The West Virginia Cave Conservancy Inc., (WVCC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving and protecting important cave and karst resources of the Virginias for future generations.

Caves contain a fragile beauty only found underground.  In addition, their streams and passages provide irreplaceable environments for specially adapted, and often rare, species of animals, most of which could not survive elsewhere.

Protecting karst (limestone) landscapes is critical to our supply of clean drinking water.  Rural areas of West Virginia and Virginia rely heavily on water from springs and wells in limestone.

IN RECENT NEWS − Winter 2020/21

Burnholt Cave (aka Fullen Cave): This Greenbrier County cave is strictly a management situation given that the owners have agreed to allow access in return for the gating of the cave, which we have done. Had we not gated the cave the owner was about to bulldoze the entrance shut. The WVCC Board felt it was worth the effort and expense, approximately $600, to save the cave. If the property sells hopefully the new owners will respect this agreement. Read more about the 3,700 feet of passage and how to visit the cave by via the Burnholt Cave Management Plan.

Patton Cave: The Conservancy in the process of drawing up a management agreement with the owners who have recently put the majority of their historic farm in permanent conservation, which includes this Monroe County cave. As details are worked out we will post to our website the requirements for visitation to the cave. Patton is a very significant cave and we are fortunate to have been given the opportunity of management.

Norman Cave: The Conservancy has entered into an agreement with the owners to manage the cave indefinitely. Read more about the Norman Cave Management Plan.

Read more About Us, who we are and what we do.

Join Us in exploring, mapping, and preserving West Virginia and Virginia caves.

Contact Us with your observations, issues, and concerns about the preservation of caves and their inhabitants.