
A tour group pauses inside the Cherokee Caverns on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The cave was discovered in 1854 and was once known as Gentry’s Cave.

A.D. McGhee, left, and Bob McGhee hold onto the rails, while walking through the “psychedelic vortex,” inside the Cherokee Caverns. If you ever get a chance to walk thru this vortex think twice…it put me on my ear for a good little bit afterwards.

Cave caretaker Jim Whidby pauses at the entrance to the Cherokee Caverns on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The cave is celebrating 84 years of explorations. Whidby expected 400 to 500 people to have toured the cave by the end of the day.

Akiko Takayama pauses to admire the ceiling inside the Cherokee Caverns. The 1,000-square-foot cavern is believed to have been formed 96,000 to 128,000 years ago.

This stuff is righteous to look at, however being in a cave still freaks me out and I just don’t like being in them. Seeing the way back out makes me joyful.