Myron Dunlavy, Sr., of Buffalo, N.Y., was interested in entertainment. Although his ‘regular’ job was as a manager for the New York Telephone Co., in his spare time he was in Vaudeville, ran a circus, owned a theater, and operated an amusement park. AND he loved caves. So much so that he advertised in newspapers: Real Estate Wanted – Caverns.
When he found out about the availability of ‘Hi-Way-May Caverns’ he entered into a five-year lease/purchase agreement with the Stewarts. From 1932 until 1937 the name was ‘William Penn Caverns.’ After purchasing the business Myron, Sr. decided to honor the President he most admired, changing the name to Lincoln Caverns.
A fire in 1937 destroyed the original ticket office. A new building, to be used temporarily, was built in three weeks. That structure was used for 50 years as the ticket office and gift shop. During the ’30’s, ’40’s and ’50’s it also housed a restaurant.
Myron Dunlavy, Jr. came to Huntingdon as a teenager to work at Lincoln Caverns and attend Juniata College in Huntingdon. Like his father, he was an avid caver, and spent much of his spare time digging in sinkholes atop Warrior Ridge looking for other caves on the property. In September of 1941 he discovered Whisper Rocks, which is now the second half of the cavern tour. After being closed during World War II, Myron Sr. challenged his son to reopen the business and rebuild it into a quality natural attraction. This was quite a task for a young man just returning from the military and also attending college. Development of the new cave was to be put on hold for twenty years.
In 1955 the Dunlavy family moved to the Harrisburg area and again became absentee owners of Lincoln Caverns. In 1972 Myron, Jr.’s daughter, Ann Dunlavy, returned to Huntingdon and worked at the cave as a guide while attending Juniata College. After returning briefly to the Harrisburg area, Ann realized how special the show cave business was. In 1977 she returned to Huntingdon to become manager and ‘caretaker’ of Lincoln Caverns. The operation of the caverns has remained a family affair with Ann’s mother, Marion Dunlavy serving as Secretary-Treasurer, and Myron serving as President until the time of his death in December 2005.
Learn more about the history of Lincoln Caverns and celebrate 90 years at June Discovery Days!
