Exploring Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County

Exploring Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for information on touring the long off-limits Black-Coffey Caverns, you’re in the right place!

One of the larger flowstone formations inside Black-Coffey Caverns resembles a waterfall.
One of the larger flowstone formations inside Black-Coffey Caverns resembles a waterfall.

Black-Coffey Caverns is the only cavern system in Pennsylvania accessed through the basement of a private home!

The home built over the opening to Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
The home built over the opening to Black-Coffey Caverns.

But where most basement steps lead to a laundry room or some unused exercise equipment, the basement steps in this home lead to an amazing underground world!

Basement stairway leading to Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
Basement stairway leading to the caverns.

And one of the things that separates Black-Coffey Caverns from other caves you may have visited in PA is that the entire tour is conducted using only flashlights!

The guided tours of Black-Coffey Caverns last approximately 45 minutes and are lead by knowledgeable guides.
The guided tours of Black-Coffey Caverns last approximately 45 minutes and are lead by knowledgeable guides.

History of Black-Coffey Caverns

Black-Coffey Caverns operated as a “show cave” known as Baker Caverns from 1932 until 1954, then closed, went through a series of owners, and was off limits until recently.

A travel brochure from the Baker Caverns era of Black-Coffey Caverns.
A travel brochure from the Baker Caverns era.

The current owners have generously reopened the caverns to visitors on a donation-based basis, and have renamed the caverns Black (last name of current owner) Coffey (last name of farmer who discover the caverns) Caverns.

The Black-Coffey Caverns logo emblazoned on a t-shirt for sale in the visitor center.
The Black-Coffey Caverns logo emblazoned on a t-shirt for sale in the visitor center.

The original Baker Caverns visitor center, built over the caverns entrance in 1932, was incorporated into the larger house that stands there today.

The original visitor center built over the opening to what is now called Black-Coffey Caverns.
The original visitor center built over the opening to what is now called Black-Coffey Caverns.

So when you stand in the visitor center today, you’re literally standing in the same room cavern visitors stood in 90 years ago!

The original Baker Caverns visitor center was incorporated into the current home and now also severs as the Black-Coffey Caverns visitor center.
The original Baker Caverns visitor center was incorporated into the current home and now also severs as the Black-Coffey Caverns visitor center.

The visitor center showcases many mementos and souvenirs from the Baker Caverns era (1932-1954).

A sign from the original Baker Cavers "show cave" era, now on display on the Black-Coffey Caverns visitor center.
A sign from the original Baker Cavers “show cave” era, now on display on the Black-Coffey Caverns visitor center.

There are also souvenirs from the modern era, so you can make your visit to Black-Coffey Caverns “t-shirt official”.

Black-Coffey Caverns souvenirs in the visitor center.
Souvenirs in the visitor center.

Touring Black-Coffey Caverns

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first heard about “the caverns you access from someone’s basement”!

The original concrete stairway built in 1932 still serves as the access into Black-Coffey Caverns.
The original concrete stairway built in 1932 still serves as the access into the caverns.

Having explored every show cave in Pennsylvania, as well as many others across the country, I looked forward to seeing how Black-Coffey Caverns stacked up against those more more well-known tourist attractions.

Exploring Every Show Cave in Pennsylvania
Some of PA’s more well-known “show caves”.

What I found were very friendly hosts, knowledgeable guides, and a beautiful series of caverns full of amazing speleothems (cave formations).

A stalactite and stalagmite merge to form a column inside Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
A stalactite and stalagmite merge to form a column inside Black-Coffey Caverns.

Despite the fact that the stairs/concrete floors inside the caverns were constructed 90 years ago, they are in remarkably good shape.

Tours of Black-Coffey Caverns are broken down into groups of 10 which gives everyone plenty of room to take in the sights.
The man-made infrastructure inside the caverns is in remarkably good shape, considering the concrete was poured 90 years ago.

And not only did the lack of any lights (other than the flashlights carried by our guide and fellow tourists) NOT make it feel “less safe”, I think it actually enhanced the experience and made it fell more like “exploring” and less like “touring”.

Inside one of the larger chambers at Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
Inside one of the larger chambers in the caverns.

It was enjoyable to walk into a chamber, pan your flashlight up and down the walls, and have no idea what you were going to see next.

Black-Coffey Caverns is home to many fantastic limestone formations created over the millennia.
The caverns are home to many fantastic limestone formations created over the millennia.

The tour lasted approximately 45 minutes, and was limited to a group of 10 to allow plenty of space for everyone to move and explore.

Exploring Black-Coffey Caverns by flashlight in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
Exploring Black-Coffey Caverns by flashlight.

At a few spots along the tour, the guide gave those of us who wanted to a chance to explore some smaller, unimproved passageways, with the caveat that we would probably get a little muddy in the process.

Visitors to Black-Coffey Caverns are given the option to explore some of the smaller passageways on their own.
Visitors are given the option to explore some of the smaller passageways in the caverns on their own.

Several small pools of water exist along the path of the tour, casting beautiful reflections when illuminated with a flashlight.

A pool of water inside Black-Coffey Caverns cast beautiful reflections when illuminated with a flashlight.
A pool of water inside the caverns cast beautiful reflections when illuminated with a flashlight.

Stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone – there was no shortage of formations to look at as we made our way through the caverns.

A beautiful flowstone formation inside Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
A beautiful flowstone formation inside the caverns.

My impression of the Black-Coffey Caverns tour was that it was absolutely on par with many of PA’s “show caves”, in terms of of both professionalism and the overall beauty of the caverns.

Tour guide describing a flowstone formation inside Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.
Tour guide describing a flowstone formation.

Scheduling a Tour of Black-Coffey Caverns

Black-Coffey Caverns is open by prior booking onlyDO NOT simply show up there expecting to tour the caverns!

Tours of Black-Coffey Caverns are conducted entirely by flashlight.
Tours are conducted by prior appointment only.

You can access Black-Coffey Caverns online booking site HERE to schedule a visit.

Black-Coffey Caverns contains approximately 3000 feet of surveyed passageways.
Black-Coffey Caverns contains approximately 3000 feet of surveyed passageways.

There is no set fee to tour Black-Coffey Caverns, but donations are accepted (and recommended by this author, given the level of hospitality being extended to visitors by the cavern’s owner).

There is no set fee to tour Black-Coffey Caverns, but donations are accepted.
There is no set fee to tour Black-Coffey Caverns, but donations are accepted.

Directions to Black-Coffey Caverns

Black-Coffey Caverns is located approximately 8 miles southwest of Chambersburg in Franklin County.

A map to Black-Coffey Caverns near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
A map to Black-Coffey Caverns near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

IF navigating by GPS, use coordinates 6242 Warm Spring Rd, Greencastle, PA 17225 to find Black-Coffey Caverns.

The parking area for tours of Black-Coffey Caverns along Route 995, next to the house built over the entrance.
The parking area for tours along Warm Springs Road (Route 995), next to the house built over the entrance.

Exploring Every Show Cave in Pennsylvania is my guide to all 8 “official” show caves in Pennsylvania, based upon my own personal visits and experiences at each of them.

Photos from every show cave in Pennsylvania.
A guide to every official show cave in Pennsylvania.

Nearby Attractions

Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park in Franklin County is home to a large pyramid that marks the birthplace of the James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States.

Pyramid-shaped monument marking the birthplace of President James Buchanan.
Pyramid at Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park.

Big Mountain Overlook in Fulton County is an expansive roadside vista in southcentral Pennsylvania.

Big Mountain Overlook on a December afternoon.
Big Mountain Overlook in Fulton County.

Cowans Gap State Park is a fantastic 1,085 acre park located in Fulton County (with a small portion extending into neighboring Franklin County as well).

A fisherman at Cowans Gap State Park.
Cowans Gap State Park.

The Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County is home to an abandoned WWII POW camp, where German and Japanese prisoners of war were housed and interrogated.

Ruins of the secret POW interrogation camp in the MIchaux State Forest.
Ruins of the secret POW interrogation camp in the Michaux State Forest.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.