The Lost Sea — America's largest underground lake

By Stephanie Edwards

With a history of housing the largest underground lake in America and miles of caverns, calling the Lost Sea a cave of wonders might be an understatement.

The Lost Sea is four and a half acres, making it America’s largest underground lake.

In 1905, 13-year-old Ben Sands discovered the Lost Sea, which was then known as Craighead Caverns.

Surrounded by darkness, he threw fistfuls of mud as far as he could in every direction attempting to determine the size of the body of water.

When Sands left the cave to tell people about his discovery, they did not believe him. The lake went undiscovered for 60 more years.

In 1915, the cave was opened to the public. A dance floor was installed in one of the large upper rooms.

Cock fights were also held in the cave.

Other parts of the cave were used for producing moonshine. Tours are given daily by guides who provide entertaining comments from the first steps through the cave to the last. Guides also point out interesting formations on the cave's ceiling, walls and floor.

One of the more unusual formations that is abundant in the cave is called anthodites, which are also known as “cave flowers” for their formation of spiky crystalline structures. After showing guests the cave's many natural wonders, the guide leads them to a glass bottom motorized boat.

The boat ride consists of floating through the 4-acre lake. The glass bottom boat allows guests to see some of North America's largest Rainbow Trout.

The Lost Sea is located 140 Lost Sea Road in Sweetwater, seven miles off I-75, exit #60.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the exception of Christmas Day when the attraction is closed.

Admission is $16.95 for adults and $7.95 for children ages 5-12.

“The Lost Sea is a great place for people in the Knoxville area to visit. It’s close to home so they don’t have to spend a lot of money on gas,” McClung said.

“Plus we have gem mining and a great nature trail that people seem to enjoy.”

For more information, call (423) 337-6616 or visit www.thelostsea.com.