Show Caves

International Show Caves Association

A rather controversial initiative to promote the economic development of show caves by supplying the experiences and solutions of research and management activities to all its members. Has expensive membership fees and only verly little results as far as we know. A result is, that only about 1% of all show caves are member by now. Nevertheless, a nice list of some show caves worldwide.
The Association of British and Irish Show Caves (ABIS)

The association was established in 1989 by main show cave operators of Britain. First it was called The British Association of Show Caves (BAS). In 2001 leading show caves in Ireland became members and the name of the association was changed. All ABIS members are featured on this website. Since 2010 they also allow Affiliate and Associate Members.
Comision de Cavidades Turísticas

This is the website of the Federación espeleológica de América Latina y del Caribe (F.E.A.L.C.). This organization ranges between the UIS, the international union of speleology and the national unions. It covers the Central and South American caving organizations. It also has a Comisión de Cavidades Turísticas (show cave comission) which lists many of the show caves of the area on this website.
Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association (Inc) - Home Page

Not a show cave organization, but a nature protection association and thus of great influence for all show caves and other uses of caves and karst.
Slovak Caves Administration

The State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic is the organisation which manages all show caves in Slovakia! The former socialist country successfully avoided to privatize their show caves, with great benefit for the cave. They organize nationwide funding and request financial aids from the Eu, they organize anything for all caves, the people at the single caves are just employees. They have a secure income and the caves are all very well protected and developed. Probably the highest quality cave tours available in Europe.
Cave Administration of the Czech Republic

This is a similar organisation as in the Slovak Republic, when they were still socialist they actually belonged together and were called Czechoslovakia. Cave Administration of the Czech Republic is a governmental body, directed by the Ministry of the Environment. It is responsible for protection and management of show caves and other underground spaces according to rules on nature conservation and landscape protection.
National Caves Association

This is the U.S. version of a show caves association, it represents over 80 show caves, which is almost half of the US show caves. I was founded in 1965 by a small group of private show cave owners from across the country.
Grottes de France

The Fédération Française du Tourisme et Patrimoine Souterrain (FFTS) is an association of 70% of the show caves in France, at least according to their own website. They have a central website, publish leaflets with all members, something around 65, and even paperback books of all show cave which have a very high quality and are really helpfull. They represent currently 76 show caves or cave replicas, quite important with the numerous painted caves.
United States Show Caves Directory

This website is a list of all showcaves of the U.S.A. but it gives only the location and address. The site is maintained by Dave Bunell, the editor of the NSS News and a very good cave photographer. Unlike the other links on this page it is a private site and not associated wth any cave. In 2022, they were renamed Fédération Française du Tourisme et Patrimoine Souterrain (FFTS).
Show Caves of the World - list

This is a linklist of the websites of show caves. Far from being complete, but much, much better than any other existing linklist. Definitely worth a look. The private page is maintained by Pavel Gejdoš.