Ruby Falls

Before we headed home, there was one more stop at Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls. Its discovery has an interesting history. In 1905, a rail line forced the sealing of the natural entrance to a popular spelunking destination, Lookout Mountain Cave. Remembering visiting the cave in his youth, cave enthusiast Leo Lambert concocted a plan to drill a shaft from a higher vantage point on the mountain down to intersect the cave.

Work began in 1928. At 160 feet above the Lookout Mountain Cave, they discovered another cave tunnel. After a 17 hour roundtrip exploration of the passage, Lambert with a small crew, came back with an addtional discovery. So the next day, Lambert brought his wife Ruby to the discovery. There he named the 100 foot underground waterfall Ruby Falls.

Later the drill crews did open a new entrance to Lookout Mountain Cave, and Lambert began to offer tours, via elevator, to both caves. Interestingly, after 5 years, they stopped touring the original goal, Lookout Mountain Cave, and only offered tours to Ruby Falls due to the disparity in popularity.

Of course, a 145 foot waterfall which lies 1120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain would make a compelling tourist attraction, so Sandra and I had to see it for ourselves. There are several common cave formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones, which are nice, but the highlight is the falls.



Sandra Captures Ruby Falls with Her Phone's Camera

Basked in multiple lights, Ruby Falls visually impresses, though the sound, spray, and coolness all merge to create a more visceral response. You feel the falls as you stand before it. Then the tour guide allows each person a lap around and under the falls. I stopped for a moment just below, and sprayed by 58 degree water, I looked up--diamonds! The falling lit water droplets turn into the most exquistive set of diamonds possible. That image. The cool water. It's something that I remember.

If you want more information on Ruby Falls, check their website.