Sequatchie Cave

Sequatchie Cave State Natural Area is located in the town of Sequatchie, TN in Marion County. The calf-deep pure waters of Owen Spring Branch flow out of the mouth of the cave. When the water levels are low, people have explored about a mile into the cave. There are also a couple of endangered species that live here, the Caddisfly and the Royal Snail.

The City of Sequatchie was developed because it is close to the waters here. In the 1850's, the landowners gave the land to the city. In the late 1920's (I think) the area was opened as a roadside park complete with a couple of concrete picnic tables and large boulders around the drive. (The driveway to the park is along Valley View Highway which I believe was an original segment of the Dixie Highway in the area.) While the park is still maintained today by the county Highway Department, it is also listed as a State Natural Area. On the day of my visit in the Winter of 2013, there was a posted sign that the entering the cave was off limits as all state owned caves are closed indefinitely as researchers study the White nose Syndrome of bats.