Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park: Round-the-Clock Care Behind One of PA’s Most Unique Attractions

• Asia Tabb
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

photo courtesy of Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park

Aired; April 10th, 2025.

Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park is one of Pennsylvania’s unique attractions. It’s the country’s only all-water cavern and farm-nature-wildlife attraction. Recently, Mark Watson, Executive General Director, and Jeanine Watson, Executive Business Director, joined Asia Tabb on The Spark to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to manage the cavern and wildlife.

Contrary to what many visitors might imagine, winter doesn’t mean downtime. “Maintenance is ongoing, all throughout the year,” Mark explained. “We shut down for January, and people think there’s a lot of time, but there’s not. We go through all the boats, refurbish them, check the buses, the grounds, the fences—everything.”

They average over 150 kids per day in May, so preparations have to be tight. And then there’s the weather. “It gets really cold—negative four without a wind-chill—and anybody who knows maintenance knows that’s when it’s hardest,” Mark added.

The cave’s preservation is a feat in itself. A dam system installed in the 1920s allows the team to control the water to some extent, crucial in protecting delicate limestone formations like soda straws and curtain drapes. “When the water rises, it’s like going through a funnel. It can break formations,” Jeanine explained. “The dam was originally built to generate hydroelectric power—one of the first in Central PA.”

The Watsons also manage a working centennial farm, raising crops to feed animals on-site—everything from bison and elk to wild Mustangs and Texas Longhorn cattle. “It’s actually more work than the cave,” Jeanine said.

Mark agreed: “365 days a year, we are feeding the animals and taking care of them because they can’t take care of themselves. It doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday.”

Penn’s Cave isn’t just unique because of the cave tours or wildlife. “There’s not many parks where you can fly in, land on a runway, get picked up and spend the day exploring,” Mark noted. “It’s family-oriented, and it’s all about fun.”

Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.