The White Gravel Mines of Minford, Ohio began as a white quartz gravel mine (part of the geologic layer referred to as the

Sharon Conglomerate) from under the hills of south central Ohio at the beginning of the 20th century. Men used the power of dynamite and muscle to burrow out a living supplying the gravel and sand to the growing industrial needs of the region. The mines were worked through the 1970s after which they were abandoned and faded to memory except to the local kids and others drawn to their dark mystery. 

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State and county officials helped the owners seal the openings when “Hippies” took up residence in the mines. While this

eliminated permanent occupancy, young people and nefarious groups continued to find their way in.

 

In the spring of 2009, the property passed into the stewardship of White Gravel Mines Productions and was dedicated to the promotion of Gospel of Jesus Christ through unique and dramatic events offered free to the public.  The first annual production of “The Cavern of Choices” was presented in 2011. The drama reenacts teenage rendezvouses at the mines involving drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity and violence. Partly inspired by C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, the production presents a unique Christian perspective on the importance of good life decisions as well as consequences of bad ones. The free show attracts thousands of visitors with hundreds professing of its life-changing impact.

 

The Christmas Cave was first offered in 2016 and has quickly grown into our most visited event.  Tens of thousands have

made this unique telling of the Savior’s birth part of their annual Christmas tradition.  In 2021 the Easter Cave was added to tell the rest of the Lord’s Story focusing on his death, burial and resurrection as well as his acts as recorded in the Gospels.