A Day At The Museum

Bolling On Hand For Unveiling Of New Attraction At Luray Caverns

LURAY - After years of planning, local and state leaders joined Luray Caverns officials Saturday morning to formally open the Luray Valley Museum, one of the region's newest tourist attractions.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke of his love for the caverns and the importance of tourism in Virginia.

"Tourism is big business," said Bolling, who first visited the caverns in 1967 when he was 14. "I want to celebrate that." Tourism in the commonwealth is a $4.4 billion business, Bolling said, adding that it has a $59 million impact on Page County.

The official unveiling of the museum coincided with the Luray Caverns' Discovery Day, which celebrated the 132nd anniversary of the popular attraction, which draws about 500,000 visitors each year.

The museum, which had a soft opening in April, tells the stories of the people of the Shenandoah Valley. It features a collection of restored buildings from the 1800s and includes a variety of decorative arts, tools, literature and other artifacts.

Rod Graves, vice president of Luray Caverns and founder of the museum, said the idea for the attraction was sparked by his fascination with the people and culture around him.

Over the years, Graves said, the museum has acquired a variety of artifacts from local residents. "Together, we have a great story to share," he said during the ceremony.

Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, also attended the ceremony. "Luray Caverns remains a bright shining beacon and ... a magnet for tourism in the Shenandoah Valley," Gilbert said.

While Graves and his brother, John Graves, president of Luray Caverns, were there to see their work come to fruition, their father, Ted Graves, was not.

The 87-year-old died July 8. He served as president of the caverns from 1952 to 2008. The Graves family dedicated Saturday's event in memory of Ted Graves.

"It's been hard not having him here today," said Rod Graves, adding he knows his father would be proud of the sons' achievements.