Article Photos

Fact Box

If you go

What: Indian Caverns

Where: Route 45 in Franklinville, Huntingdon County

Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day; Thursday through Sunday in April, May, September and October; and weekends from November through March

Admission: $12 for ages 13 and older; $6.50 for ages 4 to 12; and free for ages 3 and younger

For more information: Call 632-7578 or visit www.indiancaverns.com

FRANKLINVILLE - The 80th anniversary celebration of the opening of Indian Caverns hasn't quite turned out as planned.

Bill Wertz, grandson of the founder, joined the business in March 2007 to better market and promote the landmark business on Route 45 along Spruce Creek.

Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack and died June 5 before he could finish implementing all of his plans.

"He made quite a few improvements," said John Farrell, Wertz's business partner of more than 30 years who joined the Indian Caverns business at the same time as Wertz. "He started to do some little renovation projects, and we began playing outside music as background to improve the quality. He completely revamped the tour schedule. He added a host of new features to make it more attractive to the public, and he was planning to increase promotions.

"Bill knew what he wanted to do in two weeks but knew it would take a couple of years. Revenues are up 20 percent since 2006. That shows Bill was on the right track," he said.

Wertz was the grandson of founder Harold "Hubby" Wertz and the son of Harold "Bear" and Jo Wertz.

Under Bill Wertz's leadership, Indian Caverns placed more emphasis on the history of the largest limestone cavern in Pennsylvania.

Hubby Wertz and his wife, Lenore, first visited the cave in 1928 and discovered it was nearly triple the size of the cave system as it had previously been known. They began acquiring the land and mineral rights, hoping to develop the cavern and open it to the general public.

During excavation, workmen unearthed some arrowheads that were more than 400 years old. Construction work halted while a team of archaeologists excavated more than 500 artifacts, as well as some skeletal remains.

"They found lots of valuable artifacts and that made them aware how much the cave had been used throughout history. The Lenape used the cave extensively as well as the Iroquois," Farrell said. "The Iroquois had a huge trading empire. They used it as a warehouse. It was also an important military installation for the Iroquois."

Indian Caverns opened June 15, 1929, four months before the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression.

After Lenore's death in 1941, Hubby and son his son Bear, then 14, formed a partnership to run Indian Caverns. That continued until Hubby's death in 1987.

Today, Indian Caverns is owned by Bill Wertz's brother, the Rev. Aden Wertz of Williamsport, and sister, Jody Brisbin of Tipton.

Aden Wertz said his brother's death was a big loss for the business.

"A lot of his ideas hadn't been fully developed and were in the works," Aden Wertz said. "There was always an educational part to the tour. They expanded it and upgraded it."

Like most limestone caverns, Indian Caverns offers some spectacular views such as the "Frozen Niagara," a flowstone formation more than two stories high in "Giants Hall."

Another unique feature of Indian Caverns is the "White Grotto" or "Room of the Fireflies," where glowing lights reflect off the natural formations.

However, a tour of Indian Caverns is more than just looking at stalactites and stalagmites.

"We are moving toward an educational experience and trying to maintain some entertainment value. We want to stress that people will have fun but they will learn about central Pennsylvania history and the natives," Farrell said. "It is more than just looking at the structures, it is more about how people used the cave."

Indian Caverns is one of the best historic and natural wonders in Huntingdon County, said Ed Stoddard, Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau member services director.

"Their story is fascinating and the formations are beautiful," Stoddard said. "At the beginning of the tour they give an in-depth background of the cave. It is very educational and a great story to hear. It is a unique story for the area."

Farrell said less traffic passes through Spruce Creek since the opening of Interstate 99, and attendance at Indian Caverns has subsequently fallen.

"We are off 30 percent in the number of visitors since six years ago. Our numbers have been declining but our souvenirs and concession sales have increased to pick up the slack," Farrell said. "If the tour is good, people will be more likely to buy souvenirs. Those are signs that the new tour is good."

Farrell hopes to attract more visitors to Indian Caverns and plans to reach out more to schools and other organizations.

"The natural beauty a cave offers, nothing comes close to it and the window it opens to our history in central Pennsylvania. The combination of those two things is a powerful appeal to a number of people," he said.