Olentangy Indian Caverns
Olentangy Indian Caverns
4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Olentangy Indian Caverns
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
150 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
53
Average
28
Poor
8
Terrible
9
Dmarkwind
Kansas City, MO2,693 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
There's some historical significance to Olentangy Caverns, but the ‘cave’ doesn't seem very real with its concrete floors, strange lighting, and walls that are moss-covered because of the lights being on. But I liked how the bizarre colors came out in photos. You enter the caverns via steps from a small museum building, and you basically pay your admission and explore the cave on your own. Don’t worry, you really can’t get very lost. The floors are pretty flat, but there's a bunch of stairs to climb. The stations with prerecorded interpretive messages were informative. Above ground, there’s a bunch of touristy stuff including statues of bigfoot and another of a giant gnome. I wouldn’t go a long way out of my way to visit this place, but it was a fun add-on to our visit to Columbus.
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter C
82 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
The place is an excellent place to take children too. The caverns were nice and takes roughly 30 minutes to go through if you read all the information signs. They have a petting zoo, rock & gem shop, a playground, trail to hike, minute golf, and you can gem for mine. I would say the children 12 and under would enjoy this place since it is made more for them in my opinion.
Written July 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amusementparkguy
Pataskala, OH1,470 contributions
Jul 2020
For years, I have been by the signs advertising this place. I decided to visit the caverns. It is a great place to spend a couple hours, and there are activities for the whole family to enjoy. The cost to get in is reasonable. A place to mine for gems, a petting zoo, and a treasure hunt maze will help keep the kids entertained. The caverns themselves are not too big. There are stairs that must be climbed, so be award of that. The employees I met were very knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend this experience to anyone, especially those interested in science and geology.
Written July 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spirit L
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
as a visitor from Mississippi, I was looking forward to seeing a local attraction! The entry price is separate for each attraction. We chose the caverns ($10 per person) for a self-guided tour. so far so good! it was interesting to climb down the many stairs into a new underground world. our next stop was the petting zoo. That was $4 per person an added charge for crackers to feed the animals. They boasted deer, goats, rabbits, chickens, and pigs. We went to the deer enclosure first. I cannot stress enough how saddening and depressive this was. PLEASE don't subject your children to this environment. there was not a stitch of grass or greenery. It looked like an apocalyptic scene from a movie. Dead rotting trees, and mud. The poor 8 deer that we saw wouldn't even get up from the fence line. They lay there with a look of hopeless desperation in their eyes. It must be horrible to see the lush green food just inches away without the ability to taste it. Deplorable is all I can say. Possibly the saddest adult petting zoo experience ever! Needless to say, we stopped in the goat/pig area next, but by this time I was more than over it! Never could find the rabbits, and the chickens were in a tiny enclosure no bigger than a bread box. I can honestly say overall, do not waste your money on this! While it was geared for children, you are better off going to the waterpark, zoo, or aquarium!
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ricksobe1
5 contributions
May 2024 • Business
The visit was a waste of time. The caverns will no longer provide tour guides for school groups. There is NO WAY a group of children should be turned loose inside a cave with only their untrained teachers. This is not educational and certainly not safe. There are guides provided at all other caves and caverns that I have taken groups to. I am surprised that the insurance carrier for the caverns doesn't require a tour guide. I understand that the general public tours are guided. We pay money for this experience, too. Even more, I offered to pay extra to get a guided tour and was told none were available. I have been bringing groups here for many, many years and I have never had to guide our own groups. There is no excuse not to provide one.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen L
2 contributions
Jul 2021
I enjoy exploring caves when there is one in an area that I am visiting. I am merely a novice caving enthusiast. Seeing the reviews on Google, I was expecting a bit more from Olentangy Caverns. Last time I checked caves did not have drainage pipes, neither were there any natural sediment nor formations typical of caverns. It appeared that this ‘cave’ was more professionally excavated and poured concrete to give a cave like appearance for entertainment purposes only.
If you are looking for entertainment purposes only, this facility while a bit pricey, does fulfill the entertainment purposes for a decent family day for kids between about 6-12yrs old. If you are looking for something with a bit more oomph, you need to consider another resource.
If you are looking for entertainment purposes only, this facility while a bit pricey, does fulfill the entertainment purposes for a decent family day for kids between about 6-12yrs old. If you are looking for something with a bit more oomph, you need to consider another resource.
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MissFrame
Livermore, ME44 contributions
Jun 2022
My husband and I arrived early and there were families already there setting up for the day. We purchased tickets for the self guided cavern tour. There are other activities that tickets can be purchased for such as the petting zoo and mini golf. The caverns are small and do not have the impressive stalactites and stalagmites but the history is interesting. The cavern is cool and damp. After the cavern we walked the trail through the woods. There are some beautifully carved statues of animals along the way. It was a nice easy walk on a dirt path easily accessible for wheel chair or stroller. We would have like markers for some of the trees and plants. I think a family could spend a nice time here and maybe pack in a lunch.
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie Ann G
Dayton, OH25 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Great value! The all in one ticket that included the cave, petting zoo, mini golf, gem mining and maze was a great option. The staff was friendly and helpful. Great place for a family visit.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mitten Admirer
Traverse City, MI34 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We were on our way back to Michigan after a trip to the Columbus Zoo and decided to take a more scenic route home, when we noticed a small sign advertising this place. It sounded interesting so we decided to check it out.
It turned out to be quite a surprise. It was honestly one of the most unexpectedly interesting places I’ve ever been.
The tour was not guided, so we had some difficulty finding the cavern entrance. We expected to hike down a path in the woods or something to get there. After some confusion, we entered a small red cabin which had been converted into a mini museum.
After admiring the items on display discovered inside the cavern, we noticed a door ajar which appeared to lead the way into the cabin basement. Above it, a sign read “Olentangy Caverns”
The small staircase led down to a landing, and when we turned to the left expecting another flight of stairs we were instead confronted with a sense of surprise and wonder similar to what I imagine the Goonies experienced when they finally discovered One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship.
It turned out to be quite a surprise. It was honestly one of the most unexpectedly interesting places I’ve ever been.
The tour was not guided, so we had some difficulty finding the cavern entrance. We expected to hike down a path in the woods or something to get there. After some confusion, we entered a small red cabin which had been converted into a mini museum.
After admiring the items on display discovered inside the cavern, we noticed a door ajar which appeared to lead the way into the cabin basement. Above it, a sign read “Olentangy Caverns”
The small staircase led down to a landing, and when we turned to the left expecting another flight of stairs we were instead confronted with a sense of surprise and wonder similar to what I imagine the Goonies experienced when they finally discovered One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship.
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole C
Akron, OH371 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We only went into the cavern, but there were many other activities; peeing zoo; gem mining; maze. Each cost an entrance fee.
Clean restrooms on site.
Bring a sweater or jacket. It's chilly in the cave.
Gave it 4 starts instead of 5 bc there were not tour guides (understandable due to covid), but most of the audible stories they had throughout the cave did not work. Would've been nice to hear all of the information.
Clean restrooms on site.
Bring a sweater or jacket. It's chilly in the cave.
Gave it 4 starts instead of 5 bc there were not tour guides (understandable due to covid), but most of the audible stories they had throughout the cave did not work. Would've been nice to hear all of the information.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Does anyone know what the mask policy is here? Thanks!
Written January 12, 2021
We will be on a road trip going right pass the caverns. We will be towing a 32 foot travel trailer. Is there parking for recreational vehicles while we visit the caverns.
Thank.
Written April 19, 2019
If you haven’t went yet, unless there is a field trip, There is plenty of parking for the rig set up! If not they will make you room it’s on at least 5 acers of open land! Hope you stop by there nice little place there
Written May 23, 2019
has anyone ever gotten stuck in the fat man misery? Is there another way to get around this area?
Written July 27, 2016
I'm not sure if anyone has ever gotten stuck in there. I do believe there was another way around it, but you may want to call the caverns and ask if it's a concern.
Written July 28, 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.