Indian Echo Caverns

Useful Information

Location:	South of Hershey, 18 km from Harrisburg. Rt. 422 at Hummelstown, 5 km W of Hershey, 2 km off 322, Middletown/Hummelstown exit.
Open:	Memorial Day to Labor Day daily 9-18, last tour 18. Labor Day to Memorial Day daily 10-16, last tour 16. Closed Thanksgiving, 24-DEC, 01-JAN. [2007]
Fee:	Adult USD 13, Children (3-11) USD 7, Children (0-2) free, Senior (62+) USD 11. Groups (20+): Adult USD 10, Children (3-11) USD 6. [2007]
Classification:	Karst cave Beekmantown limestone, 440 million years old.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=11°:C
Guided tours:	D=45 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Kevin Patrick (2004): Pennsylvania Caves & other rocky roadside wonders, 248 pp, illus, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pa, USA. p 6, 9, 10, 23, 25, 28, 29, 31, 38-39, 76, 78, 86-87, 90-92, 99, 131-134, 132, 140, 156, 166, 168, 170, 171, 226. Ralph W Stome (1932): Pennsylvania Caves, Pennsylvania Geological Survey Fourth Series, Bulletin G3 p 61-67 survey, 4 photos. C Laila Ragab (2005): Caveman, Publish America, Baltimore. 165pp, sb, cave illustration on front cover. A fictionalised account of the true story of Amos Wilson, who lived alone for 19 years in a Pennsylvania cave during the early 19th Century.
Address:	Indian Echo Caverns, PO Box 188, 368 Middletown Road, Hummelstown, Hershey, PA 17036, Tel. +1-717-566-8131. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

	First visited by the Susquehannock Indians.
1783	visit by white settlers.
1929	opened to the public by John Bieber.
1942	Edward S. Swartz bought the cave.

Description

Indian Echo Caverns was used by the Susquehannock Indians who lived and hunted in this area until they vanished in the 1670's. It is believed that they used the caverns as a refuge during inclimate weather because of the constant temperature. But it seems they only used the mouth of the cave, where Swatara creek leaves the cave.

Several stories are told about this cave. One is the story of Amos Wilson. After the tragic death of his only sister in 1785, he lived here for 19 years as a hermit. He was called the Pennsylvania Hermit.

The Middletown &, Hummelstown Railroad makes scenic train rides with coaches from the 1920s. As Indian Echo Caverns has its own station, it is possible to combine a ride with a visit to the cave. The ride also includes Horse Thief Cave, where horse thieves hid the stolen animals.