Charles Town Cave — also formerly known as Crystal Lake Cave and Lakeland Cave — is located in the center of Charles Town, West Virginia, United States.[1] One entrance was in the cellar of a bakery (since demolished) and led down to a passage about 175 feet long to a large pool of clear water about 25 feet in diameter. Much of the cave is under the current Old Opera House building.
| Charles Town Cave | |
|---|---|
| Location | Charles Town, West Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°17′27″N 77°51′33″W / 39.29083°N 77.85917°W |
| Length | 175 feet |
| Discovery | 1906 |
| Geology | Elbrook Limestone |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Access | Private property |
The cave was discovered accidentally in 1906 and was for a time developed as a commercial show cave in the late 1920s and early '30s. Water sampling in 1997 showed the presence of petroleum contamination in the water.[2]
The cave is closed to the public. Rumors persist about other entrances to the cave in various Charles Town and Ranson buildings.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Davies, William E. (1958), Caverns of West Virginia, 2nd edition, Volume XIX(A) of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Beckley, West Virginia: Biggs-Johnson-Withrow, pp 148.
- ^ Stortstrom, Mary (February 22, 2014). "History of underground cave explored". The Journal. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
External links
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