Floyd Collins 100th Anniversary of Carnival Sunday at Sand Cave

We visited Sand Cave, where Floyd Collins died, on the 100th anniversary of "Carnival Sunday".

Cave City KY CSX Train February 2025

I know, I have put a lot of train videos up....  but I like them.

Floyd Collins Museum Cave City Kentucky February 2025

I heard it had closed.....  but it seems the Floyd Collins Museum in Cave City is open!  It is housed in the Wayfarer B&B, literally a short walk from Sand Cave.  Call first- the museum is free but there isnt really a set time it is open.

National Cave Museum in Kentucky

I FINALLY got to visit the National Cave Museum....  Home of THE Floyd Collins Rock!

Ace Coffee Co Cave City Kentucky July 2024

Cave City has a GREAT new coffee shop!  Check out Ace Coffee Co next time you are in the cave region!

Jesse James Stagecoach Returns to Mammoth Cave Lodge August 2023

On August 12, 2023, a newly restored McCoy Stagecoach from 1855 was driven to the Mammoth Cave Lodge.  This particular coach was robbed nearby- supposedly by Jesse James and company.

We stopped by for the arrival and to hear some of the folks who put this project together talk.

The park superintendent was there to say a few things....  along with a former guide who was born on the property in 1931.  Congressman Brett Guthrie also had a few things to say.

Onyx Cave and Rock Shop in Cave City Kentucky 2023

We had a great guided tour of Onyx Cave with Coleman.  This is one of several great caves that are near, but not a part of, Mammoth Cave National Park.

This is a nice, short cave tour that might be perfect for kids, or people that are a little cautious cave tours.

Outlaw Cave at Jesse James Riding Stables Kentucky June 2023

Here is the complete tour video I made of our tour of Outlaw Cave near Mammoth Cave here in Kentucky!

Cave City Kentucky April 2023

 And here is just a quick drive through Cave City Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave Wondering Woods Tour 2023

Here is a complete video of our "Wondering Woods" tour....  the newest tour offered at Mammoth Cave National Park!

This is a cave (separate from the main Mammoth Cave) that was opened for tours decades ago.  There was also an entire village attraction on the property, up until 1993.

Dinosaur World Cave City Kentucky December 2021

 AND, here is a video from our visit to Dinosaur Word in Cave City!

Wigwam Village- Cave City, Kentucky

Wigwam village has been around in Cave City forever.

I know the place's reputation isn't what it used to be (you can read the tripadvisor reviews).  I also had someone tell me that they had some serious trouble making a reservation.

Here are a few photos.  The place does look cool as you drive by.

Crystal Onyx Cave in Cave City KY

I had heard that Crystal Onyx Cave was going to reopen as a show cave after about a decade of being closed!  I definitely wanted to get out there and see the cave!

Opening and closing...  sometimes frequently is a thing with show caves.  it happens.  Nearby Cub Run Cave is a good example.  It briefly reopened a year or so ago, then it was closed again.  I missed my window of opportunity to see it.

I think there is something very sad about this.  The thought of a cave that once had visitors going through it daily...  with lighting and nice paved paths sitting empty and alone....  Well, like I said, its just a sad thought.

Luckily for Crystal Onyx cave, Scott and Sara Sendtko purchased the cave several years ago, and they have put a lot into reopening it.

When we stopped by recently, Sara gave us a tour.

It seemed that everyone there was a member of the family, and the place had a very casual, family feel to it.  Things are pretty informal.


Sara took us to a building with a locked door.  On the other side of the door was a stairway leading into the cave.  There is something so surreal about going inside of a building and then seeing stairs leading down into a cave.  You almost feel like you are in an old sci-fi or fantasy novel.

So we went into the cave which had a slightly more cramped feel than some caves, and I don't mean that in a negative way.  You are very literally right next to the formations.  At several points, a walkway was slightly separated by a stalagmite.  A solid cave rock seemed to have grown from beneath a bench and become a part of it.  The cave is very much all around you here.

Our small group asked Sara about her adventures as a VERY new cave owner. 

She talked very openly about her recent work on getting this cave back open again.  She said that it was owned by a cell phone company.  They contacted the company about purchasing it and eventually a deal was made.  She said that she and her husband had visited Crystal Onyx Cave before as tourists and they loved it, so they were particularly excited about getting it.

She also talked about all of their efforts in getting the cave fixed back up after a long dormant period.  Rewiring, fixing paths, and a lot of other work needed to be done. 

Most impressively, they totally redid the parking area.  If I understood correctly, the paved parking area previously right above the cave had stopped water from coming down into the cave naturally.  This stopped/stalled the growth of formations in the cave.  After correcting this, Sara said they have seen a lot of growth starting up again.

Seeing Crystal Onyx Cave is a unique experience.  It is a more intimate cave, and it is nice getting to interact with the family putting so much into it.

Cracker Barrel in Cave City Kentucky

I know that I usually try to avoid mentioning chain places here, but I wanted to say that we had a GREAT meal at the Cracker Barrel in Cave City.

We actually went to the Front Porch, Coffee Shop and Social Eatery nearby first....  It looked like an interesting local place.  I don't have much to say about that place, except that it was bad.  We left.

BUT, the Cracker Barrel in town was great....  And I have to admit, Cracker Barrel is always a safe bet when we travel.