Monday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
If you want to take a tour of Laurel Caverns and discover the history for yourself discover The Six Ways To See Laurel Caverns.
The Laurel Caverns Visitors’ Center is where you will begin your trip. There is ample parking for cars and buses in our tiered parking lot which leads down to our meeting area. Within the Visitors’ Center you will sign waivers, receive an introduction to the cave along with access to the cave.
With about 10,000 sq. ft. the Grottos is the largest simulated cave in the world. It was created for the purpose of studying the birth and growth rate of stalactites. Here, children may see real stalactites while, with the lanterns provided, safely explore a dark cave. They are also invited to play archeologist and find 12 animal paintings put there by “prehistoric cavemen.” This is an ideal cave exploring activity for children between 4 and 9 years of age.
Family Lookout which is off the back deck of the Laurel Caverns Facility to see a beautiful view high above Chestnut Ridge.
This popular activity is done in a cave-like setting in a room adjacent to the Laurel Caverns Gift Shop. Participants are given a card showing all the gems they might find, a sand-filled bag containing those gems, a bag to hold the gems, and a sifting tray. They then work the tray in a waist-high water trough that simulates those used to pan for gold in he 1800s. The cost per bag varies with size and market conditions, but there is an effort to keep the cost at Laurel Caverns below what is charged elsewhere.
Our Souvenir Shop has reasonably priced items every child can afford along with Laurel Caverns collectibles for all ages. We’ve got a fantastic collection of T-shirts that can only be found on site. If shopping time is a problem for school groups we’ve got pre-set souvenir packages with a variety of items ranging in price from $3-$4 which can be ready with advanced arrangements.
It is the mission of the Laurel Caverns Conservancy to preserve and protect the Laurel Caverns property from commercial development and to utilize it instead for educational purposes by providing low cost learning services, with an emphasis on geology and environmentalism, to the general public, schools, summer camps, scouting groups and other such organizations while assuring them a safe and attractive environment in which to observe and study the natural qualities of this privately preserved park.