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"Accomplishing something of great significance has its costs."
 
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- Gary Roberson

A caver since age 11 and a member of the ISS since 1966, Gary was one of the developers of Squire Boone Caverns and was part-owner and manager of Marengo Cave National Landmark for 28 years.

 
 

Gary Roberson's Bio

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Gary was born 1947 and raised in New Albany, Indiana. He crawled into his first cave on his first Boy Scout camping trip in 1958. He has loved and lived to go caving ever since.

  • 1965, Graduated New Albany High School
  • 1967 – Present, Began surveying in Binkley Cave system. Yes, that’s 48 years and counting (but I’m slowing down).
  • 1969, Graduated Vanderbilt University, Nashville Tennessee with Business Adminstration major
  • 1969 – 1974, Investment Analyst for Capital Holding Corporation Louisville, Ky. Graduated Life Officer’s Training School
  • 1971 – 1973, Developed Squire Boone Caverns with two others 1971-1973 (on weekends, nights and holidays) while working fulltime for Capital Holding.
  • 1973, Purchased Marengo Cave with three others
  • 1974 – 2001, Left Capital Holding to become manager and CEO of Marengo Cave National Landmark and Cave Country Canoes 1974-2001. Sold 50% interest September 2001.
  • 1980, Became a Christian in June
  • 1981, Present: Married Laura Lone and now enjoy 2 grown children, Troy and Amanda, and 3 grandchildren
  • 2002 – 2009, CFO at Noah’s Ark Children’s Village and Acting Executive Director
  • 2009 – 2012, Realtor at Schuler Bauer Real Estate with wife Laura
  • 2003 – 2012, Contemplated developing a part of the Binkley Cave system and actively pursued possibilities
  • 2007 – 2009, Wrote Fifty Years Under the Sinkhole Plain. A 400 page book on the exploration of the Binkley Cave system.
  • 2009, Binkley Cave survey reactivated by Dave Everton and cave length goes from 22.1 miles to 38.64 miles in only five years-9th longest in US and 40th longest in the world.
  • 2004, Actively pursued possibilities of developing Nichols Blowhole Cave near Nashville, Tennessee as Tennessee Caverns. Deal fell threw at the last minute over boundary line issue.
  • 2010, What was to be “Indiana Caverns” section of Binkley Cave discovered.
  • 2012, Binkley and Blowing Hole Caves connected to make Binkley a world-class cave system and decision made to pursue developing Indiana Caverns
  • 2012 – May 29th, Development started
  • 2013 – June 15th, Indiana Caverns opens for business
  • 2013 – 2014, Final touches on development were finished
  • 2013, Breakout of the discovery into the Wild Wild West section of Binkley Cave leads to speculation that Binkley could one day be a 100 mile long cave system and the longest cave in the US not owned by the federal government.

Awards and Offices Held

  • Eagle Scout
  • Fellow of the National Speleological Society
  • Past Grotto Treasurer and Vice-President
  • Vice President and Editor of the ISS
  • Director of Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Director of Crawford County Chamber of Commerce
  • President of Lincoln Hills-Patoka Lake Tourism Association
  • Indiana Tourism Development Division- private sector tourism professional of the year – 2000
  • Graduate of Leadership Southern Indiana.