S.C. Billboard: Tough Times Bearing Down

Howes Cave, New York

A Secret Caverns billboard evidently painted in the wake of the economic crash of 2008; it features a slightly crazed-looking bear standing amid a pile of gold and stacks of bills within the cave. This billboard replaces an earlier sign that featured filmmaker Kevin Smith's mention of Secret Caverns on The Tonight Show.

Caverns' owner R.J. Mallery remembered that Smith arrived three hours late for his cave visit and was too neurotic to touch the mummy in the Caverns lodge. "I said, 'You bitch more than my wife. You're gonna touch that mummy!'" R.J. recalled. "Then I grabbed him and skipped him across the floor with his arm out."

R.J. also said that Smith's producer, realizing how great Secret Caverns was, pleaded with tour guide Todd DelMarter to come back the next day for more filming, but Todd refused. "That guy whipped out hundred dollar bills, begging Todd to come back the next day," said R.J., "but Todd said he was independently wealthy."