Indiana is full of small towns that offer a lot of charm, history, and local attractions. Sitting towards the top of that list is Marengo, Indiana, a town with roughly 800 residents and under 500 acres of land. While this small town may not seem like much at first, it’s actually home to one of the state’s largest tourist attractions.
Marengo is a tiny town in southern Indiana most famous for the natural attraction, Marengo Cave. This U.S. National Natural Landmark draws in thousands of tourists each year and offers plenty to see and do for visitors.
David Casteel/Flickr
David Casteel/Flickr Marengo Cave is believed to have been first formed over a million years ago. It was discovered in 1883 by residents of Marengo, a sister and brother, Blanche and Orris Hiestand. The cave is roughly 5 miles long and the park located directly above the cavern spans over 120 acres.
Trevorklatko/Flickr Marengo Cave became a U.S. National Natural Landmark in 1984 and is the most visited cave within the state, making Marengo a pretty big deal in Indiana.
Dave Thomas/Flickr
Dave Thomas/Flickr Visitors can enjoy two different tours of this famous cave. The Crystal Palace Tour covers one third of a mile and takes approximately 40-45 minutes. The Dripstone Tour is a bit longer, covering one mile and taking an hour to complete. These guided tours are both offered year round and can be completed with children.
wplynn/Flickr Those looking for something extra can also partake in a two hour long exploration throughout the cave or complete the cave simulator challenge known as “The Crawl.”
Jason Meredith/Flickr
Jason Meredith/Flickr Visitors to Marengo can also take a canoeing trip along the nearby Blue River, located just a few minutes away from the cave, in neighboring town Milltown, at Cave Country Canoes.
Wayne Harrison/Flickr
Kara Brugman/Flickr Visitors can make a weekend out of their trip to Marengo by camping within the Marengo Cave Campgrounds.
Marengo Tavern/Facebook
Van’s Country Table/Flickr
Sandra G./Yelp Be sure to eat at local favorites Marengo Tavern, Van’s Country Table, or Papeno’s Pizza.
Have you ever camped in Marengo, explored the famous cave, or gone canoeing on the nearby Blue River? Share your experiences with us in the comments!
David Casteel/Flickr
Marengo Cave is believed to have been first formed over a million years ago. It was discovered in 1883 by residents of Marengo, a sister and brother, Blanche and Orris Hiestand. The cave is roughly 5 miles long and the park located directly above the cavern spans over 120 acres.
Trevorklatko/Flickr
Marengo Cave became a U.S. National Natural Landmark in 1984 and is the most visited cave within the state, making Marengo a pretty big deal in Indiana.
Dave Thomas/Flickr
Visitors can enjoy two different tours of this famous cave. The Crystal Palace Tour covers one third of a mile and takes approximately 40-45 minutes. The Dripstone Tour is a bit longer, covering one mile and taking an hour to complete. These guided tours are both offered year round and can be completed with children.
wplynn/Flickr
Those looking for something extra can also partake in a two hour long exploration throughout the cave or complete the cave simulator challenge known as “The Crawl.”
Jason Meredith/Flickr
Visitors to Marengo can also take a canoeing trip along the nearby Blue River, located just a few minutes away from the cave, in neighboring town Milltown, at Cave Country Canoes.
Wayne Harrison/Flickr
Kara Brugman/Flickr
Visitors can make a weekend out of their trip to Marengo by camping within the Marengo Cave Campgrounds.
Marengo Tavern/Facebook
Van’s Country Table/Flickr
Sandra G./Yelp
Be sure to eat at local favorites Marengo Tavern, Van’s Country Table, or Papeno’s Pizza.
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