Cave of the Mounds

This is a nice cave to visit. We did the self guided tour. There are guides positioned along the way at various spots to offer information and answer questions. There are a couple of spots where the taller visitors will have to duck their heads and it did feel a bit claustrophobic but it didn’t last long. There is no need to purchase the tickets in advance as they allow people in every few minutes. Well worth a visit!

It was a very informative tour. We enjoyed the black light experience but would have liked more tutelage on where it was good to use the black light. The tours are on a schedule so waiting may be necessary. I also didn't have time to take pictures of people at ideal spots; however they take a group photo at the beginning and sale for $10. There are picture opportunities outside. The gardens are beautiful with some table to sit outside and enjoy the day while you await tour. There is a clear walking path and map as well. Plenty of park, drink fountain, and clean restrooms

We visited on the 4th of July and did the self-paced cave tour. It wasn’t packed, but there were other groups in the cave with us — still totally manageable since you can take as long as you need to explore. We purchased the UV light add-on for our toddler and highly recommend it — he loved pointing it at different cave structures and watching them change colors. There are guides stationed throughout the cave to share information and answer questions, which was helpful. My one regret is not springing for the additional narration guide — I think we would’ve picked up a lot more facts along the way with it. A few important notes for parents: no strollers and no back carriers are allowed inside — the cave gets very narrow in spots. I wore my son in a front carrier the entire tour and it worked well. Concessions and alcohol are available for purchase, but on the pricier side. On the plus side, the bathrooms are nice and there’s plenty of parking. Overall a great outing — just come prepared with the right gear and maybe spring for the narration guide if you want the full experience.

Super cool place! That said, if you're even the slightest bit claustrophobic you'll want to avoid it. There are a couple tight spaces, you're completely enclosed underground (it's a cave), and you can't touch anything. Our guide was Larry & he was great. The cave was still lit up for the holidays & it was so pretty. You can also rent a black light for $12 & see some pretty cool stuff when the lights are off. It's consistently 50° F in the cave, which is chilly in the summer, but pretty comfortable in the winter. It's drippy, so dress accordingly. There are no living creatures, so don't worry about spiders or bats. It's a lot of walking & a lot of stairs. It's connected to the super cool gift shop (which is where the tour starts). We spent at least an hour in the gift shop. The kids loved it. We'd go back.

Such a treasure and great experience. The cave tour was fun. Too our kids and we all had a good time. Get a black light, it was really fun to check stuff out. About 45 min. Not too hard to walk but it is uneven and some stairs so might be difficult for some.

A magnificent, impressive place—from its history to the story of its discovery. It feels very safe, and the guide we had—besides being very friendly—was also extremely knowledgeable about the cave, making our tour very enjoyable. We would definitely do it again. Both upon arrival and upon departure—though I feel you can appreciate it even better when leaving the cave—you can truly take in the view, the surrounding nature, and the palpable sense of peace. There are two shops on-site where you can purchase various items made of stone and quartz, as well as fridge magnets (our personal hobby). Highly recommended. Thank you.

It was a great experience! The tour guide was amazing! The Christmas Lights were a really festive touch as I went during the Cave of Lights Holiday display! It was amazing! I would highly recommend going here as I would love to see the grounds during the growing season!

🦇 An unforgettable first cave experience—"cave bacon," lucky kisses, and amazing staff! ⭐ Rating: 5/5 🚗 Vibe: Educational, awe-inspiring, and great for all ages. 🗺️ The Experience This was our very first time visiting a cave, and it was incredible! We did a self-paced tour, which was nice because we could explore at our own speed, but they had interactive staff stationed along the way. The guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and engaging, sharing lots of cool facts as well as fun, unofficial names for the different rock formations: 🥤 Soda Straws: We learned that the tiny, newly forming stalactites are called "soda straws" because of their thin, hollow structure. They look so fragile, like you could just snap one off and drink out of it! 🥓 Cave Bacon: The rippled rock structures are dubbed "cave bacon" because their ribbon-like, layered appearance looks exactly like a strip of bacon. 💧 Cave Kisses: Getting "cave kissed" (having cave water drip onto your head or clothes) was a total first for us! The staff told us that each droplet brings one year of good luck, so we walked out feeling pretty lucky. 🛋️ Atmosphere & Comfort The cave temperature is consistently in the mid-50s, which provided a wonderful, cool break from the blistering 80-degree summer sun outside. 💡 Pro-Tip for Visitors Bring a sweatshirt! We took hoodies along with us, and I am so glad we did, as it gets chilly down there after a while. 🔄 Would I Return? Absolutely. It was a perfect introduction to spelunking, and the staff made it a blast