No visit to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park would be complete without a cave tour. Cave guide, Khloe Everett invites us along to explore the caves from her point of view!
Meet Khloe Everett, Glenwood Caverns cave tour guide, filmmaker, and bona fide splunking enthusiast. With her bright blue helmet and even brighter personality, Khloe illuminates the darkness of the caves better than the carbide lighting on the Fairy Caves tour. A long-time Glenwood Springs local, Khloe brings a blend of storytelling, history, and humor to every tour she leads. Whether she’s spinning legends of dragons and giants or sharing geological fun facts, she makes each visit to Glenwood Caverns unforgettable for her guests. We caught up with Khloe for a lightning round of questions to get a peek into her world—below and above ground.
What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at the Park for your shift?
After navigating Glenwood Springs traffic, I hop on the Glenwood Gondola. I’ve lived here for 20 years, and Glenwood Canyon and South Canyon are still two of my favorite views in the world.
Do you have a favorite time of day to ride the gondola up or down the mountain?
Wintertime is my favorite season. When it’s snowing and you’re in the gondola, it feels magical. I especially love early evening rides when the sun is setting over South Canyon. I always tell guests, “If you want to see the caves and don’t mind a little chill, winter is the time to come.”
What’s your go-to fun fact or story to share?
I’m a local historian, so I love talking about Fairy Caves history—from 1895 to 1915. I cover Charles Darrow, who founded the caves. I also like to give a broader historical context of the time and include stories about Margaret “Molly” Brown (of Titanic fame), Baby Doe Tabor from Leadville, and the fun fact that Glenwood Springs was one of the first towns in Colorado to have electric lights!
How many tours do you typically give in a day?
I average six to eight tours per day. My record is nine!
What do most people not realize about working inside a cave all day?
How cold it is! The caves are 52˚ Fahrenheit year-round. I’m constantly moving between the cool cave air and the warm outdoors—so I’m either shivering or sweating. Honestly, I’m kind of a cave gremlin at this point.
Do you have a favorite spot in the cave or a section you love to talk about?
I’m a Wild Tour cave guide on Saturdays. You’ll often see me walking around covered in dirt with a neon blue helmet on my head. In the Drum Room, there’s a formation we call the Hippopotahorn. It’s a hippopotamus with a unicorn horn. He’s one of my favorite formations. The way he’s positioned, it looks like he’s eating a mouthful of cave bacon!
What’s one piece of cave trivia that always surprises guests?
Aragonite crystals! We have a tiny sample on King’s Row. It is extremely fine, delicate, and fragile. If you blow on it, it can break!
Do you have a favorite legend tied to the caves?
Absolutely—the story of the Giant and the Dragon! The legend is there was once a cave-dwelling dragon who got mad that a Giant was sleeping in his cave. He tried to blow his fiery hot breath all over the Giant but instead of fire, white ash came out because the cave is so humid. You can still see the Giant’s footprint on the wall.
What is it actually?
The kids love the story, but it’s actually a mixture of gypsum and calcite that cause the white coloring on the ceiling.
How do you keep your energy up?
Coffee, a sit-down lunch break, and—most importantly—my guests. Their excitement keeps me going. If my guests are super excited about the cave, I’m going to be super excited to tell them about the cave.
Are there any cave guide traditions that you keep?
I have a personal tradition: every morning I greet the caves. “Good morning, Fairy Caves! Good morning, King’s Row!” At the end of the day, I say goodnight. The caves are living. They breathe and grow, so I treat them with friendly reverence.
If you could tell every visitor one thing before their tour, what would it be?
If you’re into science, take the King’s Row Tour. If you love history, go with the Fairy Caves Tour. But honestly? Do both!
What’s your favorite Adventure Park ride?
The Giant Canyon Swing. I grew up going to the Park with my brother—we had season passes and would “hot lap” the ride all day. If you’re scared, just close your eyes and go for it!
When you’re not at the Park, what do you do for fun?
I’m a filmmaker! I specialize in Westerns and just finished a short film I wrote and directed called Bloom. It’ll be screening in Carbondale this November. Someday, I hope to make a film that features the caves!
Take a Cave Tour at Glenwood Caverns
From cave formations to filmmaking dreams, Khloe Everett brings a wealth of knowledge as well as plenty of heart and humor to everything she does. Ready to experience the magic of Glenwood Caverns for yourself? Book a cave tour with Khloe or one of the other fantastic guides and see why exploring beneath Iron Mountain is anything but underground.
