park reveals the remnants of a fish hatchery, a beautiful Visitor Center that houses the gift shop and museum, a 9-hole golf course, and much more.
Visitors will experience the wonder of the limestone cave system as tour guides take them on a journey through time to see formations that have grown slowly over thousands of years, a visual array of mystifying stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and draperies. They may also occasionally encounter animals that inhabit the cave such as bats, mice, cave crickets, salamanders, cave spiders, and the occasional snake or frog.
As the tour concludes, visitors ascend a 15-degree walkway to emerge into a hardwood forest and enjoy a self-paced walk back to the visitor center. A video of the cave tour and hiking trails before Hurricane Michael is offered in the museum at the visitors center for those who would rather enjoy the tour from the comfort of the theater.
Wikipedia
Trip AdvisorA 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Florida Caverns
Due to its karst topography, the Chipola River in Florida Caverns State Park flows down into a sink, travels under the ground for a short distance, then rises back to the surface about 150 feet downstream.Attraction Advice
Admission to the Florida Caverns is $10.75 per person over age 12 and $5 per person for age 3 to 12. Children age two and under are free. Guided cavern tours are offered Thursday through Monday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Caverns are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tours are first-come-first-served and can sell out on weekends and holidays. Visitors must be able to stoop through passages up to 15 feet long with a ceiling height of 4-1/2 feet, move through narrow passages, and descend/ascend 50 steps.
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- Sponsored by: Jackson County Tourist Development Council
- Florida Caverns
- Marianna
- (850) 482-1228