Indiana Caverns Joins Squire Boone Caverns, Marengo Cave to Create a Major Caving Destination

Indiana Caverns joins Squire Boone Caverns and Marengo Cave to create one of the nation’s most noteworthy caving destination.

In what is among the most significant archeological finds in the US in decades, an Indiana man just discovered a huge cache of Ice Age bones while digging out this portion of the Binkley Cave System. In order to develop Indiana Caverns for visitors, life-long spelunker Gary Robson uncovered Pleistocene-era remains of dozens of animals. The find includes prehistoric black bear, bison, peccary (flat-headed boar), fisher (cat-like animal), snakes, owls and other birds in such large numbers that the cave could keep several paleontologists excavating for years. In fact, the area is now known as Big Bone Mountain. Robson and his team of cave developers have now transformed the phenomenon into a spectacular visitor experience.

Complete details on Indiana Caverns, the nation’s newest show cave, are available are available at http://www.indianacaverns.com.

Visitors who enter Indiana Cavern’s vast-high domed entryway are met with an awesome view. Spiraling down, guests traverse a 25-foot bridge to the balcony overlooking the now famous Big Bone Mountain, where the ancient animal remains were discovered and remain for visitors to see. The tour includes grand panoramas of flowstone formations, stalactites, stalagmites, as guests learn the history behind this fascinating natural and historic wonder. The cave collapsed some 25,000 years ago, trapping hundreds of animals within, and making the Binkley Cave System one of the most diverse species caves in the world. After traveling down Blowing Hole Boulevard, travelers enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the underground river while passing majestic waterfalls.

Because the caves remain temperate all year long, Indiana Caverns are open to the public year round and are enjoyable in any season. Tours are offered a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas are last about an hour and 15 minutes. The Indiana Caverns gift shop is stocked with unique souvenirs and an onsite gem mining experience is popular with junior spelunkers.

Beyond its rich caving and natural offerings, Harrison County offers everything from wineries to the nostalgia of a trio of old-time ice cream parlors. The State Historic Site marks Corydon’s place as Indiana’s first capitol, while travelers are fascinated by the Constitution Elm, a Civil War battlefield and tours of the Leora Brown School, one of the nation’s oldest standing early African American schoolhouses. Diverse dining and accommodations include a historic B&B, affordable modern hotels, country cafes and even a luxurious riverboat casino. Complete traveler information and a free visitor’s guide are available at thisisIndiana.org or 888-738-2137.

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Prehistoric Squire Boone Caverns, Indiana, Now Offers Nighttime Lantern Tours; Zipline Canopy Tours

Squire Boone Caverns has just launched two new outdoor adventures for visitors to southern Indiana’s Harrison County. A brand new high-flying zipline canopy tour takes visitors soaring above the caverns on six nonstop tree-to-tree ziplines and a swinging suspension bridge. Squire Boone Caverns Zipline Adventure is open daily April 1 through November 15, with various tours offered each day. Tours are $59 for visitors age seven and up, with discounts for groups of 10 or more. Reservations and complete information are available at http://www.squireboonecavernsziplines.com or (812) 732-1200.

Just 20 minutes outside of Corydon, Indiana’s Squire Boone Caverns has also just added a unique new nighttime tour for travelers, with the first being offered June 8 at 7:00 p.m. The Squire’s Lantern Tour leads groups through complete darkness, guided only by the soft light of lanterns. As gifted cavern guides tell the history-filled tales of Squire and Daniel Boone’s cavern discovery, visitors are led to through this dramatic underground marvel. At the cavern’s shadowy dead-end, the cave lights ignite, illuminating the interior and giving visitors a completely different experience as they make the return trek out of the cavern. These nocturnal tours are $16 for ages 6-11 and $25 for guests age 12 and up. The tours are limited to just 12 guests at a time and are offered by reservation only, once a week throughout June and July. Explorers can book reservations by at (812) 732-4381 or squireboonecaverns.com.

Squire Boone Caverns welcomes thousands of guests each year as they’re wowed by dazzling cave formations, picturesque underground waterfalls, rushing rivers, vast ceilings and the unique history of this ancient wonder. Beyond a variety of cave tours, visitors to Squire Boon Caverns experience a variety of activities, including a gift shop, picnic areas, a playground, nature trail, gemstone mining a working grist mill and a historic village offering everything from candle-dipping and soap making to a candy shop.

Beyond the region’s stunning caves and caverns, Corydon visitors are provided with a variety of ways to enjoy Hoosier Hospitality, from nostalgic old-time ice cream parlors to the State Historic Site marking Corydon’s place as Indiana’s first state capital. Downtown Corydon, Constitution Elm, a Civil War battlefield and reenactment and tours of one of the nation’s oldest standing early African American schoolhouses attracts history buffs nationwide. Guests can also enjoy diverse dining ranging from fresh seafood to spicy Mexican restaurants and warm country cooking, and accommodations include a historic B&B, affordable modern hotels, country cafes and a riverboat casino. From live bluegrass music to experiencing a roll of the dice at Horseshoe Southern Indiana or savoring the home of the Paula Deen Buffet, Harrison County offers intriguing nightlife activities as well. Information on reservations for all hotels and activities can be found inside the Corydon Visitors Guide.

For more information or to order the Visitors Guide, visit http://www.thisisIndiana.org or call 888-738-2137.

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