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Experience the Energy of Crystal Caverns at Hupps Mill

By: Michelle

Stonewall Jackson MuseumStrasburg, VA is probably best known for its beautiful scenery and Civil War history. However, visitors of the Stonewall Jackson Museum and Civil War walking trail located on Rt. 11 can discover a magnificent shimmering treasure right beneath their very feet - Crystal Caverns. Though it is lesser known that the other caverns in the area, it does hold the distinction of being the oldest documented cavern in Virginia, when it was "discovered" by the Hupps family around 1755.

The cavern has actually been known long before this discovery. The cave is millions of years old. Evidence indicates that it may have served as everything from a den for ice-age predators such as sabre-toothed cats, ceremonial grounds for early Native Americans, shelter for war-wary Civil War soldiers, and possibly even as a road to freedom for slaves escaping through the Underground Rail Road. The Hupps used the cavern as a natural refrigerator due to its constant 54-degree temperature, as well as the ultimate party room for many of their guests. In the 1920's the cavern was part of a grand amusement park drawing visitors from near and far.

Crystal Caverns FormationFrom the very beginning of the tour, I realized that we were in for a very personal intimate glimpse of the caverns when we were handed our very own flashlight. Our tour group only consisted of 3 people and one of them was the guide. Actually, the guides prefer small groups and given some of the narrow passageways and low ceilings we encountered, I could easily see why. Our guide explained that the cavern was basically pretzel shaped and that at no time would we be more than a few minutes from the exit. He reminded us several times that it was impossible to get lost, which made me wonder if there was something about our group that made him feel it necessary to repeat himself.

The cavern entrance is inside an old house that was built right on top of the opening. Upon entering, we were greeted by bright yellow stairs descending into one heck of a basement! We were immediately struck by the notion that we were in the presence of something very old that had seen a lot of life. According to our guide there have been claims of many unusual supernatural sightings. Considering all the activity that has occurred over time in the caverns it seems highly probable that there may be one or two folks who decided to never leave. For anyone wishing to further explore that aspect of the cave, the do offer haunted tours around Halloween and special candlelight tours with guides dressed in period costumes.

Michelle and guide exploringOnce we descended the staircase, the first thing that struck us was the beautiful white calcite crystals shimmering back in the flashlight beams. It was now easy to understand why it is named Crystal Caverns. In addition to the usual fare one expects to find in a cavern - stalactites, stalagmites, soda straw formations, flowstone and a crystal pool, the cavern is also famous for its rimstone formations, which occur when tiny pools of water force the minerals to make many tiny ridges. The end result is a pattern resembling lace (or some say it looks more like tripe). Like most caverns, there are attempts made to give some formations gimmicky names like "the giant's tomb" or the "alligator" but for the most part these took quite a bit of imagination to even begin to see them.

Narrow passageThe star of crystal caverns is, of course, the crystals themselves. In the past, they were possibly mined and there is quite visible evidence of looting some of the stones. Today, the crystals attract psychics, such as Jeanne Dixon, and others seeking to draw from their energy. Other visitors have reported supernatural experiences when visiting the cave such as experiencing strange fluctuations in temperature and sensing the presence of other beings. It has been reported that strange unexplained images have even shown up in digital photography.

In addition to the supernatural beings that may or may not dwell there, there is one bona fide resident of Crystal Caverns - "Andy" the Amphipod (an eyeless, colorless, crustacean). He can be found no where else on earth but here. Though only recently discovered (1992), he and his ancestors have been home to the cave for probably millions of years, outlasting all the many creatures that have wandered in and out over time. Much about "Andy" is still being investigated and researched. However, many worry about the survival of this rare species as local development threatens to damage its fragile home.

The tape recorder mysteriously quitThroughout the entire tour, the only thing that gave me goosebumps was the thought of Andy or one of his dear friends dropping on me as I passed through his home. Much to my relief, I was told not to worry that the little guy really is quite shy and fairly inactive. The closest thing we got to a supernatural experience was the fact that my tape recorder mysteriously stopped recording the moment we started down the stairs on the tour. Despite my best efforts the tape wouldn't budge. I merely thought the batteries were dead and waited to get out into the sunlight. Once outside, the tape recorder functioned perfectly without ever changing the batteries but nothing at all had been recorded from inside the cave. Technical failure or spiritual intervention??? You decide

Location: I-81 at Exit 298, one-mile south on U.S. Hwy 11
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays noon to 5:00 p.m.
Tours depart every hour with the last tour at 4:00 p.m.
Admission: $8.00 adults, $6.00 children and senior citizens (includes admission to Stonewall Jackson Museum)
See site calendar for dates and prices for special Living History Tours and
Haunted Tours

For more information visit: http://www.waysideofva.com/crystalcaverns/

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