Since 1954, the Luray Caverns Wishing Well has been a source of hope for countless people. Over the decades, we’ve collected an estimated 40 million coins from visitors!
How do we do it? Once a year, crews drain the six-foot-deep pool to recover its treasure. Coins tumble in a cement mixer with sand and water before drying over a flame on a wire mesh screen. After that, they’re hand-sorted, counted, and bagged. Every cent goes into a special account dedicated to charitable giving.
Thanks to generous visitors, the Wishing Well has donated over $1.2 million to organizations such as the American Heart Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the American Cancer Society. In 1986, USA TODAY even recognized it as “probably the world’s most productive” wishing well.
Every coin tossed is more than just a wish — it’s a gift that makes a real difference.