Chris Parker and I drove and found a parking spot as we noticed this great tower-like building.
Ruby Falls HistoryIt was an unlikely chemist from Indiana who ushered in a new age of exploration with a big dream and an accidental discovery deep within Lookout Mountain. The discovery of Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the legacy it created is both remarkable and endearing. It is a tale of unlikely odds, love and determination. For decades, Ruby Falls parking attendants placed a coveted souvenir on the bumper of cars parked at Ruby Falls while guests explored the cave. 'See Ruby Falls' tags wired carefully to each bumper quickly became more than a souvenir – it was a symbol of wanderlust, curiosity and the thrill of discovery. To keep up with the demand, tour guides were tasked with cutting wire between tours.
Chattanooga was rapidly growing by the turn of the century. To meet the demand for expanded railway service, a new train tunnel was built through Lookout Mountain. The new tunnel blocked access to Lookout Mountain Cave; a cave well known through centuries of use, first by Native people, and later followed by visits for clandestine meetings, use as a hospital during the Civil War, and as a legendary hideout for moonshine runners and thieves.
Leo Lambert learned about the rich history and folklore of Lookout Mountain Cave shortly after he married his high school sweetheart, Ruby Losey, in 1916. Determined to open the cave to the public, Leo began a decade-long quest, researching methods to access the long-sealed cave. He put his plan in motion after securing $250,000 from investors for his fledgling Lookout Mountain Cave Company. Construction of an elevator shaft descending 420 feet through the solid limestone forming Lookout Mountain began, which would give access to Lookout Mountain Cave. Excavated limestone would be used to build what becomes known as "the most beautiful cave entrance in the world," a castle!
Progress to reach Lookout Mountain Cave was slow. Working around the clock, the crew removed five feet of limestone every 24 hours. Several weeks into the project and at a depth of 260-feet into the mountain, they hit a void in the rock and felt a rush of air escape through the mysterious opening. Leo Lambert and a small crew crawled through the dark chasm, unsure what they would find. They returned 17 hours later after finding flowing underground streams, geological formations and a plunging waterfall. Leo named the waterfall Ruby Falls in honour of his wife.
Ruby Falls Castle, built with limestone removed during excavation for the elevator shaft, was finished in 1929 and Lookout Mountain Cave opened to the public for tours in December after a grand opening ceremony and much fanfare from local press. Ruby Falls Cave opened for tours six months later in June 1930. Ruby Falls Castle quickly became a popular social gathering hub with a fashionable tearoom by day, and at night, an upscale restaurant with live orchestra accompanied dinner dances and "the largest ballroom in the city" according to newspaper descriptions. Social gatherings at the Castle are frequently highlighted by newspapers for the next 20 years, making the Castle beloved by both tourists and locals.
Ruby Falls Cave took on an unusual role as a designated Civil Defense fallout shelter. Food, water and medical supplies to sustain 720 people for several weeks were stored in the cave. The cave's unique location made it an ideal public shelter during a tense time in American history.
Ruby Falls Cave, the waterfall and iconic limestone castle are listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the significant role the attraction has played in the region's tourism development.
We I entered the Ruby Falls building and after checking in, waited five minutes for the next tour then boarded an elevator that took us 260 feet down into the cavern. As everyone exited, our tour guide, Hannah, greeted us and reviewed the rules and safety points before showing a short video of the history of Ruby Falls.
The entrance to the alternate exit and the Haunted Cavern.
Arabian Drapery.
The way the cave discoverers entered the depths of the cave.
Very beautiful formations.
A column with a broken one next to it.
Fantastic features in this cave as we are guided through.
This one you can name!
Hall of Dreams.
Two more views of the cave's unique features.
Soda Straws.
Another interesting view.
Leaning Tower.
I call this the barbecue pit.
Fascinating rock layers.
The stalactites creates fantastic vistas.
More unique cave features.
Interesting mineral deposits.
Cave Bacon.
The Potato Chip.
An underground fault line.
Further down the passageways we travelled.
Cactus and the Candle.
I call this the Cricket Game.
The goal for the Cricket Game.
I call this one the Alps.
Crystal Chandelier.
Totem Pole.
Onyx Column.
On through the passageways.
What image do you see.
Do you see an image?
The north end of a southbound donkey.
Fantastic mineral deposits.
Frozen Niagara.
We passed more incredible formations before we entering a darkened room where we could hear water falling. Everyone moved into place and then the lights came on and in front of us was Ruby Falls.
First Ruby Falls in the blue lights.
Then the red lights.
That was followed by the green light.
Next was the purple light.
Back to green.
Return to purple.
What a very beautiful underground waterfall and light show!
With this last picture, we returned to the surface and once in daylight, we walked the stairs to the viewing tower.
The Great Bend in the Tennessee River.
Looking towards Missionary Ridge.
Looking west.
Looking east. With that, our trip to Ruby Falls is complete and this is another must-see if you come to Chattanooga. Make sure to visit the Lookout Mountain Incline Railroad, Rock City and Ruby Falls. Chattanooga is a very interesting city and we returned to the Chattanooga Choo Choo for a few minutes. For dinner, the two of us went to Porters Restaurant, the most expensive steakhouse in town and I had a filet mignon which cost about 26 cents a bite. It certainly tasted good. We returned to the hotel I worked on stories before calling it a night.
Tomorrow was the first trip of the National Railway Historical Society convention, but that will be another story.
