Linville Caverns

Only show cave in North Carolina, 30 minutes north of Marion

The only commercial cave in North Carolina, 30 minutes north of Marion on US 221 in the Linville area. Guided tours of about 30 minutes run through several chambers with the usual stalactites and stalagmites, a small underground stream, and a colony of blind brook trout.

Tours run year round; the cave stays at 52°F regardless of season. A short, easy outing that pairs well with a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

things to do sight
A story
The cave was discovered in the 1820s when fishermen noticed trout disappearing into the mountain at a point where a stream entered the rock. During the Civil War the chambers were used as a hideout by Confederate deserters; charred ceiling marks from their fires are still visible. The cave's blind trout, never having seen light, still live in the underground stream.