cassie_KY

On May 23rd, we decided to go to Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg, West Virginia. While there are 45 minute self-guided tours in the cave’s cool 52 degree environment, the specialty of Lost World Caverns are the wild cave tours. While not for everyone, it’s not the kind of adventure found everywhere. We left Charleston early to be at the cave by ten. The drive was surprisingly easy- I-64 the entire way and the caverns are right off the exit. The first sight that greets you are four big dogs laying inside and outside. They serve as the unofficial welcoming committee. The main building doubles as a gift shop and cave entrance. The entrance was man-made as the cave’s natural opening has a 120 foot drop (as the farmer’s cow who discovered the cave unluckily found out). The gift shop is full of artifacts and fossils one of the cave’s owners procured when he purchased the inventory of a museum. We wandered around the gift shop until it was time for the tour to begin. Steve, the head guide, greeted us and our group of 8 was taken to the “launch point” of our tour. When we made our reservations, we were told to bring entire chances of clothes- including underwear. We dropped our bags off and were given a safety lecture before being outfitted with kneepads, helmets, and gloves. The tour went through a portion of the show cave and we hopped over the fence to begin off-roading. We climbed a bank, took a right, and quickly left behind the man made light and sage walkways. Words can’t really describe the experience. Lots of climbing and walking led us to a place called the Juncture Room. From there, the group climbed a 14 foot wall and made for a rock formation called the Stairway to Heaven. I wasn’t able to follow as I couldn’t get a foothold in the wall and there was no other way up. Near the Stairway to Heaven, the other guide, Jason, pointed out a ledge where the skull of an ancient cave bear fell. They are sure the rest of the skeleton is up there, but they have no way to get to it! Next, we went through a chamber called The Sewer and jumped down a hole named The Drain. It had been two hours at that point and we stopped in the Lunch Room for a snack of candy bars and water. Let me tell you, we all had been sweating so hard, but being still certainly cooled us down! Next was the Long Crawl. We started out on our hands and knees until someone had the bright idea to roll. One after the other, we all began to roll and made quick progress until the crawlspace shrank to less than a foot and we couldn’t roll without hitting our shoulders. Even with kneepads, we all were hurting at that point. The cave was wet and grit worked its way under the pads and sand felt like we were crawling on boulders. Our elbows, unprotected, were scraped as we clambered over and under rocks. But, we were too far in to give up now! Biting our lips to keep from groaning, we crawled on our bellies until we reached the waiting room, and our final destination, the Birth Canal. The Birth Canal was my least favorite part. It involved a belly crawl through ice cold water for 15 feet until you reached a hole above your head. Twisting yourself to the left, you extended one arm at a time through the hole and pulled yourself up by grabbing a couple of stalagmites. Here is where I had a problem. I am one of those females blessed with a pair of broad hips (Thanks, Mom!) and no matter how I twisted and pushed, I couldn’t squeeze the rest of the way through and I was wearing myself out. I decided that it just wasn’t going to happen and I still had an hour or so of climbing ahead of us to get out of the cave. The rest of the group headed on with Steve toward the Junction Room while Nathan, Jason, and I headed for a bypass around the Birth Canal. This involved abother forty yard belly crawl, climbing up a small wall, then sliding down another bank through a hole in the floor. While I was upset with myself for not getting through the first way, it was neat to see another route the others didn’t get to experience. After meeting back up with the group, it was another 45 minutes to get back to the show cave. It culminated with a steep descent and the “highly technical” maneuver known as the Butt Drag which consisted of scooting on your bottom down the rocks. Then, we climbed the last section back to the raised walkway and ascended the steps back to daylight. Here are the specifics: The Wild Cave Tours are $70. Plan to be there for seven hours. The cost includes 2 guides who are some of the nicest guides I have ever met.Each guide has two disposable cameras and they take photos of everyone through the entire trip- including the all important before and after photos. The pictures are mailed to you on a CD in about a week. As mentioned, snacks and drinks are provided during the trip and afterwards. Best of all, there are really nice shower facilities with all toiletries and towels provided to get cleaned up. That was a definite high point. Now, for some not so pleasant stuff. Be prepared for your body to take a beating. You are crawling and climbing A LOT. All told, you cover over four miles in the cave. I have several sizable bruises and cuts on my elbows, knees, wrists, hips, and softball-sized bruises on my shins. The guides are proud of the fact that if they do their job right, you will come out covered in mud and soaking wet. I will be the first to say, they did a great job. The only non-muddy part on my entire body was my teeth when I smiled! One drawback for me was I felt a little hurried on the trip and didn’t get to poke around and look like I wanted. However, after your tour is over and you are all cleaned up, the guides encourage everyone to head back to the show cave and take as much time (and photos) as you wish. I highly encourage everyone who doesn’t mind getting dirty to tackle Lost World Caverns. Again, some of the nicest people I have ever encountered and a place that is like nothing I have ever seen before. Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts Do Speak up- the guides can’t read your mind and want this to be the best trip possible. Know your limitations. If you can’t fit, don’t force it and don’t try something if you are scared. Talk to the other people on the trip. It was fun meeting new people. Go to the gift shop. It’s a museum and the prices are quite reasonable. Petrified poop. Take pictures. Call ahead and see when the low peak time is. Big groups get sections cut due to time. Wear hiking boots and a long-sleeve T-shirt. Bring elbow pads if you can. They aren’t provided and that was my worst injury. Help the person behind you. Point out slick spots and loose rock. It’s appreciated. Tell your guides if you get hurt. They have first aid supplies and there is nasty bacteria in the cave. Be prepared for wildlife like cave crickets, salamanders, and bats. Look but don’t touch! Don’t Rush- the guides want you to be safe and will slow down when needed. Worry about not being able to do something- there are alternate routes for everything. Forget to sign the guestbook. An entire change of clothes means an entire change of clothes! Bring underwear and spare shoes. Some clothes may end up being sacrificed. Throw the socks away. Thanks for reading. Pictures coming soon!!

^ That's exactly what I am talking about. It seemed like the lightning timed to going in the tunnels or right when we plunged down a drop. Just... wow!

I wish one had been over at Invertigo. Really big guy was in front of me and had his buddy come up through the line to sit with him. I pointed out that linejumping=not a good idea. They mouthed off at me and went their own way. Wish something could have been done and I chickened out about telling a ride op as they were a really big group and I didn't want the day to be ruined by a fight- verbal or otherwise.

Hey Miss Giga, I saw you all running around on Saturday. We were a cycle behind you on Pilgrim's Plunge. I laughed out loud at your expression coming back from the front seat Voyage ride after the weather cleared up. I totally understood how you felt. Did you get to ride Voyage as the evening progressed? Coolest coaster riding experience in my life. I am typing on my trip report and will put it and some other pictures in there. I agree with the guys from Gravity Group being so wonderful. On the Voyage walkback, we stood around Korey and listened to his explanations on why they designed the turnaround the way they did and just how cool an idea it was to have three ninety degree turns on the ride. He didn't have to be that friendly or partipate to the degree that he did and that was no nice. I don't think I can say enough good things about Holiday World, but will shut up now and get to typing on my backlog of trip reports.

The original post has brought something to my mind that I had not considered before. I don't consider myself a shrinking violet. I do feel some shame that I have had an absolute fit when a bunch of kids cut line directly in front of me at Haunt in 2008. Supercrowded conditions meant employees were working hard and were not able to watch lines. As I had been in line for more than an hour, I was not going to have some teenagers jump in front of me just to be with their friends. Ignoring me was their first course of action and I wasn't having a part of that. Seeing I was serious, they left line. I didn't give a second thought that I could have really ticked one of those kids off and there could have been repercussion from my actions. Granted, I am never attending Halloween Haunt again. We had made plans to go to KI for this past weekend until I found out about all the special events being held. No, I don't think it is fair that people have to avoid something they enjoy because a small percentage of people won't behave, but what other options do we have? Yes, letting the "Big Giant Heads" know what is going on is helpful, but parks are big places and staff can't be everywhere at once and some people seem to think it is ok to act ugly when they are away from home and no amount of security will change that for them. Pardon my soapbox guys and gals. My mom taught me better and I try to be "the nice person" and it is upsetting when people aren't nice back!

Wonderful trip report. I love KD! Very pretty park with several good rides. Call me crazy, but I really like Anaconda. Very picturesque and just a fun ride. I wanna go back!!

Not going to list. Just click on the ride list in my signature. I am hoping to get between 25-30 new coasters this year. I have my date with Diamondback this Saturday!!!

I have the CP VIP Pullover and a neon green zip-up jacket that I LOVE to wear to work!

I love your photos!! I like the one you are considering. I also like the one with the caption "Yes, Yes, Yes!!!" (Going back to drooling over your pics now!)

AE and Racer are so much fun. 6 and 11 times respectively are my personal best right now. Had a blast with 13 times in a row on Grizzly at KD. ("One more time!") The ride-op just kept going when all the other rides were shut down. I had bruises for a few days after. Carolina Cyclone at CW 11 times in a row was a hoot as well. Corkscrew at CP 6 times in a row. Love the lights all around at night. They don't have to be the "big bads" to make me happy. I love each of those rides and I enjoy riding over and over, anticipating what comes next!

Agree with riding Night Hawk first. It gets a line quickly. You face down alot more than you do with Firehawk. Afterburn can get a line, but is a must ride. Their version of Hurler is not as rough as KD's (when I rode it last July). The Eagle's are fun and take a spin on the Antique Cars that are right behind them. Silly, but a must do is snap a picture straddling the state line. Corny but funny to look back on. If you are staying down there, we ordered from Howie's Pizza and it was quite tasty!

Wonderful trip report. I can't wait to go in three weeks!

I think there are more than a few folk from the site going to participate. I and the BF are doing the 10K walk (our knees are feeling older than what we want to admit!). I have also seen other runs at different parks. Some for charity, some not. They all look like fun.

A thought I had is that, by and large, people are honest. While the handstamping needs some "tweakiing" most people who are trying to gain readmittance to the park do have passes or bought a ticket that day. However, those few bad apples that try to circumvent the system ruin it for all the people who are playing by the rules and parks have to find ways to make people behave. Sigh.

I, too, am not a huge fan of water rides. Squishy shoes are no fun! However, this ride looks really neat and I am looking forward to trying it out when I go the end of this month. The photos are awesome as usual!

This is such a fun little park. The Big Dipper has thrown me out of my seat more than any coaster I have ridden to this date. Their Spider is my favorite ride there and runs like a top. And yes, Terpy, the pronto pups are the best!!

Giga, you have the best outlook! What you said is what we are being told by the CDC and the WHO. It is difficult to continue broadcasting that message with the media fluffing the stories. Dr. Hacker (our Commissioner) had told us that if we go about 5 more days and not see a case, our state should be in the clear. I personally think we will see a few additional cases pop up, but it won't reach a pandemic (this is correct spelling) in the US. It takes more time to test for this strain of influenza. The cases that we are seeing identified are people who have had it for awhile and they have seriologically tested positive and are not "new cases" (people just contracting it). I want to say here that to families that have lost loved ones, I don't want to trivialize their loss. That would be devastating and my heart goes out to them.

Hi all, I work for Public Health and the swine flu deal is "my baby" I guess you'd say. I just wanted to mention, take what the media says with a grain of salt (the size of a front end loader). Yes, there are cases in the US. Yes, a little kid died in Texas last night/this morning. But there isn't a need to panic. The US isn't shutting any events down (we have been on conference calls regarding the Derby for example). Mexico is being hit hard. I read where they found Patient Zero who is a little kid. He got well and is doing great (which is wonderful to hear!). Mexico doesn't have the health care like we do in the United States and many places down there are overcrowded and don't have the best sanitation. Comparing the US to Mexico isn't an apples to apples thing. What our Commisioner of Health is telling us- cover your mouth when you cough. Wash your hands with warm water and soap several times a day. If you are sick, stay home and do your best to stay away from sick people. If you are a pretty healthy person and do the latter, you should be good to go!

We get to go to Holiday World for the first time this year for HWN. I can't wait! Gator, pretty please post a trip report so I know what I get to look forward to.

I will add to what giga said. I had to go through that stretch one night last year. Being a female, it gave me the creeps even though there were several people around me (of course, that may have contributed to the wigging....) Glad to hear there are lights now.

That is wonderful news! I have been a Red Cross volunteer for years. The good works of Red Cross Chapters cannot be explained in words. Without the Red Cross, many wouldn't have a place to turn. Kudos Cedar Fair!

I know it has been mentioned, but not for several pages. I would like to see the train regain theming. If it is a matter of money, I don't think it would be too difficult to get items donated to the park if the current theme of a western town were kept. Where I live, old farm equipment, such as horse drawn hayrakes and the like, can easily be found. To thank people, a plaque could be installed at the train station in Rivertown with names of the donors listed. Many people may see the train as nothing more than a ride back to BB. When I went to KI the first time, the train was one of the few things I remembered. I'd love to see it be more than just a coal-fired taxi again.

For me, it would be rides I never got the chance to experience. Going through the timeline, I would like to have ridden: 1)Zodiak 2) King Cobra 3) The Bat I also miss the Animal Safari and Smurfs Enchanted Voyage.

Will add the Facebook group. It was brought up before-- I have both MySpace and Facebook. I know the admins here are quite busy, but I would like to see a MySpace page for KIC in the future. However, the Facebook is pretty cool. I don't post much on here, but I am a daily reader and enjoy seeing everyone's adventures!

*sniff* School and work have gotten in the way and I will miss opening day this year! I am hoping to hit a day of Ride Warriors and that will be my first trip to KI this year. Have fun everyone! PTR's please!!