The Washington times., 1922-09-23
ARE
MECCAFORD.C.
. AUTO TOURISTS
Shenandoah Valley and Blue
Ridge Mountains Ride
Is Popular.

There are thousands of motorists
attracted to the famous Shenandoah
Valley each year by it's beautiful
scenery, its historic Significance,
and the splendid highway that ira
verses the fertile valley among the
Blue Ridge mountains Of Virginia.
Besides, the natural beauties and at
fractions of the valley, a number of
road houses, inns, hotels and COM
merciak caVerns have been opened
for the comfort, convenience and TN
joyment Of the traveller, and one Of
the most beautiful, unique and his
toric Of these attractions is the
Crystal Caverns," Natures Under
ground Wonderland" located direct.
ly on the Shenandoah Valley Pike
on the high elevation known as
Hupp's Hill, one mile north Of
Strasburg, VR,. and amid the rem
nants of infantry broastworks and
artillery pits used during the famous
valley campaigns OF the civil war.
Hupp's Cave is mentioned in
KercheVars History Of the Valley of
Virginia as having been known TO
the white settlers since the early
part of the eighteenth century.
There is much legend about the cave
having been used during the civil
war as a hiding place for deserting
soldiers, and in more recent years
it has been visited by many who de-
light in the curious and the strange
handiwork OF Mother Nature. For
upward Of a century the cave prop
erty has been a part Of the extern
sive Hupp estate, and in January,
1922, IL was acquired by Mr.. Bruce
nf fra to 10
estate. and Mr.. Frank II. Miller
and DR.. Archie c. Painter. Of Wash.
ington, d. c. SeveIel months were
required to install an electric gen.
Grating plant, electrify the caVerns.
construct concrete steps, build
bridges and sidewalks within the sub
terranean passageways, and erect a
most attractive entrance house. The
cave was then renamed Crystal
Caverns and opened to the, puolic
on May 80. 1922.
Within the Caverns.
From the moment one sets foot
within the walls of the attractive lit
tie entrance house, with it's fire
place built OF broken crystal forma.
tons taken from within the cave and
furnished with rustic furniture and
end Of the caverns, one is living en-.
tirelv in a new and different world,
sensing a bit Of the feeling of ad-
venture, and breathing "A sentiment
that is inspired by a mingling Of
awe and reverence for the wonders
wrought through cons of labor by
father time. Above and below
throughout the caverns, there are
crystal stalactites and stalagmites
formed through the centuries by the
mere drippings OF water, each drop
depositing its bit of crystal mineral
material. As one passes from room
TO room one Is struck by the novel
handfwork of nature in moulding 30
manv OF the formations into crystal
imagery Of man.made articles or liv-
ing creatures. Perhaps the most
striking OF these images is a replica
OF the dome of the Capitol at Wash
ington, the huge coffin of giant
lying in state in a room to itself,
and the outline OF a Brontosaurus.
that gigantic prehistoric beast with
huge BODY, long neck, small head and
flapper claws. The latter is per-
haps the most lavish formation i'm
imagery in the caverns. Then there
Is a replica Of a huge pineapple, n
bunch OF bananas, mound OF can
non balls that look as though they
might have been lost from an am.
munition dump of Stonewall Jack
sons army on one OF Its forced
marches through the valley. and a
lady's small side comb. There are
cascades. a whirlpool followed out
by rushing waters that once played
through the rooms. snow drifts and
a natural bridge. The ceilings OF
several Of the large rooms are stuc.
coed as by the modern man-made
process and several other rooms
show the handiwork Of a gifted
mason whose white mortar sets off
the sombre hue Of the stone he set
in place.
Coloring on Walls.
Every hue and tint Of the rainbow
are seen in the rich coloring Of the
- u. -t..,