Draft:The Caverns
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Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. JourneyMap (talk) 00:34, 21 October 2025 (UTC)
The Caverns is a music and recreation attraction located in Grundy County, Tennessee, at the base of the Cumberland Plateau.
The grounds feature two notable caves, Big Mouth Cave and Big Room Cave, with the underground concert venue located in Big Mouth Cave. People magazine describes the setting as one that “may very well steal the show.”[1]
The Caverns hosts a wide variety of performances, including concerts across multiple musical genres, comedy shows, podcasts, and movie screenings. Visitors can explore the caves on guided tours, stay overnight at the campground — which offers tent sites, RV sites with limited electric hookups, and yurt accommodations. The grounds also include The Caverns Tavern and a gift shop.
Origins and Purpose
[edit]The Caverns’ underground music venue and gift shop opened in 2018, founded by Todd Mayo, who had previously created Bluegrass Underground at Cumberland Caverns. The Caverns was designed to continue Mayo's tradition of presenting underground concerts in a dedicated subterranean setting. Billy Strings was the first artist to headline the underground venue on March 24, 2018.[2]
The doors of The Caverns feature an inscription in Sequoyah script, translating to: “Welcome to The Caverns where the great spirit brings all people together through music.”[3] The inscription conveys a message of inclusivity and connection through music.
Stages Above and Below Ground
[edit]
The Caverns’ underground music venue, located in Big Mouth Cave, can host up to 850 guests for seated shows and 1,200 for standing-room-only events. The subterranean venue features professional sound and lighting systems, along with its own restrooms and a bar serving a variety of beverages.
On October 8, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The Caverns introduced The Caverns Amphitheater, an outdoor venue designed for socially-distanced concerts, with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit as its inaugural performers.[4] The amphitheater initially featured pod seating and later reopened on June 25, 2022, as a full 6,000-capacity venue, celebrating its grand reopening with headliners Old Crow Medicine Show.[5]
Notable Performers and Festivals
[edit]Since opening, The Caverns has hosted acclaimed performers across multiple genres. Notable artists include: Brandi Carlile, Ethel Cain, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Marcus King, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Ferrell, Slowdive, The Avett Brothers, The Red Clay Strays, Turnpike Troubadours, Violent Femmes, and "Weird Al" Yankovic.[6]
The venue has also hosted comedy performances, including Bill Burr.[7]
Each fall, The Caverns hosts its signature festival, CaveFest, a camping festival featuring bluegrass and Americana roots music, with performances at both the underground venue and the amphitheater. Bluegrass Today calls CaveFest “one of the best” festivals in its genre.[8]
Caves and Tours
[edit]
The property features two primary caves: Big Room Cave and Big Mouth Cave. Guided cave tours began on July 4, 2020, covering both caves. Adventure tours provide more challenging underground experiences, led by experienced guides, with all necessary safety equipment provided, including helmets, knee pads, and lamps.[9][10]
Camp Caverns
[edit]Held each summer at The Caverns, Camp Caverns is a residential program for children ages 8–13. The program emphasizes outdoor exploration, teamwork, and personal growth. Campers stay in yurts and participate in a variety of activities including guided cave tours, hiking, ziplining, paddleboarding, arts and crafts, archery, and campfire cooking. Evening programs include talent shows, movie nights in the cave, and glow games, while overnight experiences sometimes include staying in The Caverns underground music venue. Campers also have opportunities to develop leadership and teamwork skills through pack-based activities and group challenges.[11][12]
Cultural Significance
[edit]The Caverns has been recognized for its unique underground setting and acoustics. In the venue's inaugural year, 2018, The Caverns was featured in BuzzFeed’s “18 Of The Coolest Concert Venues In The United States.”[13] In 2022, The Caverns was named Favorite Southern Music Venue by readers of Garden & Gun.[14] In 2025, the Academy of Country Music named The Caverns its Theater of the Year.[15]
The venue is also home to the long-running The Caverns Sessions series on PBS, which has earned Emmy recognition for its subterranean performances.[16]
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Schmidt, Mackenzie (August 2, 2018). "See Brandi Carlile Rock Out Inside a Tennessee Cave — Plus How to Visit the Spectacular Site". People. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns Opening In Pelham, TN". The Chattanoogan. 5 December 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Why Brandi Carlile, Steve Earle and More Are Performing in a Tennessee Cave". Rolling Stone. 4 June 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Jason Isbell Launches The Caverns Concert Pod Experience in Tennessee". Forbes. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns Above-Ground Amphitheater Is Here to Stay". Nashville Scene. 23 June 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns official website". The Caverns. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns official website". The Caverns. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ Zimmerman, Lee (August 2024). "CaveFest 2024 Review". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns Day Trip Offers Cave Tour, History Lesson". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns official website". The Caverns. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "New Climate-Controlled Yurts at The Caverns". Times Free Press. March 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Camp Caverns Summer Program". The Caverns. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "18 Of The Coolest Concert Venues In The United States". BuzzFeed. 3 August 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Vote Now for Your Favorite Southern Music Venue". Garden & Gun. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Academy of Country Music to Celebrate 18th Academy of Country Music Honors". Academy of Country Music. 8 July 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Caverns Sessions Carries On The Legacy of Bluegrass Underground on PBS". The Caverns. Retrieved October 20, 2025.