Beneath the hills of Salem lies a cool, quiet world of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and other mineral formations at Dixie Caverns.
The caverns provide visitors with an opportunity to explore an underground environment where the temperature remains about 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
The tour begins near the cave’s entrance, where visitors descend a series of stairs into chambers filled with calcite formations. Stalactites hang from the ceilings, while stalagmites rise from the cavern floor. Flowstone covers portions of the walls and creates formations in a variety of shapes.
One of the largest chambers is known as “The Cathedral.” The cavern features large flowstone formations that resemble the pipes of a musical organ. Other formations throughout the chamber and surrounding areas have taken on shapes that resemble people and animals.
Among the other landmarks along the tour is a reflecting pool, known for its unusually still water and mirror-like surface.
Another formation, known as the “wedding bell,” resembles a bell formed from cascading flowstone. The area has been used for wedding ceremonies.
A formation known as the “turkey” takes its name from its resemblance to the bird.
The cave’s dim lighting illuminates the formations while preserving the atmosphere of the underground chambers. Visitors can see the mineral deposits shimmering throughout the cave as they move between chambers and passageways.
Dixie Caverns is also home to wildlife, including bats and salamanders. Tri-colored bats can be found in portions of the cave, while Dixie Cavern salamanders inhabit small pools and crevices within the underground environment.
The cave also has a connection to the animals that helped shape its history. A small opening in the ceiling marks the location associated with the discovery of the cavern. According to the cave’s history, a dog named Dixie fell through the opening, giving the caverns their name.
Dixie Caverns opened to the public in 1923 and has since become a destination for visitors interested in Virginia’s geology and natural history.
One of the more unusual experiences offered during the tour comes when the cave’s lights are turned off. For several minutes, visitors experience the caverns in complete darkness, surrounded by the natural silence of the underground chambers.
The experience provides a sense of the environment that exists beyond the artificial lighting used to guide visitors through the cave.
After completing the tour, visitors can explore the rock, mineral and gift shop near the cavern entrance, which features fossils, minerals and other geological specimens.
Dixie Caverns is located at 5753 W Main St. in Salem. The caverns offer visitors a chance to see geological formations that have developed underground while learning about the history and natural features of one of the area’s longstanding attractions.
