September 8, 2014

Penn’s Cave, Centre Hall, PA

We enjoyed a short lovely drive to Penn’s Cave.

 

 

  Our timing was great as we only had to wait 15 minutes for the next tour. 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the time walking around the gift shop.

 

 

A few minutes before the tour was to begin we made our way down a steep path to a set of steps leading down to the water. 

 

Our guide instructed all the passengers to sit evenly on both sides of the boat and warned us that there may be areas where we would have to duck to avoid hanging formations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was glad that I had brought along a jacket because the cavern is a steady 52 degrees.

After turning on lights at different stops along the water, our guide pointed out different formations with names like “The Statue of Liberty” and “The Garden of the Gods.”
According to our guide, “Centuries ago, the Seneca Indians discovered this natural landmark in the Valley of Karoondinha (Penn’s Valley).  The legend of the Indian maiden, Nita-nee (from whom the famous Penn State Nittany Lion got its name) and her French trapper lover, Malachi Boyer, has been told around campfires for generations.  Forbidden to marry because of an Indian custom, they ran away and were captured, and Malachi was thrown into Penn’s Cave to die.

Local history also tells of Indians and early explorers using the dry rooms for shelter.  In 1885, Penn’s Cave opened as a commercial show cavern.”

It took a few minutes for our eyes to adjust to the light as we exited the cavern and traveled around the pond filled with ducks and geese before re-entering the cavern for the return trip back to the dock.

 

 

 

 

On drive back to the camp we explored side roads taking us up and down gently rolling hills past farms and old beautiful old houses.