Key Details
Governance
- Privately owned by Laurel Caverns Conservancy and owner/operator David Cale
- Proposed donation to the Commonwealth to be designated as a state park
- $5 million included in Governor Shapiro’s 2025 budget with a portion for initial improvements and staff
Operations
- DCNR to partner with current operator to maintain tours
- Surface amenities will be free to the public
- A future master plan will guide improvements, resource protection, and additional needed investments
Economic Impact
- Expected to increase visitation beyond the current 50,000 annual visitors and boost local tourism and the regional economy
Fast Facts
Location
Fayette County, about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh
Size
4+ miles of wide cave passages beneath a 435-acre geological preserve
Climate
52 degrees year-round inside the cave
Geology
Largest sandy limestone cave in Pennsylvania
Ecology
Critical winter habitat for endangered bat species
History
First explored in the 1760s, opened to the public in 1964 by Norman and Helen Cale, who marketed it as “the caverns in the clouds.”
“If you really want to know who owns Laurel Caverns, it’s the bats. We just use it in the summer with their permission. All the water that enters the cave is contained in that property, and that keeps the cave clean and pristine. The only reason Lillian and I acquired the property in the first place was to protect it. Many people who come here say this should be a state park.”
—David Cale
Laurel Caverns Owner/Operator
Visitor Information
When to Visit
Open from April to October
Who Should Visit
Experiences range from those for spelunkers and adventure seekers to families with children.
Fees
Entrance fee for the cave with various guided and self-guided tours
Still Open. Still Awesome.
Among many opportunities to have fun outdoors, Pennsylvania’s award-winning system of 124 state parks includes the chance to experience the Milky Way in some of the darkest skies in the northeast U.S.; boat rushing whitewater; and sit on the beach along the shores of Lake Erie. Transitioning Laurel Caverns and its underground wonders to a state park would be a significant step in conserving Pennsylvania’s natural heritage and enhancing its tourism offerings as the Great American Getaway.
Pennsylvania’s state parks are still open, still awesome, and still providing new ways to explore our Commonwealth's natural wonders.
