Caves of Virginia

767 Pages·1964·103.413 MB·English

by  Henry H. Douglas

* l/ O iy im a
By
Henry H. Douglas
Virginia Region
of the
National Speleological Society
VIR G INIA CAVE SURVEY
Falls Church, Virginia
All rights reserved-no part of this book
may be reproduced in any form without
permission in. writing from the publi­
sher, except by a reviewer who wishes
to quote brief passages in connection
with a review written for inclusion in
magazine or newspaper.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 64-23716
Copyright © , 1964, by Henry H. Douglas
Printed in the United States of America.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Foreword
Brother G. Nicholas...............................................ii
Introduction and Acknowledgements
H. H. Douglas . . . ' ...................................... 1
Arrangement of M aterial........................................... 7
Cave Map Symbols.................................................. 9
Cave Conservation
Philip M. Smith & O thers....................... 10
The Geologic Setting
William E. D a vies.............................. 15
"Caves" East of Blue Ridge
H. H. Douglas ....................................... 29
The Saltpetre Caves of Virginia
Burton S. F a u s t................... 31
The Biology of Virginia Caves
John R. Holsinger ....................................57
Cave Descriptions by Counties, Preceded by Quad-
County Diagrams and an Alphabetical List for
each County - with _54 pictures and 69_ cave
m aps.......................................................................75
Facsimile Reproductions of the _57 7 1/2 Minute
Quadrangles, 4j) 15 Minute Quadrangles and
_1 30 Minute Quadrangle on which Caves are
located................................................................. 588
Facsimile Reproductions of the j> Quadrangles
where there is limestone but where no Caves
have been reported..............................................696
List and Descriptions of Maps and Sketches of
Virginia C aves......................................................702
Bibliography of Sources on Virginia Caves
William E. D a v ie s..............................................721
General Index ..................................................735
i
FOREWORD
Virginia is a unique state. Not only is it one of the most
beautiful states in this country above ground, but its sub-surface
area features scenes as magnificent and impressive as those to
be observed while traveling over the state. Few states have as
large a proportion of their total area underlain with caves as
does Virginia and no state possesses a greater diversity of
geological formations in its caves. Thus, this book is not merely
a recording of the location of 1790 caves. Rather, it is an attempt
to place before those interested the description and explanation
of the most fascinating natural resource left in Virginia that is
yet in a relatively pristine condition.
Caves have for centuries been a source of intrigue and mystery
to man. However, only within the past fifty years has the study
of caves become an organized science. This study is that of
speleology. In 1933 the first survey of caves of Virginia was
compiled by William M. McGill, assistant state geologist. McGill
listed fifty caves in Caverns of Virginia. How is it that less
than thirty years later it is possible to publish a volume containing
over 34 times as many caves? The answer lies in the activities
of the National Speleological Society, which was organized in 1940
for the specific purpose of exploring, mapping and making scientific
studies of the caves of the United States. Interestingly enough, the
genesis of the society dates back to several meetings held in
Richmond, Virginia, in 1939. For more than half of its existence
the principal officers of the National Speleological Society either
lived in or did their cave exploration predominantly in Virginia.
It became immediately apparent that a thorough catalogue of the
caves of Virginia was needed but the magnitude of the task acted
as a deterent for many years. Members of the National Speleological
Society have published surveys of the caves of Texas, Maryland,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Iowa, Vermont, Tennessee
and California but it is only now that the survey of the “ home”
state of the National Speleological Society appears.
The immense job of preparing this volume was initiated
by Henry H. Douglas in 1954. Since then, aided by members of
the D. C. Grotto (the Washington, D.C., chapter of the National
Speleological Society), and other members and groups in the
Virginia Region, Douglas has traveled over and under most of the
state gathering the information contained herein. This was truly
a labor of love for Douglas since he has spent practically all his
spare time doing this survey, receiving no remuneration for his
activities. Aided by the hundreds of field trip reports filed in
the headquarters of the National Speleological Society, Douglas
has correlated all the information available dealing with the
caves of Virginia and has produced a book that is indeed a worthy
successor to the surveys listed above.
With the gaining of a knowledge of the caves to be gleaned
from this book goes a concommitant duty to preserve these caves
intact. It has taken millions of years for the formation of the
geological phenomena found in these caves. The species of animals
represented and the multitudes of stalactities, stalagmites, helictites
and other speleothems are irreplaceable. Because of the unusual
underground environment these cave features are rare - rarer
perhaps than any other natural wonder in the state. The managers
of commercial caves have done much to inspire all visitors with
the realization of the necessity of preserving cave features. Today,
the modern means of transportation and increased leisure time
are giving large numbers of persons the opportunity to explore the
non-developed caves. These persons have a special privilege;
that of viewing marvels seen by few other men. But there is also an
obligation to save these wonders for others to view. Virginia has a
rich historical and scenic heritage. Underground beauty is an
integral part of this heritage. Thus, use this book with pleasure
but do nothing to prevent others from having the delight of observing
intact all facets of the natural history of the caves of Virginia.
Brother G. Nicholas, F.S.C., Past President
National Speleological Society
Biology Department, University of Notre Dame

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
“Caves of Virginia* is the result of the work of many indi­
viduals and groups during the past twenty years, and is a direct
product of the organization of the National Speleological Society in
1940. Before that time any knowledge of the “wild* caves of
Virginia was limited to the large ones scattered throughout the
state. Beyond this, knowledge of the existence of any particular cave
or caves was limited almost completely to local people who had
found them on their farms or, perhaps, while hunting. To those of us
who have done considerable cave hunting it has seemed that
knowledge of the existence of caves has almost been cellular. It is
necessary to get within three or four miles of a cave before it is
possible to find people who might know about it and it is always
a surprise to find a local person who knows about a cave many
miles away.
Because of this cellular knowledge of the existence of caves it
has been necessary for cave hunters to travel an untold number of
miles on hundreds of “expeditions* in order to accumulate the
information in this book. This also points up the fact that such a
survey as this book represents could never have been carried
out before the advent of the automobile and the extensive road
system which now covers the state and nation. The travel necessary
to compile this record simply could not have been accomplished.
As much as we would like to acknowledge the contributions of
all the individuals and groups who have contributed to this record
this is hardly possible. Individual credits fox work on specific caves
and the production of cave maps has been given throughout the
text. We would like here to pay special tribute to Earl M. Thierry
who, for many years, has contributed a vast amount to the recorded
knowledge of Virginia caves, and who has produced approximately 70
maps and sketches of various caves both large and small. Two of
the larger ones are Newberry-Bane in Bland County and Clover
Hollow in Giles County. More recently, John R. Hoi singer has added
45 cave maps to the archives, among which are Porter's, Clark’s
and Starr Chapel in Bath County.
During the early 1940s the principal recorded work was done in
some of the northern counties by the D.C. Chapter of the Society as
well as by William J. Stephenson, Earl Porter, G. Alexander
Robertson, Col. Robert P. Carroll of the Virginia Military Institute
and other members of the Washington and Lee-Virginia Military
Institute Chapter of the Rockbridge County area.
The most concentrated work, previous to 1954, was done by the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute Cave Club during the period between
1945 and 1950. A substantially complete record was made of the
caves of Giles County. This record was compiled into a manuscript
which was completed in 1950. The contents of this manuscript have
been incorporated into the present survey. In the Giles County
chapter, where no specific credit has been given, we are indebted
1
2 CAVES OF VIRGINIA
to this 1950 manuscript for cave descriptions, locations, etc.
Among the most active members of this VPI group were Earl M,
Thierry, Joseph D. Lawrence, Jr., Samuel C. Rainey, Edward F.
Moore and Albert Mueller. During the summer of 1960 William E.
Gallimore did extensive work in Giles and Montgomery counties.
Other organized Chapters which have made substantial contri­
butions are those at the University of Virginia and at Wytheville.
Members of the no longer active Wytheville Chapter whose work is
reflected in this book are Jean Lowry, Earl M. Thierry and Larry
and Betty Sabatinos. Their work is reflected both individually and
as a group. Appropriate acknowledgement has been given throughout
the book. Extensive records kept by this group have been in­
corporated into the book.
Members who have concentrated on the organized completion of
the survey in specific counties are: Kenton H. Broyles, Frederick
County; Marguerite Klein, Warren County; Leslie H. Durloo, Jr.,
Page County; Felix Peckham, Shenandoah County; JohnR. Holsinger
and H. H. Douglas, Rockingham County; Richard D. By rom, Augusta
County; Barbara Hagen, Highland County; and Robert Detterman,
Bath County; and John R. Holsinger and William Mauck in Lee,
Scott, Wise and Russell counties. Others who have contributed
substantially to the knowledge of particular areas are Kennedy
Nicholson and his sons Michael and David in Highland and Bath
counties (their work led to the discovery of the Butler Cave-
Sinking Creek System, the largest in the state); Oscar P. Estes
Augusta and 'Highland counties; Clifford Forman, Roanoke and Craig
counties; William E. Gallimore, Giles County; and Roger Daugherty,
Lee, Scott and Wise counties. My own field work has taken me to
nearly every cave county in the state, but more particularly to
Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham, Highland, Bath, Alleghany, Rock­
bridge, Botetourt, Roanoke, Lee, Scott and Wise counties.
Appropriate credit has been given for individual pictures
throughout the text. The majority of these pictures have been made
from 35 mm. color transparencies and, as far as is known, have
never previously been published.
The chapter on cave conservation was prepared by Philip M.
Smith, William E. Davies, H. H. Douglas, John R. Holsinger and
Lyle G. Conrad.
Leslie H. Durloo, Jr., has also assisted in the identification
of the limestone and, when the Survey was just getting under way,
conducted a series of highly useful sessions at American University
on quadrangle interpretation and cave mapping techniques. He also
prepared the page of cave map symbols.
William E. Davies has provided invaluable assistance in the
identification of the limestone on the quadrangles and, during the
past six years, has been of assistance in other ways too numerous
to mention.
Occasional inconsistencies in the location of limestone beds
will doubtless be noted. The only way this could be avoided would
3
be to field check the limestone areas of the entire state, and even
then there would be inconsistencies. It is exceedingly difficult
at times to transfer the location of limestone areas from Charles
Butts* “ Geologic Map of the Appalachian Valley in Virginia’’,
and it is certainly true that Butts himself was not always absolutely
sure. The mixed up, partially limestone Rome formation caused
occasional difficulty. The inclination is to feel that there should
be no caves there, but sometimes. there are, even though of no
great consequence. The instances will be few but it may be that
we have left some of these Rome formation caves out of the lime­
stone areas, and in other places included them in the limestone
areas.
Coming to the final preparation of the manuscript and related
materials, many members of the D. C. Chapter of the Society
deserve credit, but for the mammoth job of typing and retyping
that made the book possible, credit goes to June O. Bonnell of
Falls Church. Janet Neff did the entire job of locating and numbering
all 1790 caves on a clean set of 112 quadrangles. Tom Tucker
prepared the 26 quad-county diagrams. The final preparation of
the cave maps reproduced in the book was done by Ray Allison,
John Cornish, Roy Peyton and John Holsinger. Special thanks
are also due Robert E. Guillot, Jr., commercial artist, of Arlington,
Va., for invaluable assistance and suggestions.
Maps of commercial caves have not, with one exception,
been included in the book. This one, of Luray Caverns, just
completed in 1960, has been included to indicate some of the
possibilities.
Previous to the summer of 1954 the Virginia Cave Survey
did not exist as an active, organized project. My own connection
with it dates from that time when the D.C. Chapter, under my
chairmanship, began work on the nine northern counties. Not
long thereafter I was designated director of the project for the
entire state at a meeting of the Virginia Region held.in Franklin,
W. Va. For the progress and organization of the project since
that time I am solely responsible. I am similarly responsible for
the organization, make-up, writing and editing of the book itself,
thereby being responsible for any and all omissions and errors
that may be found. There will be some errors. Such a large body
of data could hardly be put together without a few appearing,
either from mistakes in the original data or from errors in the
process of writing and compilation. If no errors are found I will
have to conclude that the book is not being used as intended.
As errors are noted corrections will be made in the records.
This book is a record of 1790 caves in the 26 limestone
counties of Virginia. The “caves" outside these 26 counties have
not been included in this total. Of the 1790 caves approximately
1190 have been “described", though the description of many is
occasionally slight. The other 600 have been grouped in the category
For the Record Only, with only the number, name, section, latitude,
longitude and elevation being given. In 1954 the caves on record was
somewhere between 800 and 900.1n the past six years we have added
4
CAVES OF VIRGINIA
at least 900 caves. As the total began to mount it was necessary to
make a decision on the question of preparing existing information for
publication now or waiting several years until all the limestone
areas of the state could be completely covered. The decision was
reached to prepare the existing information for publication now.
This course would not only make all this information available
now, but it would greatly facilitate the work of checking all the
remaining areas of the state. This book is the result of this
decision.
As of the summer of 1962 there remained but four 7 1/2 minute
quads having limestone horizons, but with no caves reported
(Blountville, Indian Springs, Plum Grove and Whitetop Mountain),
plus two 15 minute quads (Vesuvius and Wardensville). Two years
earlier, at the end of 1960, there were fifteen such quads. — See
D. C. Speleograph, October 1960, pp. 107-108; November 1960,
pp. 111-112.
The data on individual caves varies greatly. For many it
may be called essentially complete. For others, it is very sketchy
or incomplete. We have used the information available, not finding
it possible to make an on the spot check of all aspects and features
of each cave. This is for the future. This is not a cave study book.
It is essentially a guide book. It is a pioneer work which, like the
classification works in botany, zoology, etc., will be but the
beginning of greater and more thorough knowledge to come.
It has been my pleasure and privilege to carry out the task
represented by this book. No one has received compensation for
the work they have done in connection with it. What expenses
there have been have been covered by contributions from the
Virginia Region of the Society and from the limited treasury of
the Society itself. It is a task which ordinarily would have cost
many thousands of dollars.
As an approach to more thorough future knowledge of caves
and cave regions the following outline, prepared by William B.
White and Jay D. Edwards of Pennsylvania State University, is
included here. It is hoped that this book will lead to many studies
geological, biological, hydrological etc., having the kind of thorough­
ness indicated in this outline.
“Caves of Virginia* includes all information available through
the summer of 1962. Data compiled since that time may be issued
as a supplement at some future date.
Henry H. Douglas
Director, Virginia Cave Survey
626 S. Washington Street
Falls Church, Virginia