What to expect & FAQs

Ticket Purchases:

Tickets may be purchased in advance up until midnight the night before arrival HERE . 

While we recommend you purchase your tickets online, online ticket purchases are not required.  We always reserve a certain percentage of all of our tour seats for walk-in guests, i.e., those guests that did not or were not otherwise able to prebook their tours online. However, walk-in seats are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Therefore, we recommend that our walk-in guests arrive by noon, particularly if you are interested in taking both the cavern and farm, nature, wildlife tour. It takes approximately 3 hours to go through both tours. 

Given that walk-in seats are sold on a first come, first serve basis, it is impossible for us to know or predict how many walk-in guests may arrive ahead of you. Please be advised that during the summer months (particularly on weekends and holidays), the later in the day that you arrive, the higher the risk that you will encounter a wait time or that one or both of our tours may already be sold out.

We’re sorry, but we cannot accept ticket purchases over the phone unless you have a larger group.

Backpack and Large Bags:

Backpacks and large bags are not permitted inside the Visitors Center or on the cave tour, so please leave these in your vehicle before entering. If you have a diaper bag or purse, you must carry it on the front of your body--nothing can be worn/carried on the back.

Aircraft and Drones:

Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park (Penn’s Cave, Inc.) and FAA laws strictly prohibit the use of model aircraft and drones on any part or area of its 1600 acres to protect and ensure the safety of our visitors, animals and private passenger aircraft that fly into and land at the Penn’s Cave Airpark.

The Penn’s Cave Airport is open daily for private fly-ins for pilots and their passengers who wish to visit our attraction. FAA Designated, N 74 Airport, Detroit Sectional, 2500 ft x 40 ft asphalt. This is an unmanned, no-service facility. Walking time to the Penn’s Cave Visitors Center is approximately 5 minutes.

Strollers and Child Carriers/Seats:

We are family-friendly, so children of all ages are welcome! Strollers and child carriers/seats are not permitted on the tours, so you must hold/carry your little ones during each tour. Once the tour has departed, everyone must remain seated at all times—we cannot ‘rock the boat!

Handicapped Accessible Information:

The cave itself is a natural attraction that is not handicap accessible. There is a 350 foot, 45 degree incline followed by 48 steps that all visitors must descend to reach the dock and board the boat.  There are handrails on either side of the steps.  The same stairs and 45 degree incline are used to return to the Visitor's Center following the cavern tour. The cavern tour is given entirely by boat.

The Farm-Nature-Wildlife tour is not handicap accessible.  This tour is given by bus (most are school bus style) with bench seating.  There are three to four steps to enter the bus, and these same stairs are used to exit the bus.  The Farm-Nature-Wildlife tour is approximately 90 minutes long and takes our visitors through the Penn’s Cave farm grazing pastures, mountain and forest areas which have been preserved as natural habitats for birds and other animals. There are steep hills, and at times it is a bumpy ride as the bus does leave paved roads and follows shale and gravel topped roads.  There is minimal walking during the Farm-Nature-Wildlife tour; however, visitor's may elect to remain on the bus instead.

Tour Weight Restrictions for Plus Sized Visitors:

There are no weight restrictions for plus sized visitors.  However, please see the handicapped accessible information above.

Both the cavern tour and the Farm-Nature-Wildlife tours feature bench type seating. Please be prepared that when our tours are running at full capacity, you may feel "squeezed in." 

Additional Visitor's Center and Tour Information:

Visitor's Center:

Souvenirs, gifts, drinks & food are available for purchase inside the Visitors Center.

Farm-Nature-Wildlife Tours:

There is minimal walking during the Farm, Nature & Wildlife Park Tour, so we do recommend that comfortable walking shoes be worn. This tour is given rain or shine, so visitors may bring an umbrella for the short-distance walk.

Cavern Tours:

Cavern tours depart, rain or shine. The year round inside cave temperature remains a constant 52 degrees, so a jacket or sweatshirt is recommended. Comfortable shoes are advised as there is a 350 foot 45 degree incline and 48 steps that lead to the dock, and visitor's must step onto the flat bottom boat.  These same stairs and 45 degree incline are used to return to the Visitor's Center following the cavern tour.

Each cavern tour boat will hold up to 20 persons and travels at a slow speed as it glides thru the cave.

Since our all-water cave is an active, living cave, there will be water drips from time to time, but you will not become fully soaked. There are no big “splashes.”

Parking and Camping:

Parking is FREE. There is a designated lot for buses, tractor trailers, RV’s & campers.

Overnight camping/parking is not permitted.

Cameras/Photographs:

Cameras are welcome, but please be respectful of others if using a flash.

Groups:

Groups of 20 or more persons must reserve in advance & provide a non-refundable deposit (the amount is based upon the group size) which will be deducted from the final amount due on day of arrival: Group Reservations

Pavilions and Picnic Tables:

Picnic shelters are available to rent: Contact Us

Our guests may use the tables between the Visitor's Center and the Cave House or the tables on either porch of the Visitor's Center for their own picnics.  Additionally, our guests are free to throw blankets down on the grass areas by the parking lots for their own picnics.

Private Tours:

Fully-private guided tours are available by advance reservation: Contact Us

Additional Questions:

For additional questions, please email: Info@pennscave.com .