It’s always nice to find a place that pleases children and adults, and it’s even better if the place has multiple attractions. Marengo Cave in Southern Indiana may not sound like it does all that, but don’t let the name fool you – you’ll find much more than a cave here.

History
Geologists believe that Marengo Cave was formed about one million years ago. It was discovered in 1883 by Orris and Blanche Hiestand, natives of Marengo, Indiana.


After word got around, neighborhood kids began to explore. One of those was the son of Samuel Steward, who would later open the cave to the public. The Stewart family continued to operate it until it was sold in 1973.

The cave is about five miles long and the park above it includes 122 acres of hills and valleys. Below are two underground rivers. In 1984, Marengo Cave was designated a National Natural Landmark. It’s the most visited show cave in Indiana.

Cave Tours
Two different guided walking tours are offered of the Marengo Cave cavern structures and both are suitable for adults and children. The Dripstone Trail Tour takes an hour and takes you through one mile of the cave. The other is the Crystal Palace Tour. It’s a shorter and more condensed for a 40 minute presentation through one third of a mile. Guides are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you have.

A two-hour Cave Exploring trip into some of the underdeveloped sections is also available, but advance reservations must be made for this tour.

The Crawl
Kids, as well as their parents, will enjoy The Crawl. It’s a cave simulator which allows you to twist and wind through a series of wood boxes. The course is a bit challenging – just like it would be to actually be in the crevices of the cave.

The design for The Crawl was imported from Belgium. While it’s not for the claustrophobic, the adventure lover will have a great time. This can also be done on an organized group tour.

Canoes
Cave Country Canoes is also part of the Marengo Cave activities. The facility in Milltown is just five minutes away and you can by a combination tickets for the cave tours and the canoeing on the Blue River, which was the first designated scenic and natural river in Indiana.

Canoe trips are available for beginners and pros, but they are subject to cancellation if the weather isn’t good. Speak to the staff at Marengo Cave to discover what trip will be best for you. Among the sites on the blue river are blue heron, sea turtles, and hellbenders.

Accommodations
It’s easy to make a weekend out of a visit to Marengo cave as they offer accommodations in cabins and campgrounds.  The cabins are set back from the attractions so they have some privacy.  They have air conditioning, electricity, and heat indoors, with picnic tables and fire pits outside.

The camping spots range from a place to pitch your tent to a spot with electricity. Campsites are near the creek and are near showers and restrooms. They even have free Wi-Fi in the gift shop.

Both options are very reasonably priced, with rates as low as $40 a night in the cabin. Contact Marengo Cave for exact rates and availability.

Don’t Forget
Marengo Cave is open year round. Leave some time to browse the large store for many unusual and educational finds. You can also get information there about the gemstone mineral mining and natural trail.

Many special packages and discounts are offered by Marengo Cave for their activities. They even give discounts for foster families and home-schooled children.