![Exploring-Black-Coffey-Caverns-in-Franklin-County-PA Exploring Black-Coffey Caverns in Franklin County Pennsylvania.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Exploring-Black-Coffey-Caverns-in-Franklin-County-PA-696x583.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Tour-Franklin-County-Pennsylvania-flowstone-formation.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-house-with-cave-in-basement.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-basement-stairway-to-caverns.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Tour-Guide-Explaining-Cave-Formations.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Baker-Caverns-Travel-Brochure-from-1940s.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-T-shirt-Franklin-County-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Original-Visitor-Center.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Visitor-Center.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Baker-Caverns-Sign.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Souvenirs.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Tour-Franklin-County-Pennsylvania-stairway-down-into-caverns.jpg)
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](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Exploring-Every-Show-Cave-in-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-cave-formations.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Tour-Franklin-County-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Exploring-by-Flashlight.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Spleothem-Formation.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Tour-Franklin-County-Pennsylvania-cave-in-basement-of-house.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-exploring-small-passageways-by-flashlight.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Underground-Lake.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-spleothem.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Flowstone-Formations.jpg)
Scheduling a Tour of Black-Coffey Caverns
Black-Coffey Caverns is open by prior booking only – DO NOT simply show up there expecting to tour the caverns!
![Tours of Black-Coffey Caverns are conducted entirely by flashlight.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Basement-Cave-Tour.jpg)
You can access Black-Coffey Caverns online booking site HERE to schedule a visit.
![Black-Coffey Caverns contains approximately 3000 feet of surveyed passageways.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Flashlight-Tour.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-tour-Franklin-County-PA-formerly-Baker-Caverns.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Map-to-Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Black-Coffey-Caverns-Franklin-County-PA-Parking-along-Route-995.jpg)
Related Articles
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Visiting-Every-Show-Cave-in-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Buchanan-Birthplace.jpg)
Big Mountain Overlook in Fulton County is an expansive roadside vista in southcentral Pennsylvania.
![Big Mountain Overlook on a December afternoon.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Big-Mountain-Overlook-December-2020.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fishing-Pier-Cowans-Gap-State-Park-October-2020-.jpg)
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.](https://pabucketlist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Abandoned-POW-Camp-Michaux-State-Forest-Cumberland-County-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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