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Ruby Falls
With its storied history and inspiring geology, Ruby Falls is a chosen destination for half a million adventure seekers from around the world each year. Found in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the iconic towering waterfall, irreplaceable cave formations, and sweeping views instill wonder as much today as when the cave opened to the public in 1930. The attraction's endearing longevity began in 1928 with its accidental discovery by cave enthusiast Leo Lambert. While excavating an elevator shaft to reach another Lookout Mountain cave, his work crew felt a gust of air when the shaft intersected an opening concealed by limestone, 260 feet belowground. Curious where the opening would lead, Lambert scrambled through the void and began what would become a 17-hour journey, 1,120 feet underground, through an undiscovered cave with a magnificent waterfall. Soon after, Lambert decided to name the waterfall in honor of his wife, Ruby. Ruby Falls has long been considered the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States.
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 22, 2025
Excellent end cap to our visit to Ruby Falls!
January 22, 2024
Bought this little book when I was visiting Ruby Falls. I think that the primary motivator was to get something that'd be within my son's reading level/be something he'd be interested in. The good news was that that prediction was correct and my (then 10-year-old) son did read the whole thing from cover to cover. Anyway, saw it on my shelf and decided to take a crack at it as a quick read.
This book is honestly more like a pamphlet/picture book all things considered. Most of the text is captions for the pictures included on the pages. A little disappointing though as I feel like a lot of the information presented is a little shallow (i.e. there's one "chapter" dedicated to the history of the cave's discovery, one "chapter" dedicated to the geology, and then like three "chapters" that seem more like an advertisement for the cave). It would have been nice to have a handful of full pages of text.
Overall, this book is fine for what it is - a short little book/pamphlet about the cave with a decent selection of pictures of the cave, the castle, etc.
This book is honestly more like a pamphlet/picture book all things considered. Most of the text is captions for the pictures included on the pages. A little disappointing though as I feel like a lot of the information presented is a little shallow (i.e. there's one "chapter" dedicated to the history of the cave's discovery, one "chapter" dedicated to the geology, and then like three "chapters" that seem more like an advertisement for the cave). It would have been nice to have a handful of full pages of text.
Overall, this book is fine for what it is - a short little book/pamphlet about the cave with a decent selection of pictures of the cave, the castle, etc.
August 23, 2021
A near century old attraction near Chattanooga, Tennessee, the waterfall at the end of the tour is truly a gorgeous sight. While traveling to New Orleans a number of years ago, my companion saw the billboards and we decided - why not? We had time. Lookout Mountain - which provides a stunning view of the surroundings and of course, Ruby Falls, the subterranean geological formations that had originally been hidden by the railroad. Apparently, the access point into the Lookout Mountain cavern opened facing busy railroad tracks so it was blocked off.
Not long on history - not that it needs to be - about the discoverer of the actual Falls (he was attempting to drill down deep enough to connect with the original Lookout cavern network but this opening was found and explored). Lots of pictures of the castle/tower as it was being built from the limestone excavated from the shaft and how it has been expanded and modified over the years.
Also, lots of photos of the named geological formations along with some basic information on their creation. And of course, the falls themselves named after the discoverer's wife.
This is actually the type of book that the tourist would pick up in the gift shop to commemorate their trip at Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls.
2021-169
Not long on history - not that it needs to be - about the discoverer of the actual Falls (he was attempting to drill down deep enough to connect with the original Lookout cavern network but this opening was found and explored). Lots of pictures of the castle/tower as it was being built from the limestone excavated from the shaft and how it has been expanded and modified over the years.
Also, lots of photos of the named geological formations along with some basic information on their creation. And of course, the falls themselves named after the discoverer's wife.
This is actually the type of book that the tourist would pick up in the gift shop to commemorate their trip at Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls.
2021-169
May 17, 2026
Fascinating little book about the second most famous tourist attraction in Tennessee…the first being Rock City. Well, as a caver I’ve done my almost obligatory trip to Ruby Falls, and I rather enjoyed it. The book is packed with pictures and a bit of text regarding how the cave was discovered—an accident!—its past, present, and future. Definitely worth keeping if you’re a speleophile. My copy (bought used) is autographed by the granddaughter of the original promoter of the cave…very cool!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews