Cavernous sound is closer than you think
Located at 555 Charlie Roberts Road in Pellham, past Crossville, it is a two-hour drive west from Farragut.
“The Caverns is both a world-renowned destination for live music and cave adventures, which can be experienced and explored daily,” Joe Lurgio, general manager of The Caverns, stated in an e-mail. He added it is located down twisting country roads in a “geographical sweet spot.”
Lurgio stated the doors to The Caverns are “inscribed with these words in the Sequoyah script of the Cherokee, ‘Welcome to The Caverns where the Great Spirit brings all people together through music.’
“We began producing concerts underground over 10 years ago and have grown into a year-round, daily tourist attraction,” Lurgio stated. He explained The Caverns is a large, connected underground cave system covering more than 8,000 linear feet of known surreal cave passages.
“Shows are hosted in a section of The Caverns historically known to locals and cavers as the Big Mouth Cave because of its impressive, large archway entrance,” he added. “Experts believe humans have been using the cave to escape the heat, take refuge from rain and enjoy each other's company for up to 25,000 years.
“Today, The Caverns is a modern music venue with padded chair seating for 850 (seated), or up to 1,200 for standing-room-only shows. What’s more, the cave is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lights, well-appointed restrooms and delicious food and beverage concessions, including craft beer and canned wine.
Pointing out “the gentle slope of the room and its smooth concrete floor, the venue is accessible to music fans with mobility concerns or physical disabilities,” Lurgio stated.
“Daily guided tours include a journey through Big Room Cave, an awe-inspiring underground room, which gets its name from its massive size,” he added. “During the tour, you’ll learn a little bit about geology, cave lore and the unique history of Grundy County.
“Adventure cave tours take guests even deeper inside The Caverns’ cave system and include the daunting ‘Tombstone Pass.’”
Additionally, he pointed out visitors have much to explore in the surrounding Southeast Tennessee area, such as South Cumberland State Park, Tennessee’s largest state park that includes hiking trails, majestic waterfalls, world-class rock climbing and stunning overlooks.
“The surrounding communities of Monteagle, Tracy City and Sewanee offer local dining, shopping and historic sites surrounded by nature’s beauty,” Lurgio added.
Along with the daily cave tours, it also includes “a very special ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at our world-famous music venue and home of the PBS TV series, Bluegrass Underground,” he stated.
“For our concerts, we feature full concessions with great, locally sourced food options, drinks, snacks, merchandise plus beer and wine,” Lurgio added, also pointing out the venue features a gift shop offering items not found anywhere else.
As a music venue, The Caverns features a diverse and broad spectrum of performing artists.
“We have something for everyone, from artists like Alison Krauss, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Brandi Carlile & Crowder to The Flaming Lips, Wyclef Jean and STS9,” Lurgio stated
More examples of performers can be found at: https://thecaverns.
com/press
“For performers, the cave is a way for them to connect to fans like very few other spaces,” Lurgio stated. “The uniqueness of the space allows the artist to experience the show with their fans in a whole other dimension, experiencing the cave.
“The cave backdrop provides a musical experience that you cannot find anywhere else,” he added. “The acoustics are sublime, and the energy between artist and performer cannot be recreated. Shows underground are never forgotten.
“It is a magical place to visit on any day, and people are often left enchanted by their time spent at The Caverns, with many making repeat visits for the unique experience.”
For music fans planning a trip underground, Lurgio stated The Caverns stays 59 degrees year-round with 91 percent humidity.
“The cave feels cool when it's
hot outside and can feel warm
on cold weather days,” he added. “Be sure to bring a light jacket, and comfortable footwear is
recommended.”
He noted creatures within The Caverns are at home with visitors.
“Bats are not a problem at all, and we happily co-habitate with the cave flora and fauna,” he stated. “Most bats that live in our
cave system are found much
deeper in the cave, and we never see them.
“Once in a great while a bat that lives outside of the cave will make a brief appearance and give the audience a show within the
show,” Lurgio added. “They are not a nuisance at all.”
The Caverns also is home to a special salamander, called the “big mouth salamander,” with Lurgio adding, “We’re proud to call it our mascot.”
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, The Caverns continues to give tours of its caves every day of the week, year-round, except Christmas Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Easter Sunday.
“We are constantly monitoring the CDC and Tennessee State Pledge for guidance,” Lurgio added. “Our cave tours are still happening, but we are limited them to 10 people on a tour and are asking guests from different households to keep a safe distance if they are on the same tour.
“We also have enhanced our cleaning procedures and our staff will be wearing masks,” he added.
“Stay-and-Cave” packages are available with lodging and
transportation to and from the venue.
However, because of the pandemic, The Caverns currently is unable to host concerts.
“We are working with every artist and trying to reschedule all of our shows that we can for a time when it is safe to host large gatherings,” Lurgio stated.
Normally, “We host shows almost every weekend of the year, as current listing of shows can be seen (on the website) and we are always adding new shows,” he stated.
For more information, including updates on revised concert
schedules, The Caverns’s website
is https://thecaverns.com/. It
can be contacted by e-mail,
info@thecaverns.com, or by
phone at 931-516-9724.
