Ohio Caverns - Open All Year

A friend and I decided to go to the Ohio Caverns for her birthday. GPS on the way there was EASYYYYY (coming from Findlay), and GPS reception lagged right when we needed it, but then there are large signs to the caverns which provide even better direction (thank you!). Arriving, you turn into what may be a privately-owned driveway, but with an Ohio cavern archway which helped. Another sign after the driveway showed that visitors are to continue behind the house which then turns into a park scene with a gift shop on the left. Signs pointed toward the gift shop to purchase tour tickets. The tour fee was $24/ adult, $12/ child. You can buy them online or at the register in front of the gift shop. Tickets are color-coded to identify which tour group is going. There is no ticket to bring home as a souvenir for scrapbooking (unfortunately). Entry fee is ridiculous, but I guess if the costs of upkeep of the area and paying employees is what contributes to the fee then so be it because the money is being well spent keeping up the place. Park closing state 4pm, but the tour guide clarified that 4p was the start time of last tour. The gift shop, bathrooms, and park were very clean and presentable. I have been to many parks like other people and this is by far the cleanest and nicest smelling public bathroom I have ever been to. The walking trail from the exit back to the parking lot and gift shop could use more benches for those who need a rest. The entrance was straight from the gift shop, so maybe this is a winter entrance (Nov.). What would make so much sense is if entry to the cave started at the end of the park and ended into the gift shop (similar to roller coaster rides or like in Disney). Instead, you are waiting at the gift shop and you enter through the gift shop and end up at the park. Well, my friend and I took so much time at the gift shop that we did not have time to purchase what was in our baskets so we asked somebody behind the counter to hold them for us to purchase after the tour. We missed the beginning explanation of the tour because of being in the gift shop (there was a long checkout line) but no videography or touching allowed. The cavern is definitely remarkable, there were about 10 people total in this tour, one employee in the front giving information and the one employee in the back answering questions. At the end of the tour, pictures were offered , but we declined. The whole tour was a quick 50 minutes but it is definitely worth going to and experiencing yourself! At one point they turn off the lights (which I'm hoping one day will be LED) so we can experience how dark being down there is. There was a small boy with us with light up shoes so it was quite a comical experience. I 'caved' and bought about $42 worth of souvenirs (two bags of hematite for my kids, 1 small slab of which 100% no relation to the cavern, but hey, I bought what I wanted. I'm glad I didn't bring my kids because $12/pp isn't worth it if their long-term memory isn't yet established. But with the souvenirs I brought home, they were very happy to play with stacks of hematite.

More like 4.5 stars because the entry fee is too high. I would've liked some more time taking better pictures too, because being with a group meant to stay with the group. Would be cooler for a self-paced guided tour option ($30), and tour rate 20$ for adults and free 12 and under. Lowering the price would let me want to come back many times with different friends being only an hour away. Suggest to offer a lowered rate for Ohio/local residents ($10), and patronage programs for those who come back and bring new visitors/friends. The gift shop is awesome but I would've liked to buy a book about the rocks and minerals being sold (if there were, I didn't see). There's nothing else close to the caverns (food/lodging). We did go to the Dragonfly Winery 15 min. to snack before heading home.