After a very enjoyable stay at Fort Wilderness last April for my husband and I, we are headed back in April of 2009 with our son-in-law, daughter and grandaughter. Our son-in-law has never seen underground caverns, so we'd like to stop for a night on the way back to Michigan at the end of our stay and visit Ruby Falls. However, we do not pull a toad.....so is there a campground within walking or biking distance to Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain? Or are there any other underground caverns that any of you can recommend with a nice campground? Thank you!

SawBzzy

AR falls did not impress me very much, while Lookout Mt was very impressive, especially the guys who jumped off the top with their hang gliders. Made my toes curl. The most beautiful cavern I have ever been in, including Carlsbad Cavern, is Luray cavern in Luray Va. Its just off the interstate (I think 85 or 83) To me, it has the most color as well as formations of any cavern I have visited. While this out of the way back to Mi. the cavers are awsom. Get a Kroger discount pass and they give you a discount if you decide to go. s/Toby

I'm not aware of a CG really close to Ruby Falls, but they have a large parking area and could handle you're rig...Most of the other Lookout Mtn attractions (Incline railway, Rock City) accomodate bus/RV parking too..

quote:

Originally posted by SewBzzzy:
...so is there a campground within walking or biking distance to Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain?..

Closest campground to Ruby Falls/Lookout Mtn is Raccoon Mtn Campground at the I-24 Tiftonia Exit. The caverns onsite there are better than Ruby Falls (Ruby Falls cave is "dead" from the ground up to about 7 ft). Smaller but you can also take the "wild cave" tour. If you do the Wild Cave, take clothes to throw away afterwards. The mud leaves stains & will not come out. They also have a amusement park there too. We lived there for a few months one year. We liked it.

I agree with Lorna. The caverns on site at Raccoon Mountain campground are better that Ruby Falls. We stayed there in a 35' 5th wheel but I saw some big rigs there also. We stayed there to tour Chattanooga, great aquarium, and had to visit the chattanooga choo choo.

raccoon1@raccoonmountain.com

JD