Discovered During an Elevator Shaft Project, This Tennessee Waterfall Now Glows with Rainbow Lights

Ruby Falls Cave, Tennessee

While trying to drill an elevator shaft to reopen a different cave called Lookout Mountain Cave in 1928, a cave enthusiast named Leo Lambert accidentally broke through into a hidden cavern that contained an amazing 145-foot underground waterfall.

Leo was so excited about finding this incredible waterfall that he named it “Ruby Falls” after his wife Ruby, and it quickly became a super popular tourist spot that people still visit today. Now it’s lit up like nature’s light show, minus the cheesy tourist trap vibes.

It Dates Back to the Paleozoic era

This cave started forming when the area was underwater during the Paleozoic era more than 200 million years ago. Rainwater slowly ate away at the limestone over time, turning tiny cracks into the big cave we see today.

Fossils found in the cave include remnants of ancient animals such as jaguars, black bears, and striped skunks. The oldest identified fossils are from the Pleistocene Epoch (Ice Age), approximately 10,000 to 2.6 million years ago.

The Falls Are Fed By the Rain and Springs

Rainwater and natural springs feed Ruby Falls by flowing through cracks in the limestone rock. The falls pour out 500,000 gallons of water each day at a steady temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

The water never gets too cold or runs dry because it’s protected underground. The water in Ruby Falls collects in a pool on the cave floor, then continues through the mountain, eventually resurfacing as a natural spring that feeds the Tennessee River.

A Unique Geology

The cave walls contain calcite crystals that shine when the LED lights hit them. The water collects other minerals as it moves through different rock layers. These minerals keep building up and creating new rock formations over time.

Flowstones, composed of sheet-like deposits of calcite, form where water flows down cave walls or floors. Helictites, shaped by air currents, are twisted calcite formations growing in various directions on the cave ceiling.  

Cave Walls Display Nature’s Art

The Cathedral Room draws you toward a massive stone pillar rising from the cave floor. As the Bridal Veil welcomes you in, tiny calcite crystals sparkle throughout the cave. Mineral deposits form “Tobacco Leaves,” which are thin, leaf-like structures, hanging from the cave’s ceiling. Both stalactites and stalagmites grow very slowly here, just one cubic inch every 120 years.

It Was a Fallout Shelter in 1962

In 1962, Ruby Falls Cave was designated as a fallout shelter during the Cold War due to its deep underground location within Lookout Mountain. The cave’s natural limestone walls gave protection against nuclear fallout.

It was stocked with supplies, including food and water, to ensure survival in case of a nuclear attack. It remained an emergency shelter for Chattanooga residents throughout the 1960s.

Deepest Commercial Cave Waterfall

Ruby Falls draws over 300,000 visitors annually, offering a one-of-a-kind underground adventure. Discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, Ruby Falls cascades 145 feet down into a stunning subterranean chamber.

The Lookout Mountain Cave Company was formed to reopen the cavern on a commercial basis. The waterfall, one of the deepest in the U.S., is illuminated with advanced LED lighting today.

Cool Creatures Call the Cave Home

The cave’s damp, dark atmosphere supports unique species like the Tennessee cave salamander, its translucent skin a ghostly pale in the darkness. Delicate, white crayfish scuttle along the cave’s damp floor, barely visible against the limestone.

In the still pools and streams, blind fish glide silently against the pitch-black environment while the ceiling, dotted with slow-growing fungi, sways gently as moisture rises from the waterfall below.

Accolades Under Its Belt

Several prestigious accolades run throughout its history. In 2009, it became the first U.S. attraction to earn Green Globe certification, a testament to its leadership in sustainable tourism. Additionally, in 2015, the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association honored Ruby Falls with both the Good Earth Keeping Award and the Community Service Award. 

Modern Equipment Protects the Cave

Ruby Falls uses UV water technology to maintain water quality and monitor the cave’s carbon dioxide levels. The cave uses LED lights that don’t create much heat and still show off the rock formations well. Special lights that prevent algae growth shine on the formations. You also can’t touch the delicate formations because the oil from human hands can damage them forever.

Visiting Ruby Cave Falls

The best time to Ruby Cave Falls is spring and fall for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

• Address: 1720 Scenic Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37409
• Entry Fee: $23.95 for adults, $13.95 for children
• Rules/Restrictions: No touching formations, no food/drink allowed in the cave