Denning RV Travels: TAKING TIME TO BE TOURISTS

We went to the Grand Canyon Caverns on Sunday (10/23/11). This cavern was different from the caverns we had gone to back east. Grand Canyon Caverns is very dry, so there are no stalactites or stalagmites. There is no water in this cavern, but there was lots of dust!!! It was explained by the guide that there was a cavern exploration team that was exploring for more caves in the system. The guide also explained the reason for the name of the cavern. In 1927, Walter Peck was on his way to apoker game when he stumbled and nearly fell into a deep cave entrance, Peck used a winch to lower tourists into the cave. It had been known by three other names, Yampai Caverns, Coconio Caverns, changed to Dinosaur Caverns in 1957 and then to Grand Canyon Caverns in 1962.

There were several cavern workers that questioned where the air was coming from that made the cavern usable, so they lit a red flare and followed where the air was going out. Some other workers went outside and waited for the red flare smoke to come out, well they waited and waited and waited then finally got tired and went home. Two weeks later the red flare smoke was spotted coming out of a crack in the rock in the Grand Canyon. So they changed to name to Grand Canyon Caverns, I guess Dinosaur caverns wasn’t catchy enough.

Entrance to Grand Canyoun Caverns

Plaque says Snowball Hall

Rock Formation in Cavern

Rock Formation in Cavern

Three Toed Sloth that fell into the Cavern and
could not get out (it's dead)

The cavern was also used as a fallout shelter in the 60’s. The place was equipped with enough rations to supply 2000 people for a couple of weeks.

Supplies in foreground

One of the rooms of the cavern is called the Cathedral room. Weddings are held there and the brides would leave their bouquets on the wall of the cathedral room.

Bridal bouquets on wall of cave

There is also a “guest room” set up where you can rent the room and spend the night in the cave. The guest room is equipped with two double beds, a couch, TV and fully functioning Bathroom. Once the lights are turned off in the Cavern it gets really, really dark. The guide assured us there were no bats living in the cave.