Crystal Caverns’ Haunted Cave Tours weave ghost stories and cave history

Strasburg, VA – Often visited by Jeane Dixon when she was alive, Crystal Caverns in Strasburg, VA will stir up its haunted roots, and offer a Haunted Cave Tour for young and old alike this Saturday, October 31 at Hupp’s Hill Historic Park. So, grab a hand of a friend or child, and have some fun! You’ll enjoy the beautiful formations, and hear all about traditional Shenandoah Valley hauntings.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., full-length tours will be given on the hour. So, you can still get home in time for trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood.

See Crystal Caverns like you’ve never seen it before: You’ll be escorted down the steps and move through the lighted part of the 1/4 mile long cave, winding your way in circles along the path, as your guide spins the ghost stories that have been shared through the last decades in and around Shenandoah County. And then …on the last leg of the tour, you’ll be led only by candlelight, with darkness on all sides, and wonderful surprises hidden in the deep recesses. No need to worry, soon you’ll be back on the surface again.

(By the way, according to staff, Crystal Caverns is the only cave in Virginia that indicates where each of the cave features are located – on markers on the surface – so that you can get a good idea of the Karst topography of the land, and the true length of the underground trails.)

Crystal Caverns is found within the limestone of the Edinburg Formation, which was deposited in the sunny, shallow seas of the Ordovician Epoch, nearly 425 million years ago. The caverns are considered the oldest documented in Virginia. Samuel Kercheval mentioned the presence of an “extensive caverns on Hupp’s Hill: in his 1825 History of the Shenandoah Valley.

From 1861 – 1865, Hupp’s Hill – where the caves are located – was in the center of several great battles of the American Civil War, including Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek (during the fall of 1864). After World War 1, the caverns were bought by Bruce Hupp of Strasburg, an heir to the substantial Hupp estate; tours were opened on May 30, 1922.

Local area scouts, including Boy Scout Troop #5 from Strasburg, will be assisting Crystal Caverns staff in putting on the Haunted Cave event. In addition, the Stonewall Jackson Museum is on Hupp’s Hill too, complete with displays explaining how Hupp’s Hill figured prominently in the the 1862 Valley Campaign.

Price and Contact Information: The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Reservations are suggested for the Haunted Cave Tour; call (540) 465-5884, or visit their web site.

Directions: Crystal Caverns is located on US Route 11 (Old Valley Pike), just one mile south of Exit 298, on Interstate 81, It is half mile north of Strasburg, Virginia, near the intersection of I-66 and I-81. Crystal Caverns is owned and operated by the Wayside Foundation of American History and Arts.

(Photo: Picture of an old spooky movie poster from Beast From Haunted Cave.)

Tags: Crystal Caverns, ghost stories, Halloween activities, Hupp's Hill, Shenandoah County haunting, Strasburg