National Caves Association USA

  • Home
  • National Caves Association USA

National Caves Association USA All are natural caves and caverns beneath the surface of the earth.

The National Caves Association, founded in 1965 is a non-profit organization of publicly and privately owned show caves and caverns - caves developed for public visitation. The National Caves Association (NCA) is a non-profit trade organization that was organized for the purpose of promoting and improving conditions for the Show Cave Industry throughout the United States by:

(a) promoting pub

lic interest in and attendance at Show Caves;

(b) promoting public education and awareness with respect to conservation and preservation of all caves, including without limitation Show Caves;

(c) conducting public relations efforts with respect to matters that are germane to the conservation and preservation of all caves, the operation of Show Caves, and the safety and enjoyment of Show Caves;

(d) encouraging membership and participation in the Association;

(e) identifying and addressing issues pertinent to managing, operating and/or owning Show Caves;

(f) promoting methods of operation of Show Caves that enhance business performance, safety, and the conservation and preservation of Show Caves;

(g) promoting and supporting legislation that provides for conservation and preservation of caves, including without limitation Show Caves, and promote and support legislation that provides for favorable business conditions for Show Caves;

(h) presenting information and articulating the Association’s position to government agencies with respect to matters that are germane to the conservation and preservation of all caves, the operation of Show Caves, and the safety and enjoyment of Show Caves;

(i) conducting annual conventions and educational seminars for members in furtherance of the Association’s purpose;

(j) implementing industry guidelines for Show Caves;

(k) compiling, preserving, and publishing cooperative data (technical and promotional) with respect to Show Caves;

(l) promoting and encouraging the development of a spirit of cooperation, courtesy, and respect among managers, operators, and owners of Show Caves; and

(m) compiling, developing, publishing and distributing information of pertinence to the Show Cave industry.

04/07/2026
HAPPY FATHERS DAY to ALL the Dads out there! Especially the ones who instilled a love of the great outdoors. Thank you f...
21/06/2026

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to ALL the Dads out there! Especially the ones who instilled a love of the great outdoors.
Thank you for all you do to raise your kids and teach them those important life skills. We love you, and thank you for taking us on cave tours, hikes, and camping!

Who is out there CELEBRATING! What did you do today to celebrate caves and karst?If you haven't done anything it's not t...
06/06/2026

Who is out there CELEBRATING! What did you do today to celebrate caves and karst?

If you haven't done anything it's not too late! It is an INTERNATIONAL celebration of caves & karst!

06/06/2026

🥳 International Day of Caves and the Subterranean World!

💚 Today is ! It's June 6!

✌️ Luray Caverns

Not everyone was born to be a caver, but that's why SHOW CAVES exist~! The PERFECT place to see and learn about caves in...
05/06/2026

Not everyone was born to be a caver, but that's why SHOW CAVES exist~! The PERFECT place to see and learn about caves in a safe & controlled manner.

EVERY cave is like a fingerprint, no two are the same! Some are vertical with lots of steps or climbs. Others are flat with easy, accessible walking. Some even have boat tours, and there is even one show cave where you can ride in a Jeep & trailer!

From the VAST underground rooms to the intricate cave speleothems to the intriguing wildlife that call these spaces homes, every cave is worth visiting and learning about. And since every cave is a bit different, they also have different safety requirements! That's where show caves come in clutch- they help GUIDE you through THEIR cave that they know better than the back of their own hands.

How many of our member show caves have YOU been to?
List of our member caves in comments!

05/06/2026

Bats are the only true flying mammal. Bats comprise the largest family of mammals with more than 1,300 species and new species are still being identified. The oldest bat fossil identified so far is more than 55 million years old and was discovered in Fossil Butte National Monument.

In the United States, there are 45 known species of bats. Currently 13 species have been identified as endangered and additional species are under threat.
Bats are not blind, they use echolocation to find food and navigate through the darkness.

Bats are natural pest control. Vital to a healthy environment, they eat tons of insects a day.

White-nose syndrome is a disease that is decimating bat populations. Appropriate decontamination procedures are available at: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org

05/06/2026

Caves are worth celebrating!

Not only are they beautiful, amazing places to visit. Nor are they simply unique ecosystems, or a windows into our groundwater systems..... They also give us some wise advise if you listen closely.

Here are just a few. Feel free to add the wisdom you've learned from caves.

Good things take time.
Breathe deeply.
Sometimes nothing is everything.
The best things can be hard to find.
Beauty is deeper than the surface.

Just for fun.....TWO QUESTIONS for you all! 1-What is your FAVORITE cave you have ever been in? Why?*2-What show cave ar...
04/06/2026

Just for fun.....TWO QUESTIONS for you all!

1-What is your FAVORITE cave you have ever been in? Why?*

2-What show cave are you most interested in visiting soon?**

*If you can't name the cave (It is important to protect the names and locations of caves not managed by on-site operations) that's ok. We are all about cave conservation.

**Show caves are caves open to the public for tours. Whether it be a private business, a state park, a national park, non-profit... whether the cave is wired and lit or it only offers caving adventures with helmets and headlamps, a SHOW CAVE is a cave that SHOWS you what caves are all about. Our organization, the NCA, is a non-profit group for SHOW CAVES, where we all work together to improve the way we manage and interpret our caves for you.

KARST! What a fun word...but what DOES it mean? Karst is a type of landscape formed by the dissolution of rock. Yes, lit...
03/06/2026

KARST! What a fun word...but what DOES it mean?

Karst is a type of landscape formed by the dissolution of rock.
Yes, literally WATER dissolving ROCK! It takes a long time, and the water chemistry and environment have to be right, as well as the correct rock type, but together these magical environments create an interconnected web of water.

The way water moves through the ground in karst environments is much more complicated than surface water, or non-karst areas. Water wants to take the path of least resistance, so it will flow through large conduits (Read: CAVES) faster than it does the porosity of the rock and sediment. It also means, because of the complex combination of soluble rock with sediment and other layers, water can move either very fast or take 1000s of years to move through the ground.

The water will carry with it various things from the surface. It can take minerals dissolved in the water, which create the fun colors of speleothems we see in caves, but it can also carry harmful things. Bacteria, virus, trash, septic runoff, fertilizers, pesticides, that old oil leaking onto your gravel driveway from your car.... it can ALL use these karst conduits to move through the ground and into our water table: OUR DRINKING WATER.

What does that mean? Even if you aren't a caver or cave connoisseur, YOUR health can be impacted by what your neighbors, even miles away and/or centuries ago, dumped onto their ground. Whether you enjoy exploring caves or not they impact you. And while historically karst was poorly understood and sinkholes were mistaken as the perfect place to get rid of junk, that doesn't exempt us from the impacts today.

Let's all think together and help protect these special environments, because what someone does on their land isn't constrained to theirs alone.

Address

NY

Telephone

+15182315420

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Caves Association USA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

  • Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization?

Share