Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to make a reservation / can I pre-order tickets?
Our tours are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. When you arrive, stop by the front counter in the gift shop to purchase your tickets for the cave tour. At that time, we are able to schedule you for the very next available tour.
2. How long are the tours?
Each tour lasts about one hour.
3. Do you have to take the cave tour to enjoy the other amenities?
You do not have to take our cave tour to enjoy our amenities! We have several other activities (either available for purchase OR free) to keep your family entertained. Indoor activities: Rock and gift shop, SpeleoBox crawl maze, and break your own geode. Outdoor activities: Gemstone mining, kid’s play area, SpeleoBox crawl maze, Family Games Park, mini-golf, nature trails, and shaded picnic areas.
4. Are closed toed shoes required?
Closed-toed shoes with good traction are suggested, but not required. Flip flops, sandals, and high heels are NOT suggested. The amount of water we have in our cave is directly tied to the amount of rain outside, so if the week you visit is rainy you may want to bring shoes that keep your feet dry!
5. Is this cave suitable for children / infants?
We regularly have children of all ages who visit and thoroughly enjoy both the cavern and above ground activities. Some children who have not visited a cave before may have a difficult time adjusting to the cave environment, but we love to be a part of turning their uncertainty into excitement!
6. Can you wander the cave without taking the tour?
To ensure your safety and to prevent vandalization, guests are required to take the guided walking tour to view the cave.
7. Is the cave wheelchair / stroller accessible?
Due to the 265 stairs within the cave, we cannot accommodate for wheelchairs or strollers. However, our Rock and Gift Shop, outdoor patio, and family game park are wheelchair / stroller accessible. For small children going on the cave tour, you may carry or allow your child to walk, or bring a “low profile” carrier (bulky carriers may be difficult to maneuver through some areas of the cave).
8. Are there any small / tight spaces that we move through in the cave?
Our cave is essentially one huge room that we traverse through. Within this room, for a short time, we walk into an elevator-sized space inside a formation. This space does have an *almost* doorway-sized entrance on one side and a similar sized exit on the other. The foot space of the entrance and exit is narrow (for about 3 feet each) and you walk one foot in front of the other. However, you still have the doorway-sized amount of room from the knees up. Similar to the entrance/exit of this room, there is one additional area when we are walking under a formation that the foot space is once again narrow for a few feet, and you still have moving room from the knees up. In these three narrow areas, we do allow guests to hold the walls of the cave at waist height to keep your balance (and feel a little more confident). Additionally, there are a couple of rock ledges we briefly duck our heads under to move past. During the rest of the tour, you are in the big open room on concrete walkways.
9. Is the cave tour suitable for a pregnant person?
There is nothing inherently dangerous to pregnant women or the unborn child. We have a “warning” posted at our cave, which stands to remind you if your doctor has put any restrictions on physical activity. Please refer to question #8 above to view a description of the narrow areas in the cave. Whether you will be able to take our tour will be up to your own discretion.
10. How big is the cave / how far do we walk?
The main chamber of our cave is roughly 100' tall and 225' long. Taking stairs and walkways, we guide you all the way from the front to the back, down to the bottom, bring you to the front again, and up and out of the cave. The entire walk is about 750’.
11. Do you still run tours when it is raining?
We absolutely continue cave tours in the rain. The entrance to our cave starts inside our gift shop, so we do not have to expose ourselves to the elements to start tours. In the instances where we get heavy rain that results in excess water dripping in the cave, we will offer ponchos to those who wish to use them.
12. Do we need to bring our own headlamps, helmets, or other cave gear for the tour?
There is no need for any headlamps, helmets, or other equipment. You will want to wear clothes you will be comfortable in while walking for around an hour (or more if you plan to enjoy our hiking trails!), some people prefer exercise attire while others prefer shorts or jeans. You will also want to wear comfortable footwear i.e., tennis shoes or boots. Our cave is electronically lit throughout and the tour guide will have a flashlight to show specific formations during your tour!
13. Can I bring my dog / service dog on the tour?
We allow only service dogs in the cave. However, some dogs have a hard time adjusting to the cave environment and do not want to walk the stairs throughout the cave. When you arrive, please visit the front counter in the gift shop so an employee can help you introduce your service animal to the cave.
14. Do you offer a Veterans Discount for the cave tour tickets?
Yes! Show your military ID upon arrival and receive $2 off per person in your party.
15. Can I still visit the cave with a cast on my leg / foot?
On our cave tour we walk 100' underground. To do so, we take 150 stair steps down and 115 stair steps up with short straight walking surfaces in between (we do make plenty of stops and divide these steps over the course of an hour). There are three spots on our tour where the foot space gets narrow and you have to take a couple of steps with one foot almost behind the other and this may prove difficult if you are wearing a cast. Please prepare, your cast may get wet on this tour. Understanding this, whether you take this tour will be up to your own discretion.
16. Are you open year-round or seasonally?
We are open all year long, with the exception of closing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Open hours are longer during summer months, so be sure to check our website for current operating hours.
17. Talking Rocks Cavern Tour Information - *posted outside of the cave*
This is a 50-minute guided walking tour. The trail descends to a depth of 100ft. The total number of steps is 265. Wet walking surfaces will be encountered. Throwing or dropping objects is not allowed. Damage to the cave, it’s formations, or wildlife is prohibited and punishable by law. No food, drink, or tobacco products are allowed. Inform guide immediately if you are experiencing problems. This tour is not recommended if you have; heart or breathing problems, any recent surgery or illness, muscle or bone problems, a fear of heights, claustrophobia, or if you are pregnant.
18. What is the refund policy for the cave tour?
Sometimes guests walk into the cave and for any reason (often due to a fear of heights, claustrophobia, or an inability to walk all 265 stairs) some folks decide not to continue their tour, and that is okay! If you get to the first stop in the cave and decide not to continue, let your tour guide know that you would like to exit the tour and your guide will instruct you on how to return to the gift shop. In these scenarios we offer a full refund for anyone who was not able to continue the tour past the first stop.