Lost Cove Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lost Cove Cave |
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| Buggytop Cave | |
Buggytop Entrance
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| Location | Franklin County, Tennessee, United States |
| Geology | limestone |
| Entrances | 3 |
| List of entrances |
Buggytop, Great Room, Peter |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Hazards | Falling Rocks, Slippery Surfaces, Cliffs |
| Access | Public |
| Lighting | None |
| Features | Lavacicles |
Lost Cove Cave, also known as Buggytop Cave, is a cool cave located in Franklin County, in southern Tennessee. It's close to the towns of Sewanee and Sherwood, and not far from the Alabama border.
This cave is famous for its huge main entrance. It's also known for the many ancient tools and items found inside. These artifacts come from the Woodland and Mississippian periods, showing people lived here long ago.
Exploring Lost Cove Cave
Lost Cove Cave is part of the Carter Natural Area. This area is a section of South Cumberland State Park. The cave is found in a place called Lost Cove.
The cave has three main ways to get in:
- The main entrance is called Buggytop. It's really big, about 100 feet (30 meters) wide and 80 feet (24 meters) high!
- The second entrance is known as the Great Room entrance. This part of the cave opened up when a section of the ceiling collapsed.
- The third entrance is called Peter Cave.
The Indian Room
The Peter Cave entrance leads into a special area called the Indian Room. People have been exploring this room for ancient artifacts since the 1800s. It's a place where archaeologists learn about the past.
Lost Cove Creek
A river called Lost Cove Creek (or sometimes just Lost Creek) flows into the cave. It enters the cave at a spot called the Big Sinks. The creek then flows through the cave and comes out of the Buggytop Entrance.
Once outside, it becomes Crow Creek. Crow Creek flows through Sherwood, Tennessee. Finally, it empties into the Tennessee River at Guntersville Lake. This lake is near Stevenson, Alabama, a few miles south.
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The main "Buggytop" entrance of Lost Cove Cave, with Lost Creek flowing out.
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A view from the cliff above the "Buggytop" Entrance. You can see Lost Creek flowing into Lost Cove.
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The Second, or Great Room, Entrance into Lost Cove Cave.
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Inside the Peter Cave, also known as the "Indian Room."
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Looking out from inside the Peter Cave, or "Indian Room" entrance.
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The "Big Sink," where Lost Creek enters the cave. It's partly hidden by plants and rocks.
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A map of Lost Cove from the USGS. The cave is right in the middle of the map.
