Dear Friends who have once visited 7 Caves,

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    For those of you who may have visited 7 Caves during the long and historic span it was open to the public, please know that cave exploration is no longer part of the offerings at the Appalachian Forest Museum and the Highlands Nature Sanctuary.

  Can we still see the caves? Visitors may walk partway into Marble Cave on the Valley of the Ancients Trail, going far enough in to feel the edge of darkness, and the mysterious, cool humid air of the caves. Six of the seven caves (on approximately one acre of land) have been set aside for wildlife restoration and these caves are not accessible to the public. Although the Appalachian Forest Museum and trail system is no longer considered to be a cave destination, it is nevertheless an outstanding natural area well worth the time to see.  During your visit you will see rare plants, sheer rock walls, and the compelling rock formations of the Rocky Fork Gorge, while learning more about the treasures of our Eastern forests. We highly recommend a visit.

    The good news:

• The Arc has cut the 7 Caves admittance prices in half (from $12.00 to $6.00 for adults, and from $6.00 to $3.00 for children.)
• Admission is free to our neighbor residents in Adams, Highlands, Ross, Pike and Scioto Counties during our open hours in July and October, 2010
• The acreage of the park has expanded from 7 Caves' thirteen acres to 2000 acres
• Visitors may now hike up to fourteen miles of trails compared to the 7 Cave offering of 1.0 mile of trails; and ten loop trails in the beautiful Rocky Fork Gorge instead of the 7 Caves' previous offering of two trails.

   Why restrict cave access? Since acquiring 7 Caves in 2005 our non-profit has removed the lights in the caves and we are actively restoring them as they once were -- wild caves for wildlife habitat. Cave eco-systems are extremely rare in Ohio and we are managing one of the last wild caves systems to be found anywhere in the state. We are thrilled to report that four species of bats are once again inhabiting the caves. Mammal experts have asked all cave operations in the East to not permit people to enter active bat hibernation sites, in an effort to help slow down the deadly disease that is alarmingly destroying bat populations east of Ohio (harmless to humans) and is rapidly spreading. Extinction is now a concern for several bat species, and we are taking the bat experts' recommendations very seriously on behalf of our natural bio-diversity.
    Unfortunately, during the 200 years the caves were open to unrestricted exploration, severe damage was inflicted on the geologic formations, resulting in the breaking of every stalactite and stalagmite that once graced the caves. We are pleased to be able to show visitors that these cave features are now growing back, ....ever so slowly.