[mk_page_section layout_structure=”full” attachment=”scroll” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”repeat” bg_stretch=”false” enable_3d=”false” speed_factor=”0.3″ bg_video=”no” video_source=”self” stream_host_website=”youtube” video_mask=”false” bg_gradient=”false” gr_end=”#1e73be” video_opacity=”0.6″ top_shadow=”false” section_layout=”full” sidebar=”sidebar-1″ min_height=”100″ full_width=”false” full_height=”false” intro_effect=”false” padding_top=”10″ padding_bottom=”10″ margin_bottom=”0″ skip_arrow=”false” skip_arrow_skin=”light” visibility=”visible-sm” first_page=”false” last_page=”false”][vc_column width=”1/2″][mk_button dimension=”flat” corner_style=”pointed” size=”large” outline_skin=”dark” outline_active_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_color=”#333333″ bg_color=”#c59c71″ btn_hover_bg=”#252525″ text_color=”light” icon_anim=”none” url=”tel:6053430542″ target=”_self” align=”center” fullwidth=”true” button_custom_width=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”15″]CALL[/mk_button][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][mk_button dimension=”flat” corner_style=”pointed” size=”large” outline_skin=”dark” outline_active_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_color=”#333333″ bg_color=”#c59c71″ btn_hover_bg=”#252525″ text_color=”light” icon_anim=”none” url=”https://www.google.com/maps/place/Black+Hills+Caverns/@44.060171,-103.355983,17z” target=”_self” align=”center” fullwidth=”true” button_custom_width=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”15″]VISIT[/mk_button][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” attached=”false” padding=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_divider style=”thin_solid” divider_width=”full_width” custom_width=”10″ align=”center” thickness=”3″ margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”0″ border_color=”#c59c71″][/vc_column][/vc_row][mk_page_section layout_structure=”full” attachment=”scroll” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”false” speed_factor=”0.3″ bg_video=”no” video_mask=”false” video_opacity=”0.3″ top_shadow=”false” section_layout=”full” sidebar=”sidebar-1″ min_height=”300″ full_height=”false” intro_effect=”false” padding_top=”40″ padding_bottom=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ first_page=”false” last_page=”true” bg_image=”/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Black-Hills-4.jpg” video_color_mask=”#000000″ video_source=”self” stream_host_website=”youtube” bg_gradient=”false” gr_end=”#1e73be” full_width=”false” skip_arrow=”false” skip_arrow_skin=”light”][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”false” color=”#ffffff” size=”32″ font_weight=”normal” font_style=”inhert” letter_spacing=”10″ margin_top=”100″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Droid+Serif” font_type=”google” align=”center”]Black Hills Caverns[/mk_fancy_title][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”false” attached=”true” padding=”1″][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”false” align=”center” margin_bottom=”0″]

Browse through the content below to learn about the discovery and development of the caverns. Go back to prehistoric times and discover how caverns are formed.  Learn about the delicate balance between man and the underground water system. (Feel free to reproduce any part of this section for use in educational programming.)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true” attached=”false” padding=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_divider style=”thin_solid” divider_width=”full_width” custom_width=”10″ align=”center” thickness=”3″ margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”0″ border_color=”#c59c71″][/vc_column][/vc_row][mk_page_section][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][mk_icon_box title=”Geology & Chemistry” text_size=”20″ font_weight=”normal” style=”simple_minimal” icon_size=”small” rounded_circle=”false” icon_location=”left” circled=”false” icon_color=”#c59c71″ icon_circle_color=”#c59c71″ box_blur=”false” margin=”30″]The walls of the Black Hills Caverns consist of two types of limestone (coeymans and manlius) from different periods of the Earth’s early history, as well as a rock known as rondout waterred.[/mk_icon_box][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][mk_icon_box title=”Cave Conservation” text_size=”20″ font_weight=”normal” style=”simple_minimal” icon_size=”small” rounded_circle=”false” icon_location=”left” circled=”false” icon_color=”#c59c71″ icon_circle_color=”#c59c71″ box_blur=”false” margin=”30″]Great care must be taken to protect & preserve these great underground wonders. Caves are non-renewable, natural resources which benefit and enrich our lives in many ways, few of which are: insect control, scientific knowledge, water supply, education, and recreation.[/mk_icon_box][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][mk_icon_box title=”Cave Life” text_size=”20″ font_weight=”normal” style=”simple_minimal” icon_size=”small” rounded_circle=”false” icon_location=”left” circled=”false” icon_color=”#c59c71″ icon_circle_color=”#c59c71″ box_blur=”false” margin=”30″]With the exception of a few bats near the natural entrance, moss growing around the electric lights, and bacteria in the underground stream, there is little animal or plant life in the Black Hills Caverns.[/mk_icon_box][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][mk_icon_box title=”Prehistoric Era” text_size=”20″ font_weight=”normal” style=”simple_minimal” icon_size=”small” rounded_circle=”false” icon_location=”left” circled=”false” icon_color=”#c59c71″ icon_circle_color=”#c59c71″ box_blur=”false” margin=”30″]It takes many thousands of years for the underground rooms to be formed. The rain water soaks through the soil, picking up carbon dioxide from the vegetation and the soil. Water & carbon dioxide form a mild acid, carbonic acid, which, as it seeps through the limestone forms calcium carbonate. The calcite is deposited as crystals, stalactites, stalagmites, and many formations found in caverns. Scientists believe nature began to slowly craft the Black Hills Caverns six million years ago- long before the ancient, extinct animal known as the Woolly Mammoth appeared on Earth. The Caverns are unique for more than their age and beauty – they are among a very small number of mineral caves int he world.[/mk_icon_box][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/mk_page_section]