Secret Caverns, Cobleskill, NY

The Secret Caverns lodge is five miles east of Cobleskill, NY off US Route 7. This places it just 35 miles west of Albany, NY. The caves are open daily Mid-April through November 1st from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, June, July and August from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and May and September from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Prices for adults are $16.00, children ages 6-15 are $8.00 and children less than 5 are free. Strollers are not allowed in the caves and front packs must be used very cautiously. A tour of the caves is 1/2 mile and takes around an hour to complete. There are guided tours with approximately twenty people and they leave the entrance to the cave every fifteen or twenty minutes.

Visitors to the cave must be able to climb stairs as the walking tour descends into the cave with 103 steps before meeting up with the concrete walkway. The temperature of the cave stays around 50 degrees so a light weight jacket or sweater is recommended as are comfortable walking shoes.

The Secret Caverns were discovered by local farmer, Leon Lawton in 1928 when two of his cows wound up at the bottom of the entrance. Word of the caves discovery reached the notice of Roger Mallery who was a local civil engineer. Mr. Mallery enlisted the help of five local teenagers that were interested in the hobby of spelunking. They went into the entrance with 85 feet of rope and flashlights to explore the cave. They had to crawl on their stomachs for 200 feet in cold water and mud before they got to the inner chambers where they could finally stand up. There the group found high ceilings, winding trails and a 100 foot waterfall.

Mr. Mallery decided to explore the cave himself after that and it wasn't long before he purchased the land and opened it up to other spelunkers for 0.40 a trip. These first explorers were issued a hundred feet of rope, a flashlight, helmet, and lunch. The first trips were unguided and could last up to six hours. It would be the early 1930's before wooden walkways and metal swinging ladders were added. Shortly after that the 103 cement steps were poured and lights were added. It remains pretty much the same today as it was then.

Visitors to the caverns will see the stalactites and stalagmites that have been forming since the last Ice Age. The cave is made up of limestone deposits. Some of the areas that visitors will see on the tour include "Lost Atlantis'' which is found in a reflecting pool, "twin golden domes'' that were formed from water and whirlpools and the form of an alligator can be seen along the walkway. A fire destroyed the original lodge at Secret Caverns, but a new one has taken its place. Many unique billboards will lead visitors to the entrance of Secret Caves. The bat has become the mascot of the caves and is part of the hand painted signage.