Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: Showcase

Media Credit: Andrea Pendergast The walls in the Ballroom, the largest room in the Crystal Cave, are lit up in order to see all of the textures and formations. The ceilings in the Ballroom are the largest in the cave and the lowest point in the cave, 70 feet, is at the entrance of the room.

Media Credit: Andrea Pendergast Soda straw stalacitites hang from the cave roof in Crystal Cave. These straws are hollow and only one droplet wide and most have a very short lifespan.

Imagine descending five or six stories into the ground, where you find yourself in a limestone cave surrounded by stalactites, stalagmites and columns. You can explore the cave with an hourlong guided tour through a third of a mile of underground trail.

Crystal Cave, located in Spring Valley, can provide this experience. Jean Cunningham, one of the cave owners, said 30,000 to 35,000 guests frequent the cave each year.

The cave is open to the public April through October and costs $10 for adults. Cunningham said during the spring and fall they are busy with school groups, whereas in the summer they are busy with general admissions.

Junior Brittany Hartung, who is from Spring Valley, said she has been to Crystal Cave a few times, most recently last summer when she took her 10-year-old brother.

"As a kid I thought it was really cool," she said. "Now that I'm a little older I see the uniqueness of it and find it interesting for a lot of different reasons."

People come to the cave from all over the world. Last Thursday afternoon, Cunningham said there were guests from Germany, Mexico, Arkansas and Kentucky.

"We get people from all 50 states, as well as 25 to 35 countries each year," she said.

"It really is amazing how many people come from all over to see it," Hartung said. "Spring Valley really is just a tiny town."

Although there are other caves in the area, Crystal Cave is the only one open to the public. It has the longest measured underground passageway in the state and is unlike any other cave, Cunningham said.

"Every cave is different," she said. "Every cave is unique."

Hartung said the cave is both fun and educational.

"The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable. If you want further elaboration on a point from them, they would be able to give you more in-depth information," she said. "It is enjoyable too, though."

In addition to the guided tour, Crystal Cave offers other activities, such as gem panning and access to a nature trail, Cunningham said.

Hartung said there is a room where guests can stick a penny on a wall and make a wish, noting that some of the pennies are quite old. She also said visitors can pan for gold outside and break open rocks to find their own crystals.

"The most interesting thing is that it isn't just a cave, (the tour guides) get you involved," Hartung said.

There is also a gift shop where guests can purchase rocks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, jewelry, fudge and books on caves and bats, Cunningham said.

Crystal Cave still has undiscovered areas, and exploration is still going on, she said. The Minnesota Speleological Survey and the Wisconsin Speleological Society are both doing exploration work.

"They have to remove dirt and dig through passageways that already exist," Cunningham said, "Mapping the cave to determine where they want to go next."

Hartung said she would recommend the cave to her fellow students. Her only advice - be sure to bring a sweatshirt. Cunningham said the cave is 48 degrees year-round.

"It is pretty incredible to see the incredibleness that something hidden for so long can have," Hartung said.

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