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Nice small cavern attached to a very large gift shop. It was an excellent respite to a very hot day, with a standard temperature in the 50's. There are a few interesting formations inside, but the history of the cavern was probably more interesting. The whole thing feels like a bit of a tourist trap but should be excellent for the kids.

Myself and family were visiting WV and decided to visit the Caverns. There were 8 of us in our group and 25 total in the tour. The guide was very pleasant and informative. We had a few other questions and was happy to answer. The tour does involve the climbing up and down some slippery areas however the guide made sure all safely passed. The gift shop was big and had a nice selection of different items the targeted customers (Tourists) might enjoy. There were alot of tee shirts sweatshirts, jams, jelly etc. Even had a nice ice cream parlour inside. So? Why the negative reviews. There is a section dedicated to Pro Trump items. Its apparent that this location is in a Republican region. If this is a problem or you feel uncomfortable by all means you may choose to not visit. Anyway, we didn't come for politics. We came for family fun. Mission accomplished.

We visited Smoke Hole Caverns last week and were very pleased with the tour. The gift shop had an array of items. Although we didnt buy more than our typical magnet souvenirs, I was impressed with the amount of stylish women's clothing. We bought chili cheese fries to eat while we waited for our tour to begin. The employee taking the order didn't seem too thrilled about having to make them, but she did. It was a small portion, but tasted great and hit the spot. My fiancé and I were the only 2 people in our tour group. I felt bad for their lack of business due to covid, but we enjoyed having the caverns all to ourselves for well over an hour. Our guide was professional, polite, and informative. He held our interest from beginning to end with historical stories and tales. We found it was well worth the $30 spent and got some great photos.
2 months ago
Awesome experience for our grandson. Unforgettable. The stairs are a little difficult for us older folks, but, that's a age physical limitation. read more
12 days ago
Our tour guide was terrible. Obnoxious, insulted a friend of mine and shrieked the whole time while talking. Could barely hear her despite the shrieking and did not make the caverns an enjoyable experience whatsoever. read more
3 years ago
We had a great tour, and Matthew was the best tour guide! The gift shop was sooo cute. Overall a great time. read more
10 months ago
We visited Smoke Hole Caverns in West Virginia and while the caverns themselves were absolutely amazing and our tour guide did a fantastic job, that's unfortunately the only positive thing we can say about the resort. The woman who appeared to be the owner or manager was shockingly rude to our entire group. We were supposed to have snacks or light lunches in the restaurant arranged through our tour group but were told we did not have reservations and would have to leave Instead of trying to clarify, she simply told us we couldn't eat there and had to leave. We were a group of 54 people all shopping in their store and spending money, yet we were treated with complete disrespect. Its is disappointing to see such poor customer service toward paying visitors If that is how groups are treated I cant imagine this business lasting long The caverns are worth seeing but Id strongly recommend avoiding the resort or restaurant until management changes read more
2 years ago
The tour was awesome. It was nice and cold inside. The tour guide kept us interested the entire time. The cashier could have had better customer service when we were buying things. read more
Nice small cavern attached to a very large gift shop. It was an excellent respite to a very hot day, with a standard temperature in the 50's. There are a few interesting formations inside, but the history of the cavern was probably more interesting. The whole thing feels like a bit of a tourist trap but should be excellent for the kids. read more
3 years ago
This is a great stop. The cavern has many interesting rock formations, with large stalactites and stalagmites. Everything was relatively easy to get to, and I only had to bend down in a couple of places (I'm 5'11"). Very enjoyable. There is a large gift shop which is very well stocked with clothes, mementos, and gear. Certainly worth exploring, and you can't beat the scenery on the drive over, either. read more
9 years ago
Tickets for Smoke Hole Caverns can be purchased at the massive gift shop called Smoke Hole Gift Shop. Note that although the entrance is via a ramp, the tour inside the cavern is not wheelchair accessible. However for those who are able, this cavern is worth the visit. Stalactites and stalagmites abound, growing at the rate of 1 cubic inch every 125 years. In some areas the two have merged to form a column. Smaller than Luray, it has its own unique features including a trout stocked internal stream, and a natural artisanal well that yields drinkable water. The cavern has flecks of fool's gold in the ceiling, as well as other unique rock features that glow in unusual colors when near light. This cavern was inhabited by Indians, soldiers and moonshiners over the years before becoming a tourist attraction. read more
6 years ago
Myself and family were visiting WV and decided to visit the Caverns. There were 8 of us in our group and 25 total in the tour. The guide was very pleasant and informative. We had a few other questions and was happy to answer. The tour does involve the climbing up and down some slippery areas however the guide made sure all safely passed. The gift shop was big and had a nice selection of different items the targeted customers (Tourists) might enjoy. There were alot of tee shirts sweatshirts, jams, jelly etc. Even had a nice ice cream parlour inside. So? Why the negative reviews. There is a section dedicated to Pro Trump items. Its apparent that this location is in a Republican region. If this is a problem or you feel uncomfortable by all means you may choose to not visit. Anyway, we didn't come for politics. We came for family fun. Mission accomplished. read more
6 years ago
We visited Smoke Hole Caverns last week and were very pleased with the tour. The gift shop had an array of items. Although we didnt buy more than our typical magnet souvenirs, I was impressed with the amount of stylish women's clothing. We bought chili cheese fries to eat while we waited for our tour to begin. The employee taking the order didn't seem too thrilled about having to make them, but she did. It was a small portion, but tasted great and hit the spot. My fiancé and I were the only 2 people in our tour group. I felt bad for their lack of business due to covid, but we enjoyed having the caverns all to ourselves for well over an hour. Our guide was professional, polite, and informative. He held our interest from beginning to end with historical stories and tales. We found it was well worth the $30 spent and got some great photos. read more
5 years ago
A beautiful drive past Seneca Rocks brings you to this impressive cavern offering! You get your tickets in the gift shop so you can check out the massive selection-who doesn't love a two story gift shop? You can get everything you need in one shot-souvenirs, cavern tour tickets, passes for putt putt-they even have a little cafe! Today was our second time visiting, and we got there late and missed the last tour time. Everyone was super friendly and hospitable even near closing time, and then Bailey who was working in the store heard a few of us hoping for a tour so he took pity on us and took us all through! It's a great tour and a pleasant walk through the caverns-there are stairs and some inclines/declines but nothing too treacherous. We'll be back each time we have someone visit us from out of state, love Smoke Hole! read more
6 years ago
If I could give a lesser review I would. We were so excited to go and visit as a family with our group of 9. When another member of our party looked up reviews on another site she was horrified at the reviews- no masks are required, the staff doesn't wear masks and you visit underground caverns that are crowded and small and impossible for social distancing. Still hopeful I called to inquire about their covid-19 procedures. The lady who answered was combative and rude. I was in SHOCK! I asked a few questions politely , hoping to find a way for our visit to still work, but she grew more and more hostile. The short convo ended with her shrilly telling me to come back next summer. I answered that wouldn't be happening based upon her attitude alone. It's a shame that we couldn't visit today but we haven't been quarantining since March to pick up Covid-19 from selfish people who deny science. Not only did they miss our business this time around but all future visits when we bring guests. read more
Located beside the newly debuted Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop, and somehow associated with the Smoke Hole Resort (the motel is here by the caverns, the cabins and actual 'resort' area is two miles back up the road), the Smoke Hole Caverns offer the world's largest ribbon stalactite formation. Additionally, you'll see flow stone, crystal coral (only in about two caves in the world, I believe), great vertical rock examples, part of an underground lake, soda straw stalactites, columns and large, slick stalagmites. The caverns are mostly cool because of their history, steeped in Native American, Civil War and Prohibition stories. And while the tour is nice, the young (high school-aged?) guides are obviously repeating a script (and way too practiced, not extemporaneous enough), and the tour itself is VERY short when you consider how much time is spent standing there listening to the tour guide tell you what he thinks the different formations look like. The Smoke Hole Caverns are definitely cool and something you should see once if you're driving by or in the area already for hiking or some other outdoor activity. But they aren't something you'd probably need to see more than once or make a special trip for, and the actual amount of cave you see is pretty minimal. read more
Pretty awesome hidden gem in the middle of no where. They have cabins with jacuzzi's and wifi...about the only wifi you'll find for miles. The tours of the caverns are relatively cheap and very informative. Most of the guides are college kids working for tips in the summer so don't forget to tip. You'll want to take a ton of pictures but if you don't have a big flash or a charged camera battery don't attempt it....they won't come out as it is very very dark inside. It stays around 54F year round so in the hot summer it's a great place to cool down and in the cold winters its great to warm up. The cave formations are beautiful, both stalactites and stalagmites. Tour takes around an hour and is worth every penny...I think young kids are free and they really dig it. When you're done here drive up to Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods for some amazing views. There is a small gift shop beside the cavern entrance as well as a motel. read more
We were looking for something to do on a rainy winter day and decided to visit Smoke Hole Caverns. About a 30 min drive from Canaan Valley. They have tours on the hour. The tour is about 45mins. You purchase the tickets at the gift shop. The gift shop is huge, two stories with many items of clothing, shoes, boots, even a bargain section. There is a small cafe for snacks & beverages. They offer various packages that bundle a tour, mini golf & gem hunting. Only the cavern tour was available the day we went. The tours leave from the gift shop. The guides are locals. The Smoke Hole Caverns were used by the local Indians, Civil War soldiers and moonshine runners during Prohibition. The caverns are 1/3 mile long and this tour is not handicap accessible. The caverns were very wet because of the rain. They have some beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Plus, they have a an internal trout pond and a wishing well. It's a very nice tour and if you are in the area I recommend the tour read more
8 years ago
Facility cute and spectacular, clothing 50% well over priced (and I come from DC!!). Best part of this was the tour, she arrived promptly, along the way gave us the history and some story telling, on the other half she had such a witty sense of humor, had all of us chuckle and even laugh! I did not hear that from the other groups, so ask for Jessica if you can, she was superb!! read more
10 years ago
I just came back and visited Smoke Hole and I must say it was a very pleasant experience. We came here last year and this visit was a wonderful change. All of the staff were very helpful and pleasant and the store was well merchandised and managed. The tour was very good and the guide was excellent. Well worth the trip. read more
7 years ago
Very comfortable but needs to be updated. It was a little confusing where we were actually supposed to check in.
7 years ago
Great place to visit! Sights were amazing. Would recommend to all. The gift shop was massive and had a great selection if you are looking for a souvenir! read more
11 years ago
You've probably heard that all caverns are just another hole in the ground. Welcome to Smoke Hole Caverns. I've been to probably 7 or 8 different caverns & these were the least interesting. Maybe it had to do with the not so interesting tour guide & his trainee. All caverns tour guides have some corny jokes or stories to share & Smoke Hole is no exception. They have an awesome gift shop! read more
11 years ago
I am only reviewing the gift shop. The new gift shop is awesome. The selection of items is terrific. They have everything from classy to causal wear. They have items for all ages. I would definitely recommend stopping here even if you don't want to go into the caverns. read more
More info about Smoke Hole Caverns
Rt 28 S
Seneca Rocks, WV 26884
Directions
(304) 257-4442
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.smokehole.com
Payment methods
Does Smoke Hole Caverns take credit cards?
Yes, Smoke Hole Caverns takes credit cards.
Other Amenities
Does Smoke Hole Caverns have free WiFi?
No, Smoke Hole Caverns does not have free WiFi.
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Review Highlights - Smoke Hole Caverns
“The gift shop is huge, two stories with many items of clothing, shoes, boots, even a bargain section.”
Mentioned in 8 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
6 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
8 years ago
Used to love going to this place as a kid and now it's just sad what they have done to it (and haven't done to it). The cave is small and has a lot of mold, algae, and even moss in it because they leave the lights on too much and many of the stalactites and stalagmites are broken off. The metal stairs in the cave are very slippery and dangerous. Electric lines for the lights were touching water and there was standing water in much of the cave which combined with the old wiring seems like an accident waiting to happen. For instance, they had a large gallon jar laying on it's side and it had a bunch of water in it and it was being used as a light shade of sorts and had a wired, lit light bulb sitting in the jar of water. I don't even know. The items in their shop are extremely over priced, for instance a ballcap is $28. The staff is rude and condescending. The tour guide can't answer any questions asked. They lock you in the cave during the tour with a chain and padlock which seems like a safety hazard. During their claimed total darkness moments when they turn off the light there are still small lights on so it is not actually total darkness. Will not be returning. read more
4 years ago
I am only writing this for my sister who had a reservation with her husband for May 2023, I called for her to get her money back as he had a massive stroke and brain bleed, she needs all the money she can get right now, therapy is very expensive and not covered 100 percent with insurance, I asked for the 25 dollar fee back and the owner said M=NO THAT IS OUR POLICY even after I explained the situation she said WELL THATS OUR POLICY , what a horrible woman hope she never needs help and I hope she really needed that 25 dollars NASTY PEOPLE read more
8 years ago
The cave is so neat and the price is so affordable. It's like you've stepped back in time going into this cave. It's just like it was when it was first discovered and that's just the way it should be! It has some of the best formations in the world. The little putting course is a lot of fun too. read more
10 years ago
Due to the large amount of confederate flag paraphernalia in the gift shop, we left without going on a tour. Not going to pay our money to people who think that it's anything but a relic of a bygone racist establishment. read more
8 years ago
Don't recomend this here cave. No booze or nothin fun. Should at least sell some mountan shine or somefin. Dorve long way and nothin worth drinkin. F read more
8 years ago
The cave is just as wonderful as you see in the pictures!
Smoke Hole Caverns - hotels - Updated August 2026
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