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 💚

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.

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.

It's too bad we can't travel back in time to those days. Thank God for Donnie and his story telling abilities!

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.

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

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....

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.

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!

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.

That mountain took 3 of my cousins life but miss it the cave an the rd thanks for sharing this

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 🙂.

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.

This brought back so many memories with my family in the late 60's and early seventies. Thanks Donnie.

I am from Detroit but my heart lives in Harrogate and Middlesboro. I lived with my aunts and uncles in Harrogate during the Summers. In 1987 my uncle Steve Napier taught me how to drive when I was only 14 years old. We lived in Harrogate and he had a small shop in Middlesboro. To get me past my fear of driving he would have me drive across that mountain before the tunnel. Sometimes we would stop at the Cudjo's Cavern shop for some ice cream (before dinner). Uncle Steve was well known and loved from what I remember. Donnie, your voice and talk atyle reminds me of so many of his friends that would stop in his shop to visit. It brought me back to the very happiest days of my life. Makes me wonder if you two knew each other...

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!!

Donnie my day was stressful and this video relaxed my mind and refreshed my spirit! Thank you so much Donnie.

Thanks for sharing love the stories

Glad I stumbled upon your channel. Really enjoy learning the history of these breathtaking mountains.

I remember it iam 51 years old enjoy the videos and the time gone bey

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 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!

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.

Been here many times. Thanks for the history. The history makes it. Thank you for the video.

Wish we were young again my friend. 👍 Watching your channel 👍

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.

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!

My daddy from middlesboro.and my cousin Anthony hall lived there too.been to the cave many times thanks for the memories buddy.

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!

Our memories are what keeps things alive & in our heart 4ever,Thank You 4 sharing!!

Interesting and enjoyable. Look forward to new videos👍💜👍

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.

Beautiful stories and beautiful pictures. Thank you

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!

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! ❤️✝️

GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU.

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!

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!

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!

A very enjoyable video. Thank you, Donnie. God 🙏 bless.

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! (=

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.

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.

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.

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.

I loved this! I'm from Pound Virginia and have lived in Iowa for the past 20 years. I cry for home every day.

I am from Tompkinsville ky Here by the Cumberland river. Love the old ⛴️ ferry boat I Love your stories..

Nice story. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks again for sharing, Donnie

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.

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.

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 ☺️

My favorite place in the world to visit. So calm there and beautiful.

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.

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!

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 ❤️🙏

This was an outstanding video. Thank you for putting this together. I’m going to visit for the first time in May 2024 and love seeing what it looked like in the past.

Love the old stories and photos!

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.

Thanks again Donnie.

Thank you for sharing! Stopped and toured this cave several times on our way to Tennessee.

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...

great shows keep up the good work love y'all shows be safe my friend

Beautiful Country, plan on going there sometime soon. Love the History Lesson that went with the video. Your an awesome historian Mr. Laws. Thanks for posting this.

Nice presentation. I remember passing it before the tunnel was built and regretting not having stopped there before the tunnel was built.

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.

im getting on in years now. its nice to be able to see these things. thank you & please keep up the great things you do

Absolutely love your stories. I took my son into cave in the 80's.

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.

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 🙏

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.

Loved the old pics! Blessings🙏🏻💖

Awesome Mr Laws.. My wife's family came from West Virginia.. the Hensley's. Quiet a robust bunch 😂. Love the mountains and cave's. We're blessed with a lot of both in NE Alabama.

Thank you so much Don for such a Great Story!!! Have a Very Blessed Day My Friend 😇💓

Thank you, Mr. Laws, for this interesting video. We are a bit late to watch this one, but my husband and I are cave enthusiasts and we found this video particularly interesting. We've put this cave on our future visit list. Thank you for putting these out, and God bless you and yours.

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.

Thank you so much for this fantastic video. We are visiting the cave this summer and really enjoyed hearing about the history of this location before the NPS took over.

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.

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.

There’s so much unique history in those mountains I honestly like listening to your videos! Thanks for sharing what you know to everybody!!

Donny, I’m on a 12 hour iv drip everyday and I want to tell you your videos make me very happy

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.

Thank you Donnie for bringing back some good memories. I grew up in corbin but left in 69. My uncle Sam needed me. Somehow life went on and I never returned except for short visits. I found your videos and enjoy them. Now I share them with my grandsons.

Another fantastic video, Donnie. You've made KZfaq worth watching. Been a lot of years since I heard Dr. Walker's name, but as a history buff, I look forward to your videos. Actually, if you really study history, you know there were three wars within the Civil War. The first is the one we all know, but the second, was because so much money was being funneled into the war by the union, that the union broke their promises to the native Americans, thus igniting another war. The third was when folks went into the mountains of Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, Virginia and tried to conscript young men into the Army. Families in these areas counted on every member of the family to pull their weight to keep the family unit going, so a third war was waged between the Union and the mountain people. Outside of Hazard, KY, there is a small town called Walker Town....named after Dr. Walker.

Donnie I live in flat lick ky about 32miles from the Cumberland gap. I was born and raised up on stinking creek I am sure you know were that is I am sixty four years old so I know this place very well. You do tell everything just like it was. Keep up the great work.

Oh wow cudjos caves I would love to go there or inside of it before it was a national park my dad went there as a kid wouldve loved to go in there love hearing about this history of it very interesting a lot of history definitely need to explore some more up there Donnie love the history way back

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 🇬🇧

Late 60's I visited with my parents as we traveled from Michigan to NC. Nice memory

Excellent story as always! GOD Bless

Wonderful

Thank you for reviving my memories of the past 🖖🏻

Love this video! I remember going through the cave. It’s absolutely gorgeous!

GOOD VIDEO--YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS AND PEOPLE OF APPALACHIA IS VERY GOOD.

Hope to check that out this summer

Thanks for sharing this beautiful and amazing history of the area! Love your storytelling style! Best wishes!

Great video again Mr Donnie, don't know how I missed this one. Appreciate ya again

Very interesting! Thanks Donnie

I grew up in Claiborne County, TN. Cudjo’s Cave was so fun!

I only discovered your videos recently but I love them as my mom's family ancestry is the Great Smoky mountains the Blue ridge and the area around Cumberland Gap we also have Cherokee and our family that lived there too