The above cavern is also known as "Veiled Lady Cavern". It is located in Hidden Lake Park, Gregg Township, Centre County, PA. The entrance to the park and glen is about 600 feet from old State Highway, route number 95 (I believe this to be Brush Valley Road). G. Edward Haupt of Bellefonte, PA was the manager and sole owner. Haupt had purchased the F. P. Duck farm on which the cave was located in 1928.
The name "Veiled Lady" was given to the cave over 220 years ago by the first settlers who came into the valley from the legend of the Veiled Lady (17 year old Lady Patricia McCochran) who was turned to stone by a rejected lover (Chief Strongheart) as she sat in the entrance of the cave. Chief Strongheart had poisoned himself and was found dead in "Hidden Lake" in the belly of the cave. They had planned to elope into Canada as her parents would not approve of this union. The perfect form of a lady hangs on the wall at the very entrance to the cave, her face and body is covered with a veil of marble white stalactite against a black limestone wall, standing out prominent and majestic and being in a perfect state of preservation.
The cave measures 550 feet from end to end. |
