Smoke Hole Caverns
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Smoke Hole Caverns are a system of picturesque caverns in Grant County of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The caverns were opened to the public in the 1940s. They are located near Smoke Hole Canyon, a gorge, for which the caves take their name. Smoke Hole Caverns are located on WV 28 13 km west of Petersburg.
Some historians claim that Native Americans used the caves for smoking meat, hence the name of the gorge and caverns. The caverns served the same purpose for soldiers during the American Civil War. Folk Lore has it that the cavern was utilized during prohibition by moonshiners. There is only one entrance into the caverns which made it secure and with an ever present supply of fresh water it was a perfect place to produce moonshine. The cavern is also home to an artesian well.
The caverns are owned and operated by Mr. Jerry Lee Hedrick and his wife, Janet. Mr. Hedrick is a convicted felon who is currently serving a sentence of 2-10 years in the WV Eastern Regional Jail. He was convicted of sexual assault, with more charges and investigations pending. He is listed on the WV Offenders Registry.
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