Pennsylvania Celebrates Opening of First Underground State Park

Laurel Caverns State Park features 4 miles of cave passages and the largest bat shelter in the Northeast.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:20pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph depicting the interior of a limestone cave, with soft, blurred pools of warm light and color creating a sense of mystery and natural beauty.The newly opened Laurel Caverns State Park invites visitors to discover the beauty and wonder of Pennsylvania's largest underground cave system.Today in Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania's newest state park, Laurel Caverns State Park, will open to the public on April 22. The 435-acre park features Pennsylvania's largest and deepest limestone cave, with 4 miles of cave passages that can take visitors a couple hours to hike through. The park was previously owned by the Cale family for about 100 years before they donated the land to the state.

Why it matters

Laurel Caverns has long been recognized as one of Pennsylvania's most unique natural treasures. As the state's first underground state park, it provides an opportunity for visitors to explore remarkable geological formations and experience the beauty beneath the surface. The park also plays an important role in community-building and the local economy in Fayette County, which generates over $20 billion annually from outdoor recreation and supports 177,000 jobs in the state.

The details

The Laurel Caverns State Park spans about 435 acres and includes Pennsylvania's largest and deepest limestone cave. The cave features 4 miles of passages that can take a couple hours to hike through, reaching depths of up to 476 feet. The park is also home to the largest bat shelter in the Northeast. The Cale family owned the Laurel Caverns for about 100 years before donating the land to the state, which opened it as a park in 1964.

  • Laurel Caverns State Park will open to the public on April 22, 2026.
  • The Cale family owned the Laurel Caverns for about 100 years before donating the land to the state.

The players

Laurel Caverns State Park

Pennsylvania's newest and first subterranean state park, featuring the state's largest and deepest limestone cave with 4 miles of passages.

Cale Family

The family that owned the Laurel Caverns for about 100 years before donating the land to the state, which opened it as a park in 1964.

Corie Eckman

The manager of Laurel Caverns State Park.

Josh Shapiro

The Governor of Pennsylvania.

Cindy Adams Dunn

The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees the state's parks.

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What they’re saying

“Laurel Caverns has long been recognized as one of Pennsylvania's most unique natural treasures. As the largest cave in the state, it has provided generations of visitors with the opportunity to explore its remarkable geological formations and experience the beauty beneath the surface.”

— Corie Eckman, Manager of Laurel Caverns State Park

“I think it's also important in these times of great division to find opportunities to come together and not pay so much attention to who you voted for, but instead pay attention to the terrain you get to walk together: the beautiful waterfalls, in this case, these underground caves. All of a sudden, when you're doing that with folks, those differences sort of blend away, and instead you find our common humanity.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania

“It'll be part of a geo heritage area, and we'll focus on geology and really turn people on to geology in a way that we can't when underground is just a hypothetical thing. But when you can come down and touch it and feel it and see it, it's a different dynamic. And geology is an important discipline in society, and we need young people to really understand that.”

— Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

What’s next

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will soon begin a master site plan for Laurel Caverns State Park, which could include exploring options for visitors to sleep in the cave, as well as making improvements like more accessible parking, updated bathrooms, and electrical upgrades.

The takeaway

The opening of Laurel Caverns State Park, Pennsylvania's first underground state park, represents an exciting opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the state's unique geological wonders and come together in a shared appreciation for the natural world, regardless of political differences.