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 Remember
Grapevine |
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Beautiful landmark in Grapevine
Cave, WV, now turned green by lighting in commercial caverns. photo by A. Braithwaite |
The first place we investigated was a small cave on H.L. Brant's farm. To enter the cave one must descend on a rope or ladder about 15 feet, and from there on the going is easy. As a matter of record, Mr. Brant has a pipe through the ceiling of the cave from which he used to get water which was pumped from a pool in the bottom. The pool is now dried up and apparently the stream has gone to a lower level.
Mr. Brant was the one who advised us to go to the hole on Col. H.B. Moore's farm which finally was named by us, as "Grapevine Cave." This cave has its entrance on the side of a hill which has a very gradual slope. It is near midway an the slope, and is surrounded by a clump of trees as have been most caves of this type.
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Early trip to Grapevine, Cave, about 1950. Photo by S.A. Loyd |
We figured the entrance was 105 feet deep and that the three rooms totalled approximately 175 to 200 yards long. Incidentally, the entrance was a straight drop and you could not reach the walls on the descent. A combination of rappel and safety rope was used to reach bottom. We were hauled out hand-over-hand by our two companions, Suter and Mann on top. We did not get to take temperature readings or compass directions.
A thing of great pleasure to me was the fact that I was the first person ever to reach the bottom of the shaft and view its beautiful formations. Incidentally, I think that the formations in this cave are about the most beautiful I have seen in any uncommercialized cave in the state. The farmers around there have been dumping their dead and diseased cattle into the hole as a means of disposal, and therefore the bottom of the shaft is not the most pleasant smelling place in the world. When you are in the nicest side of the cave there is no odor, however; and after getting a few feet away from this spot, it becomes a pleasant trip.
After completing the photos of this cave we explored three other small ones which were very pretty but nothing to arouse much enthusiasm.
Commercial entrance to Grapevine Photo by P.C. Lucas |
THE LOST WORLD HYPE "Explorers partially explored the Lost World in the early 1900's. It was first entered from a deep dark opening called Grapevine Cave, but remained little known because few people endured the hardships. In 1967, explorers discovered and excavated a new ground level entrance that leads you directly to the Great Inner Chambers. Shortly thereafter a modern electrical system was installed and trails were conditioned so that casual visitors and family groups can now stroll safely alone, the easy trails and thrill to the wonders of nature that were inaccessible Only a few short years ago. |
Jame "Moose" Dawson Was employed in 1967 to excavate the new opening and thereafter did the bulk of the work necessary to commercialize the cave. He served as the Caverns first manager for two years.
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previous--The Ugly Caver
next--Windy Mouth pt1
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VAR home page
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