Skip to Main Content

McMinnville, Tennessee: Cumberland Caverns, with a Chandelier

Tennessee's largest show cave, and the only one anywhere with a waterfall and an elegant chandelier.

Cumberland Caverns

Address:
1437 Cumberland Caverns Rd, McMinnville, TN
Directions:
South of town on Cumberland Caverns Rd, about 1.5 mi off of Hwy 8.
Hours:
Daily 9 am - 5 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
931-668-4396
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Cumberland Caverns, with a Chandelier

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Chandelier.

Cumberland Caverns, with a Chandelier

Chandelier!

[Matthew Krist, 02/17/2015]

You said it. The 1928 crystal fixture originally hung in a theater in Brooklyn, NY. It's 15-ft. long, holds 150 lights, and hangs 60 ft. above the floor of the Volcano Room.

Cave formation.

Cumberland Caverns - With Chandelier

The previous post is partially correct. Cumberland Caverns does have some amazing features (Stalactites, Stalagmites, Flow Rock, etc.), and the shear size of the cave is breathtaking.

However, on top of the steep entry fee (a lot of money for a cave, in my opinion), our tour guide in particular was, I promise you, the worst guide I've ever had on anything. ever. Period. She was friendly, but she was not well informed about cave formations, she was extremely awkward to engage, and she had zero presentation skills.

The highlight of the trip is supposed to be "a pageantry of light and sound" within the depths of this massive cave. In reality, you're scooted down a path to a set of homemade bleachers. The lights are shut off and the guide fumbles with an AV box and presses play on a CD player. The audio comes from some cheap speakers mounted behind you, and you experience what they call "The Creation Story." It's nothing more than a poorly edited reading of how God created the Earth in 7 days, set to a light show (read: some multicolored bulbs scattered throughout a small section of cave).

For some of you, this might sound like a good time. If so, have fun.

[Greg S., 03/16/2010]

You're describing the ideal show cave tour and presentation!

Cumberland Caverns - With Chandelier

Tennessee's Largest Show Cave - great tour! Huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There are lots of impressive formations and a waterfall on the tour, as well as some historic salt peter mining artifacts. Well worth the ticket price.

[Jenny, 08/23/2008]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Grave of Old Isham, Rebel War HorseGrave of Old Isham, Rebel War Horse, Beech Grove, TN - 30 mi.
Backcountry Gourd Art SupermarketBackcountry Gourd Art Supermarket, Pikeville, TN - 32 mi.
Flynn Creek Impact CraterFlynn Creek Impact Crater, Gainesboro, TN - 42 mi.
In the region:
Grave of Strolling Jim, Tennessee Walking Horse, Wartrace, TN - 38 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Tennessee Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings