Benedict’s Cave is listed on the Significant Cave List for length, depth, hydrology,
geology, biology, history, and esthetics. The cave has two entrances, the main
Benedict’s entrance that was first used to gain access to the cave and the Persinger entrance. WVACS members found the Persinger entrance from the inside during exploration of the cave. An attempt was made to dig out from the inside but was not successful. Subsequently, the entrance was located on the surface and was excavated.

Maxwelton Sink Cave is one of the longest of a series of so called “contact cave systems” located in the historic “Great Savannah” of Greenbrier County. These contact cave systems are known for extensive passage development in the contact zone between the overlying Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone and the underlying MacCrady Shale. To date, over 10 miles of passage has been surveyed in Maxwelton Sink Cave.

Tom Lightner Sr., who had owned the farm for more that 50 years, died in January, 2000. He directed in his will that his executor, Tom Lightner, Jr., must sell the farm and distribute the proceeds to the heirs. Accordingly, the farm was subdivided, by survey, into 38 lots, and these lots were offered at auction on September 30, 2000. WVCC representatives attended the auction and offered the highest bid on the parcel that contained the Lightner Entrance, but all bids for all the parcels of the entire farm were rejected. Subsequently, WVCC representatives entered into negotiations with Tom Lightner, Jr. that resulted in the purchase by WVCC of a tract of land that includes the Lightner’s Entrance.

Due to its location adjacent to a state road, an Interstate highway and a river, and its impressive entrance, Island Ford Cave has been well known local feature for many years.  It is believed that the present entrance was opened as a result of a road cut during the construction of US Route 60 (The Midland Trail) in the 1930’s. The cave is mentioned in H. H. Douglas’ Caves of Virginia (Virginia Cave Survey, 1964), and a description (see below) and map appeared in Descriptions of Virginia Caves by John R. Holsinger (Bull. 85, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 1975).