Northeast's Natural Cave experience, New York State attractions

Happy New Year from all of us at Howe Caverns. We are open every day 9AM to 5PM, HOWEVER, the boat ride portion of the tour will not be available Jan 5-8 & Jan 12-15 for annual maintenance. Only the walking tour which shows 90% of the caverns will be available those days. GO UNDERGROUND... We are the warmest place to be in the winter in the great northeast as it is always 52 degrees. After your tour try out our gemstone mining and geode cutting. Stop in our Sweet Shop for our homemade fudge, truffles and a cup of Starbucks coffee. We have quite a collection of souvenirs and gifts in our Gift Shop. Stay overnight at our motel.

Traditional Tours include a quarter-mile boat ride on the Underground Lake of Venus.

Howe Caverns offers guided cavern tours every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

> 1. The Northeast's natural cave experience

The Northeast's natural cave experience

The rebirth and successful commercial development of Howe Caverns, as it is known today, between the years 1927-1929, is in large part attributable to two men, John Mosner of Syracuse and Walter H. Sagendorf of Saranac Lake.

Mosner, an engineer and vice president and general manager of the Edward P. Bates Company of Syracuse, proposed the modern engineering developments that would make the cave easily accessible-even comfortable-to the average visitor. Mosner who was impressed by his visit to Howe's Cave in 1890, believed that with a shaft for elevators sunk at the opposite end of the cave and the addition of electric lighting, Howe's Cave would become a leading tourist attraction.

Sagendorf provided the organization for the Mosner plan, his brother John owned most of the land on which today's Visitor Center is located. Howe Caverns, Inc. was organized as a closed stock corporation on October 11, 1927. Work began the next year under difficult conditions.

The 156-foot elevator shaft was built at a cost of $1,100 per foot. A work force of well over 50 men constructed the walks and bridges and the above-ground facilities. The much-awaited grand re-opening of Howe's Cave as Howe Caverns, Inc. took place on May 27, 1929. On the occasion more than 2,000 visitors toured what was once known as "Blowing Rock," Lester Howe's great wonder, down under.

A new era began for Howe Caverns on April 19, 2007 when the 220 shareholders of Howe Caverns, Inc. sold the company to two local men, Charles M. Wright and Emil J. Galasso. Both men plan to invest several million dollars in improvements to Howe Caverns over the coming years.

Mr. Galasso also is the founder of the Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology on the site of the original Howe's Cave located on land adjacent to Howe Caverns. The vision for the future of these properties includes joining the present Howe Caverns to Lester Howe's original cave on the site of the museum so that visitors may see the natural wonder as they did in the 19th century.

The new owners continue to fulfill their vision for a renewed Howe Caverns to expand the tour beyond the current Lake of Venus. Eventually, this work will unite the entire cave system as as it was found when Lester Howe discovered it in 1842. Walkways, lights and bridges will need to be installed. The 875 feet of cave destroyed by mining in the early 1900's will need to be recreated.

Since 2007, visitors can now view the Cave House Museum at various times during the year. The Cave House Museum is a restoration project and is expected to take several years for completion. (Visit the Cave House Museum page on this website for updated information)