National Speleological Society
Department of the President
July 23, 2007
Cumberland Caverns: Roy Davis, who was the majority shareholder at Cumberland for the past 50 years, sold his interest in the cave to a former guide, Jim Herschend. Jim is the oldest son of Jack Herschend who is the owner of such attractions as Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Stone Mountain Georgia, etc. Jim and Jack are also longtime cave explorers from the days when Marvel Cave in Branson was their only business. A new Board of Directors has been formed by the Herschends to operate the cave. The Board consists of Jim and Jack plus Roy Davis and Ed Yarbrough, a caver and Nashville attorney. I was asked to fill the final spot on the Board and since I always wanted to be involved in the management of four show caves and not just three, I accepted. I could write many pages concerning the problems confronting Cumberland Caverns, mainly because of past management mistakes, but the cave couldn't be in better hands and there is hope for the future. Certainly money will not be an issue.
