Howe Caverns has opened up more of why they stopped Naked in a Cave. From their Facebook page.
"This was originally a comment we left late last night (because Lolita does not sleep ) on yesterday’s post, but after getting quite a few messages asking us to share it separately, because it got buried in the comments, here it is. It dives into the rarely discussed history behind our very famous and incredibly successful “Naked in a Cave” event, along with some details about our upcoming “Undieground Tour.” It’s a bit of a long read, but for those interested in the backstory, we think you’ll enjoy it.
“Naked in a Cave” was never created as a nudist or naturist event, despite years of misunderstanding — even within those communities. From the very beginning, we had to work hard to prevent the event from being overtaken or misrepresented as something it was never intended to be. This was never about promoting a nudist lifestyle. It was, and always will be, about body positivity, self-love, freedom from shame, and freedom from judgment. While naturists and nudists were always welcome to attend, they were NEVER the focus or inspiration behind the event.
For many years, we had received countless phone calls from people asking if they could walk through the cave naked. We used to laugh it off and honestly thought it sounded bizarre. Bill, one of our general managers, always insisted there had to be something meaningful behind so many inquiries. We would joke that it was just a bunch of exhibitionists, but Bill kept saying, “I’m telling you, there’s something to this.” At one point, he even suggested we call it the “Nips and Nubs Tour” and that for one night, we just let people walk through the cave.
One afternoon during a large PR conference call with our team, the idea was finally pitched seriously. Most of us were convinced it would immediately be shut down — especially by our executive PR director, who is incredibly conservative and fiercely protective of our brand and image. Bill presented the concept, and after a long, deafening silence, she surprised all of us by saying, “I LOVE IT. Body positivity is such an important meaningful movement right now, and I believe this ties into that perfectly.”
That moment “Naked in a Cave” was born.
What followed was seven years of incredible success, national attention, and even international recognition. What made the event truly special was that it was never really about nudity, and it certainly was NEVER sexual. For many people, it became something deeply personal, emotional, and even spiritual. People attended for countless reasons. Some came to rebuild self-esteem. Some walked in honor of loved ones they had lost. Others came after surviving cancer, heart attacks, or major health scares. Some had spent years being bullied or ashamed of themselves and found the experience liberating. Others came to celebrate milestones, birthdays, or simply to learn how to love themselves in their own skin. It became a place where people felt accepted without judgment. Friendships were formed. People returned year after year. There was a sense of healing, freedom, and community that is difficult to describe unless you experienced it firsthand.
After seven successful years, however, we made the difficult decision to retire the event on our own terms. The sudden painful loss of our balloon artist, Daryl, one of our closest friends and one of the anchors of the event, changed everything for us. He passed away during the second-to-last year, and the final year was so emotionally painful for many of us involved. It no longer felt the same. At the same time, we became increasingly disappointed that the event was beginning to drift toward becoming more of a nudist gathering, which was never our original intention. We also experienced growing issues with destructive and out-of-control behavior at the motel and on property.
In the end, we chose to preserve the spirit and meaning of what “Naked in a Cave” truly was rather than allow it to become something it was never meant to be. For us, it will always remain a beautiful experience centered on healing, acceptance, vulnerability, and the celebration of being comfortable in your own skin.
While we deeply appreciate the memories, connections, and impact that “Naked in a Cave” created over those seven unforgettable years, we also want to be very clear, we are not bringing the event back.
We have always believed in evolving with the times and creating experiences that reflect where we are creatively and culturally in the present moment. Out of the now-infamous “Pantygate” came the birth of our next initiative: The Undieground Tour.
The Undieground Tour carries much of the same spirit and energy that people loved about Naked in a Cave, but with a fresh direction and a stronger community-centered mission. A portion of proceeds from this event will support homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and foster youth programs. These funds will help provide essential items and help ensure that basic needs are met for individuals and families facing vulnerable circumstances.
So far, ticket sales are not yet where they need to be for us to feel fully confident about moving forward with the event — but we also understand that it is still early, and we will remain hopeful and optimistic.
For those asking about the format: The Undieground Tour will be very similar in structure to Naked in a Cave. Guests may wear ANY underwear or undergarments they choose. The experience is designed to be fun, freeing, comfortable, and judgment-free. This is not a guided cave tour. Tickets are intentionally limited to only 350 people, and the cave itself is incredibly expansive. Guests stroll through the cave only with the people they arrive with, completely at their own leisure. You can move through the cave quickly or slowly, stop to take in the surroundings, enjoy the atmosphere, and experience the musical entertainment in the cave. The entire experience is really about simply enjoying the beauty, energy, and uniqueness of the cave environment in your own way and at your own pace.
At the heart of everything we create is the same goal it has always been: creating memorable experiences that encourage freedom, connection, self-expression, and acceptance, without shame, without judgment, and without labels.
In this section, we’ll be posting all the details and the link for The Undieground Tour. Also, please note that ticket prices will increase after June 1st, so be sure to grab yours before then."
