The History and Pictures of CUDJO'S CAVERNS at Cumberland Gap before the National Park.
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- Опубліковано 19 лип 2021
- The history and pictures of the old Cudjo's Cave on Cumberland Mountain before the the Cumberland Gap National Park changed it to Gap Cave. Thanks for watching. SUBSCRIBE: LIKE AND SHARE: GROW YOUR CHANNEL: THIS CHANNEL COVERS 9 DIFFERENT SUBJECTS !!! ( CHECK IT OUT) 1. Metal Detecting 2. Wildlife Videos 3. History & Mountain Culture 4.The Unexplained 5. Home projects 6. Hunting & Fishing 7. Nature Videos 8.Mining History 9. Video Shorts
I was born and raised in East Tennessee (Blount County) but both of my parents were born and raised in Harlan Kentucky so we made many trips there. We always went by Cudjo's on the way home. We didn't always go in the cave but we certainly stopped for cigarettes every time. My Mom was scared to death of that road. I ended up getting a scholarship to Lincoln Memorial University and on my lunch break I'd go up to the pinnacle and sit there and eat with that view. As much as I loved it then, I sure wish I had appreciated having somewhere like that to enjoy some silence more. I know what it means now more than ever with all the tourists overcrowding every park in the country.
This made me miss my Mom more but, that's ok. She's worth missing.
Thanks for jarring my memory 💚
Your welcome. Thank for sharing my friend.
@@casey31373 Thanks for sharing my friend.
..
Haha my family is also from Harlan Kentucky my dads side but he moved here to Michigan In the 50s…. My grandparents lived on the side of a old mining road….. good memories
I mean this in the sweetest of ways...but I listen to your storytelling with my ear buds at night in bed. The comfort of your stories is such a peaceful way to end a busy day.
I do the same thing it puts me right to sleep like a bedtime story from my granny lol.
You seem so sweet and kind.👍🙂
I find his voice so calming...but cannot close my eyes because I don't want to miss any pictures!
i am from this region, born, raised and still there. you are right, his storytelling and voice is very comforting!
I couldn't agree more.
My 5th great grandfather was exploring part of the Cumberland Gap in VA before any settlers had went that far west of the Appalachians. Peters mountain is named after him. You can see the gap from the top. He made trails for hundreds of miles people still use today. Lots of them are roads now.
Awesome. Thank you for sharing my friend.
@eric Bogart
Tht is really awsome.
Thts ever more amazing that a mountain is named after him! 😊
@@YouSUBSCRIBE739 There is a few other things named after him too, and you can go about 45 minutes away from where I grew up and on the Appalachian Trail that goes onto Peters Mountain there is a sign that mentions his name. There is a Wrights Gap and something else over the mountain and in WV.
It's too bad we can't travel back in time to those days. Thank God for Donnie and his story telling abilities!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
I think you and I are of the same generation. I was born in 1948. Our generation in general has so many wonderful stories to tell. We live in a totally different world now. The younger people have no idea how slow paced life was, how different values were, and generally the world was a safer place...not perfect, but definitely better than today. Thank you for sharing your area's history. You definitely have that southern gift of story telling.
Your welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
My father started working at Cudjo's Cave in the 1940s and worked there practically his entire life; he was the last owner/operator and retired in the 1990s when the national park bought the rights to the cave from LMU. So many great memories of this place, thank you so much for creating and sharing this video.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
I so remember going here in the early 70's! The wedding chapel, the bacon formations. Even the one with the "toe" sticking out of it. It was a light hearted magical place with a few corny elements thrown in. I looked for videos of it and found yours! Nice tribute. I was hoping to see it again as it had been. Sadly nothing lasts forever but the cave it's self. It will be a beauty long after us all. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for Sharing my friend.
No kidding that is neat they use same names touring Lincoln caverns up near Huntington pa.. wedding chapel and bacon something 🙂👍
Thank you for sharing your home with the rest of us. I hope it helps people to understand all the places and history we have to protect in our country.
Donnie, you are the memory man.....thanks for all you do....we enjoy all your videos....i grew up in Cumberland Ky.....during a much better time...the 1950's....I've been in the cave many times....
That's awesome. Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
It's so neat that three states come together there. you could have breakfast, lunch and dinner in three different states! Thanks for sharing, donnie.Louise
This video is a blessing. My dad and grandparents live in Harrogate. My dad met my mom with us kids before going back to California, at Cudjos Cave in the late 60's. My dad bought me a beautiful abalone ring there. I will never forget. Sure wish it was still there. RIP mom and dad 😥❤️ I miss you more than words can say! This video is like a soothing ointment on my heart bringing back such a fond memory.
Sorry for your loss my friend. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing.
My Dad took our family to visit Cudjo's Caverns in the early sixties, we had a great time,I was probably about 10 years old. Thanks Donnie for bringing back some good memories 🙂.
Your welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
This brought back so many memories with my family in the late 60's and early seventies. Thanks Donnie.
Thanks for sharing that my friend.
Thank you very much for this. I have very fond memories of touring Cusjo's as a child. We used to travel between NC and Northern KY for family visits, and before I40 connected Asheville to Knoxville, and while I75 was incomplete, going up through the Cumberland Gap was the only way.
Good to know that NPS is taking care of it, although I will miss the shop across the road....... gotta motivate the wife to go visit.
Thanks for sharing my friend
That mountain took 3 of my cousins life but miss it the cave an the rd thanks for sharing this
So sorry for your loss my friend. Your very welcome.
My parents brought us here every summer for years, it was a high light to summer vacations! Greatest family memories!! Thank you for not letting history die!!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Thanks for sharing this! I been over that mountain road many times and always looked forward to stopping at the store to get an ice cream or RC Cola. However, I never went into the cave. Not so much a cave fan. This brings back some wonderful memories!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Donnie my day was stressful and this video relaxed my mind and refreshed my spirit! Thank you so much Donnie.
You are so welcome
Glad I stumbled upon your channel. Really enjoy learning the history of these breathtaking mountains.
Glad you like them enjoy them my friend.
I remember, as a young chap in the early 70's, my family visited that cavern. Brought back memories I haven't thought of in many years. Thank you.
Thank you friend for sharing.
I love listening to your voice…your accent is so comforting. My ancestors (Ogles and Ewings) settled there, in Tennessee, as pioneers. I’ve only been to the south once (upcountry of SC), but felt so at home before I knew this. The Smokeys and culture Fascinate me. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thank you my friend.
When I see/hear the name "Ogle", I think of Gatlinburg.
@@michaelcunningham6644 That's true my friend. Every area as certain names.
You won't believe how happy I am to find this video. I traveled by there with my husband in '81. He was taking a truckload of Carroll county Va cabbage to Ky. I insisted we stop. A teenage tour guide and us! We were in the cave for a long time. We had a ball! I have always wanted to go back. Your video made that possible. Thank you and God bless.
Your so welcome. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing my friend.
Been here many times. Thanks for the history. The history makes it. Thank you for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it Teressa. I love to share the history of our beautiful area.
Another awesome job Donnie!!! It would be nice to know what the CRF has found in those caves. I would say with the frontiersman, Indians and soldiers they hold a lot of history.
Thanks Bobby, I was told long ago that was a lot Civil war weapons and things found in the cave. We will never know. MAN the history around the Gap is endless.
Thank you so much! I went there when I was a little girl in the early 60's. I remember Cudjo's bathtub and I remember when they turned the lights off, it was so scary!
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
I was just telling my great grand children about how the US park dept ruined all the area around the gap and cave area and progression or regression has never been more assanine.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
My daddy from middlesboro.and my cousin Anthony hall lived there too.been to the cave many times thanks for the memories buddy.
Your welcome my friend.
I used to go here as a kid, and had almost forgotten about it until I saw this video. My momma's family was from Oak Ridge and daddy's family was from Middlesboro. We always took this highway between the two and always stopped here. Thanks for the great memories!
Awesome, your very welcome my friend.
I was born and raised in East Tennessee ❣️ Still live there at the age of 44 and I have learned more of it's history from you and Bill Landery than I did anywhere else.
Awesome my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this.
Wow, talk about serendipity! We were just there a few weeks ago! Spent the day along a stream that comes from the cave. HEAVEN ON EARTH! Still have a bottle of the water in fridge, it feels almost sacred. Thank you so much for post!
So cool! It is a lovely place indeed. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Oh dear God! This is bringing back some memories! We used to get carbide rocks at that little store in the beginning of the video!
And rock candy!
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing my friend.
I remember the tour guide saying we had to rub “the old man’s head,” a rock that looked like a bald head, to get out alive. I didn’t. It scared me. My mom made sure I got out alive . Whew! I think I was about four! That would have been in 1961.
Good one.🤣Thanks for sharing my friend.
I remember that bald head
I remember the story and rubbing the rock to get out alive. I was probably about 8 or 9 years old and now I am 67 years old. I will never forget the place. Thank you!
Our memories are what keeps things alive & in our heart 4ever,Thank You 4 sharing!!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
This was awesome! I can remember all that very well....my Uncle wrecked on that road many, many years ago as did many others. My late father (passed in 2016) was Vice President of the Union & work on the new tunnel & road as well as the new Pineville flood wall. What rich history we grow up in. I'm proud to be a hollor gal from these parts! (=
Thanks for sharing my friend.
I loved this! I'm from Pound Virginia and have lived in Iowa for the past 20 years. I cry for home every day.
Thank you. Noting wrong with Iowa my friend, But it it ant home.
I have kinfolk in the Pound and like you, long to return home to the hills.
Thanks for sharing love the stories
Glad you like them!
Personally, I love these vids with the vintage pictures. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Like you, I passed through here literally thousands of times. I actually went in once. So glad I did. Stay safe. God bless.
Glad you like them my friend. Thanks for watching and sharing.
Great job Donnie, very cool! I bet you'd like to get in there with the detector, probably some great stuff hiding in there still.
That would be cool wouldn't it my friend.
I’ve been in the cave once when I was just young and in the store several times I just hate that it’s no longer there times has changed a lot since then. Thank you Mr. Laws for sharing all of your videos I watch them often.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome. Thank you.
Boy, I 'd of love to see that! Pictures are beautiful. So many things that I remember are gone. One, was the Catskill Game Farm. I went as a 4-5 yr old and took my 3 children. Now gone. Pictures and memories.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Loved the old pics! Blessings🙏🏻💖
Glad you like them!
Great video Donnie...I used to ride to the cave shop with my cousin and great uncle to get cartons of camel cigarettes no filter...and prince Albert tobacco for my uncle's pipe...my cousin chewed Cumberland twist never forget that... Thanks for knocking dust off all those memories love the videos keep them coming I live just down the road in Hancock county I've always wanted to go back to the cave but assumed it was closedown.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Did they have Prince Albert in a can?It's a wonder that he didn't suffocate!😂😂😂
Thanks so much for sharing. Greats memories visiting this cave in the summers back in late 60s and 70s with my grandparents. Still so many trinkets from there, pennant, ash tray.
Glad you enjoyed it my friend. I miss it to.
My mammaw and pappaw moved to Detroit in '48 but the went back home every year after.. I remember well the Cumberland Gap from the 70's and early 80's.. sometime around '96 I was there with my kids, there was an old time heritage type festival in Cumberland Gap.. I took the kids up above the iron furnace to cool off in the creek.. beautiful place!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.
Your very welcome my friend.
Thanks for sharing.
Your welcome my friend.
Fascinating. I love caves. We have visited many. Mostly in our area of the Midwest. I love hearing about the soldiers using them. Very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it Mama. Thanks for commenting.
Donnie, really enjoyed it!! Such breathtaking beauty!!! Thanks for taking me by video and making it look like I'm going right along with you! Can't wait for your next adventure!! God bless you ❤️🙏
Awesome my friend. Thank you so much. God bless you.
Beautiful stories and beautiful pictures. Thank you
Your very welcome my friend. Thank you.
I remember it iam 51 years old enjoy the videos and the time gone bey
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
Nice story. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it friend.
Thank you Donnie love these videos with old pictures!!!
You are very welcome Bill. Thanks for commenting my friend.
Thanks for you videos Donnie. These stories are part of the fabric of Appalachian people. Your videos are very tastefully and calmly presented which reflects on the temperament of the people. Thank you again and please, keep the videos coming. Best wishes!
You are very welcome my friend.
Love the old stories and photos!
your welcome.
Wish we were young again my friend.
👍 Watching your channel 👍
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Thank you for posting this. I toured that cave many times growing up. Thanks for reminding me.
Glad you enjoyed it my friend.
Thank you very much for the history and stories of the days past.
Glad you like them!
Thanks again for sharing, Donnie
Thank you for reviving my memories of the past 🖖🏻
Your welcome my friend.
I never knew about this cave and the story & history behind it. Thank you for sharing this Mr Laws! Such beautiful country and breathtaking views! I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw those cars & trucks! Now those vehicles were made to last & last! I just absolutely love your channel and all the stories of times gone by. I love stepping back into the past with you as my tour guide and story teller! Blessings always! ❤️✝️
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.
Thank You❣️
Your welcome.
These pictures bring back fond memories, my mom and dad took me there when I was a child ❣️I enjoyed being there thanks for sharing this ☺️
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Interesting and enjoyable. Look forward to new videos👍💜👍
Thank you very much!
There’s so much unique history in those mountains I honestly like listening to your videos! Thanks for sharing what you know to everybody!!
Yes there is ! Your so welcome my friend.
Thank you for sharing! Stopped and toured this cave several times on our way to Tennessee.
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Love this video! I remember going through the cave. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Greg.
I love to listen to your stories. The videos bring the stories to life and us back to the time. Also, learning about the history with the soothing voice makes a wonderful lesson. Thank you so very much for sharing the story telling of the past.
Your welcome my friend.
I am from Tompkinsville ky Here by the Cumberland river. Love the old ⛴️ ferry boat I Love your stories..
Thank you friend. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Donnie,
Great memories of when we made many trips from Indiana down to grandparents house over in Kingsport.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Donnie is sure is good to see these old pictures from the 50's and 60's. I'm north of you in WV and have never been down in your neck of the woods much. Like you I was a kid back during those times (Born in 1954) and love to see the old cars and the way folks dressed back then to remind me of growing up. Enjoy your videos very much.
Thank you very much friend.
Them formations from the ceiling to the floor imagine how long it took them to form. Wonder how many 1,000’s of years it took them to form one drop at a time. Good old days as bad as it hurts me to say it but them days are gone but not forgotten. Be safe sir and GOD BLESS y’all Amen 🙏
A long time. Ever think when you see all this mountains how hollow they ready are in the bed rock. Most caves don't have a entrance to the out side world.
We stopped on our trips from fort wayne indiana to go see mamow and papow
The lived in Harrogate tenn .
When I was a kid I'm 58 now I sure miss those times bless you fir making
The video.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
Great story Donnie thank you for sharing it
Glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Thank you! One of my favorite stops as a kid. The other 2 being dogpatch to see the oxen and clinch mountain to see the cinnamon colored bear.
Clinch mountain! I remember the bears on top and the binoculars mounted on the wood platform
Vinegar pie! Ew! Parents loved it we always stopped at the gas station/ gift shop!
Nice presentation. I remember passing it before the tunnel was built and regretting not having stopped there before the tunnel was built.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 I enjoyed the film. I didn't realize how large the caverns were, and did not know much about their history either. I am about an hour away in east TN. I get over that way occasionally. It is one of the prettiest areas in KY,TN and VA in my opinion.
Wow! This brought back some great memories. My grandparents lived in Tazwell TN and my Dad and I would visit during the summer and this was one of the places we always stopped at. The cave was pretty neat to see but my favorite was the store,it always had cool stuff to buy. Great video,thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Thanks again Donnie.
Your very welcome my friend.
I wish Donnie could be on TV n have his own show. I would love for the world to get to hear him. Everybody would be so interested in all the rich history n stories from first hand accounts n everything. We need to keep it all alive for future Generations to learn about n appreciate.
Wow, Thank you my friend for them kind words.
Hope to check that out this summer
Boy Donnie that takes me back. I remember as a little boy my Dad and Mom would always stop there. Thanks for the great video!
Glad you enjoyed it my friend.
I lived in middlesboro ky for 15 years used to drive the old road before they put in the tunnel beautiful country so much rich history i miss it so much.
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
There must be so much history in those caves
...a super lot of " times gone by" as you say Donnie. Every time I watch your short stories the scenery of the mountains are absolutely beautiful. I try to image them in the different seasons. If I lived there or born there I would not want to leave. Blessings to you and loved ones from 🇬🇧
There is. Awesome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Another great video from Mr. Donnie Laws!!!
I appreciate that my friend.
This is Great Donnie...Thank You Buddy 👍🏻
Very welcome my fiend.
I went to Cudjos cave so many times when I was a kid. I loved the little gift shop. Later on 1 yr my husband and daughter went to Cudjo's and was told we could got this spot up a little ways and we held hands and each one of us was in a different state. Tri-state spot. Virginia Tennessee Kentucky...
Awesome! Thanks for sharing that my friend.
Thanks for the uploads...I really enjoy your knowledge.
My pleasure my friend.
Awesome !
Thank you.
Thank you for your commentary. You do a great job with these videos. On a side note, I sure miss the good old days. These take me back there. Again… thank you.
Very welcome.
Late 60's I visited with my parents as we traveled from Michigan to NC. Nice memory
Thanks for sharing my friend.
A very enjoyable video.
Thank you, Donnie. God 🙏 bless.
Absolutely love your stories. I took my son into cave in the 80's.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
Very interesting! Thanks Donnie
Your very welcome my friend.
Excellent video Donnie! Thanks so much!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
I grew up in Claiborne County, TN. Cudjo’s Cave was so fun!
Thanks for sharing that my friend.
Very very interesting!! Thank you! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
thank you Mr. Laws
You are very welcome.
I have just now found your channel. I live in northeast Alabama and love history. Thank you Sir! God bless.
Welcome aboard my friend. Enjoy. Thanks for sharing my friend.
I never knew about this tourist attraction but l love the old photos from the era.
Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it.
in the 80's i got to go on the tour once. I think i also may have went on a school trip one time. When i was a student at LMU, after the restore had started, i was with a volunteer group, the summer of 96 helping remove mad made objects including the hand rails from the Cave. Also during my time at LMU, i got to go in off trail to the water table, or at least to the running water down in the bottom to help collect water samples for study. I enjoyed my time spent in that cave.
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing my friend.