In 1927 a Man Fell Into a Hole in the Grand Canyon and Made One of the Most Important Discoveries in History

On his way to his friend’s house for poker night in 1927, Walter Peck almost fell into a hole in the Grand Canyon.

Believing the hole would lead to a gold mine,  Walter returned the next day with his friends, a long rope, and a cowboy.

They assumed the samples were gold. Walter bought the land to dig for his gold legally, but he eventually discovered that his supposed gold was nothing but a stack of iron oxide or rust. He then remembered the skeletons and made a plan.

When Walter brought the property, he named it the Yampai Caverns. Around nine years later, the caverns were renamed Coccocino Caverns. As the caverns expanded accessibility by adding a swinging staircase, they were again renamed Dinosaur Caverns. At that point, it was named after the fossil remains of a prehistoric 15-foot-tall sloth that had been discovered. 

In 1935, some organizations trying to help Americans with jobs during the Great Depression collaborated with Walter. They provided workers who built a 15-foot ladder for Walter’s cave. In 1962, Walter closed the entry point of the hole. Experts told him the skeletons were the remains of two brothers from the Hualapai tribe.

John F. Kennedy also made plans to use Walter’s cave during his term. He planned to use it as a bunker to keep civilians safe during the United States’ strife with the Soviet Union. The shelter was stocked with supplies that would be enough for 2000 Americans for one month. However, there was no need for the cave to be used.

It is the largest dry canyon in the US, and its formation dates back to around 345 million years ago when the Southwestern United States was submerged beneath an ancient sea. 

Millions of years later, after numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, it pushed the limestone bedrock a few hundred feet below the outer crust of the earth. 

Today, the Grand Canyon’s caverns and the lands surrounding it are largely privately owned. It also has many workers exploring the captivating depths of the area and making discoveries of new caves. Even more remarkable, the air in these caves runs through 60 miles of limestone caves, all the way from the Grand Canyon. 

A venture into the Grand Canyon Caverns takes visitors down a staggering 210 feet, which is equivalent to six stories deep underground. Once you arrive inside, there are expert guides available to help tourists navigate through the different areas and displays in these caverns. 

For adventurous tourists, the caverns offer different tour options which have specific categories. For instance, those who are fearless explorers can opt for tours that offer a chance to visit the newly discovered caves. 

These caverns are packed with numerous displays that are not only captivating but will also leave tourists in awe. It offers a glimpse into the magnificent Giant Ground Sloth model, which was a creature that roamed the earth thousands of years ago. Now, it stands at 12 feet, is 4 inches tall, and weighs around 2,000 pounds. 

Amongst the highlights to look forward to is the Crystal Room, located in the heart of the caverns. This room offers quite a breathtaking view of numerous formations of selenite crystals, what many call nature’s own chandeliers. 

Tourists looking to spend the night in the caverns can also get to stay at the underground cave suite. It offers an amazing experience in the oldest, darkest, deepest, quietest, and biggest suite room in the world. 

The Grand Canyon Caverns is the largest dry cavern in the United States. It is a natural limestone cavern located 210 feet beneath the surface of the earth. We can say it’s a true testament of the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon region.