If you’re looking for a really unique and fun outing with the entire family, Tennessee’s Forbidden Caverns is it! This incredible sight beneath the Great Smoky Mountains, is one of the great natural attractions in the country. The stalactites and stalagmites are really beautiful, and the caverns have a great history.
Along a one hour walking tour of the caverns, guests will see and learn about rock formations, a crystal clear stream, several grottos and natural chimneys. The tour is both educational and entertaining – perfect for kids and adults. The tour is highlighted by impressive lighting effects and a stereophonic sound presentation. The tour guides are well trained, so you’ll always have a good experience and learn a lot. For those concerned with safety for kids, all the trails are well-lit and there are hand rails along the way.
While the sights at Forbidden Caverns are truly amazing, the history will keep you even more engaged. Now a tourist attraction, Forbidden Caverns was once a natural shelter for early inhabitants of the area. Eastern Woodland Indians were among these cave dwellers, and they likely used the chert and flint found here to make arrowheads, scrapers and knives. Its name comes from an old Indian legend, one that speaks of an Indian princess who was lost in “a hollow mountain of two streams…which is forbidden.”
Years later in the early 1920s, the cave was the perfect location for illegal moonshine making. A cavern stream provided a continuous water source, and the secluded nature kept it hidden from the law. Then, in 1946, a group of businessmen began working together to open the caverns to the public. Forbidden Caverns was opened in June 1967.
Along the drive from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, enjoy beautiful views of the Leconte mountain range, English Mountain, farm houses, an old grist mill and a trout farm. The caverns are gorgeous and unique and the history is really interesting. It’s a great outing for kids and adults of all ages.
455 Blowing Cave Road
Sevierville, TN 37876
865.453.5972