History of the Shenandoah Caverns

Floor Speech

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Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, Virginia's Sixth District is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and natural wonders in the country.

One of the most breathtaking attractions western Virginia has to offer, Shenandoah Caverns, is just a short 2-hour drive down I-81 from our Nation's Capital.

While building the Southern Railroad through Shenandoah County in the 1800s, the rail company asked landowner, Abraham Neff, for permission to dig a rock quarry for stones to help continue the project. While exploring the quarry, Mr. Neff's sons discovered the caverns after climbing 275 feet down an opening that had been exposed.

The family eventually sold the property to Hunter Chapman, who hoped to show the world the marvel that had been uncovered. In 1922, Chapman got his wish when Shenandoah Caverns officially opened, attracting generations of locals and tourists alike.

Since then, for the past 100 years, the caverns have provided stunning views, incredible geology, and extraordinary crystalline formations to all who visited. Shenandoah Caverns is truly remarkable, and I congratulate its current owner, Kathy Hargrove Kelly, on the business' centennial.

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