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Olentangy Indian Caverns: Delaware Ohio
The Olentangy Indian Caverns were discovered by an accident involving a wagon train that had camped nearby in 1821. The ox of J. M. Adams broke loose and fell into the cave entrance.
Olentangy Indian Caverns at first glance, looks like a hokey tourist trap, but actually it is a unique experience to the explorer interested in Indian lore and a natural wonderland. For the geology student, the fossils and various rock strata provide some first hand educational information. For the tourist, a trip through the Caverns re-creates the days of when there were actually some Indian tribes in Ohio. The limestone caverns are naturally air conditioned, with year-round temperature a constant 54 degrees and the caverns are damp, so bring along appropriate clothing, even in the summer.
On the tour you'll descend 105' below the surface and explore the winding passages of this 3 level cave. The tour is an event that you will long remember, so bring your camera and wear sturdy shoes. The Olentangy Indian Caverns isn’t for the hard-core adventurer, but it’s a great experience for families, or if you're looking for something to do on a hot summer day.
Artifacts found in the caverns indicate it was used as an Indian council room. There were also indication that Wyandot's used the caverns for making arrows and other stone implements until around 1810. Hundreds of these items were found when the caverns were opened and some are on display in the Gift Shop. "Leatherlips," the chief of the Wyandots, was killed at the entrance to the caverns by his own people.
During the Indian period of the 18th century, Ohio was part of the Northwest territory, and until about 1795 was considered Indian country. There were 2 basic Indian groups: the Iroquois, which included the Wyandots, and, there were the Algonquins, which included the Delaware, Miami and Shawnee nations.
Several parts on the tour are tight fitting and you'll have to squeeze through a few areas. If you are overweight, handicapped or extremely tall, you may want to consider other options. However, if you do decide to visit the caverns, you'll wish you could spend more time there.
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$8.50 - 16 years and older
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$5.00 - 7 to 15 years old
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6 and under is FREE
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10% senior citizen discount
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10% AAA member discount
Located in Delaware County
1779 Home Road
Delaware, OH 43015
(740) 548-7917