AN UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE

passage, caves provide a sense of mystery and wonder, and Florida Caverns is one of the few state parks with dry caves and the only state park in Florida to o er cave tours to the public.

Located in Marianna, just west of Tallahassee o of I-10, Florida Caverns is about three and a half hours from Ocala, which makes it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway.

“[The park] o ers visitors a chance to enjoy the irreplaceable natural, historic and cultural resources found within the park, as well as a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities along the Chipola River,” says Alex Cronin, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection press o ce. “The Florida Caverns has dazzling formations of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, owstones and draperies.”

The limestone formations in the cave are more than 30 million years old. In addition to the numerous caves that are located within the park, other geologic features of interest include sinkholes, limestone blu s and springs. These features were created over geologic time through a process called dissolution, which occurs when limestone is exposed to acidic water and is slowly dissolved away.

The park recently reopened to visitors after being closed since October 2018, due to damage sustained during Hurricane Michael.

“Florida Caverns sustained devasting damages and lost more than 90 percent of its thick canopied forest,” explains Alex. “Major progress has been made toward repairing infrastructure and utilities and removing debris. Thousands of trees that were generously donated by multiple

Florida Caverns State Park o ers a caving experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the state.

// BY MELISSA PETERSON

Never knowing what’s around each corner or through each

groups have been planted throughout the park.”

Cave tours resumed this past October, thanks to the hard work of the park’s dedicated sta and volunteers.

“Guided cave tours now feature a state-of-the-art, energy-e cient lighting system that illuminates the cave while protecting the lightsensitive ecosystems of the cavern,” Alex says. “Visitors can now see the cave formations clearly without the use of a ashlight.”

On the tours, visitors are guided through a dozen cave rooms where they can learn about the cave’s history, early uses and interesting geological formations. Visitors may occasionally encounter animals that inhabit the cave, such as bats, mice, cave crickets, salamanders, cave spiders and the occasional snake or frog. You can also see the chisel marks made by 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps workers.

“These hard-working men enlarged the cave passageways by hand so visitors could stand upright during guided tours,” says Alex. “They also built the park’s spacious visitor center.”

When entering the caverns, it will take a few moments to acclimate to the dimly lit environment and year-round 65-degree temperature. 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.

Cave tours are o ered Friday through Monday on a rst-come, rstserved basis and last approximately 45 minutes. Guided cave tour tickets can be purchased, in person, at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop beginning at 9am. Be aware that the cave tours can sell out, so arrive early.

Florida Cavern State Park // 3345 Caverns Rd., Marianna // (850) 526-2650 // oridastateparks.org