Crystal Cave (Pennsylvania)

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Beautiful and delicate formations found in Crystal Cave.

Odd shapes can be found all around the cave.

The Upside-Down Ice cream Cone.

Crystal Cave is a cave in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It has been visited by millions of people since its discovery on November 12, 1871. It was found by Gideon Merkel and John Gehret. Greenwich Township farmer Samuel D. F. Kohler bought 47 acres of land, including the cave, for $5,000 in 1872. The next year he began charging 25 cents admission.

Some rock formations in Crystal Cave are a half-million years old. Also, the lowest point in Crystal Cave is 155 feet below the earth's surface. The highest point in the cave is 65 feet below the earth's surface, in an area that is correctly called "Lookout Point", for it gives a breathtaking view of 2/3 of the cave. Tours are thirty minutes long. The cave remains at fifty-two degrees, fifty-four degrees, and fifty-six degrees Fahrenheit in different areas all year round. From the main entrance of the cave to the back of the cave, it measures 500 feet long. One rock formation is called "The Upside-down Ice Cream Cone", for the different-colored calcite deposits that look like vanilla ice cream and strawberry ice cream, along with moss that looks like mint ice cream. Also, there is an enormous drop rock. Many species of bat live and hibernate there.