1995年(nian),被定為“國際(ji)溶洞協會探(tan)險基(ji)地”(全(quan)(quan)國僅二家(jia)),并被吸收(shou)為國際(ji)溶洞協會會員(全(quan)(quan)國僅三家(jia))。
九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)因有(you)(you)九(jiu)(jiu)個天(tian)窗(chuang)與洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)頂地面(mian)相通而得名。1987年(nian)山溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)探(tan)險(xian)勇士(shi)王(wang)海然(ran)(ran)發(fa)現,1988年(nian)正式對游(you)人開(kai)放,被列為(wei)省級風景名勝區,同(tong)年(nian),經(jing)(jing)國際(ji)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)組織(zhi)專家考察論證,認(ren)為(wei)九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)規模龐大,景觀獨特,還有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)批溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)群沒(mei)有(you)(you)開(kai)發(fa),適合開(kai)展探(tan)險(xian)考察,因而正式接納(na)九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)作為(wei)國際(ji)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)組織(zhi)成(cheng)員單位,同(tong)時確定九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)為(wei)國際(ji)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)探(tan)險(xian)基地,九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)從此進入(ru)國際(ji)溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)世界,身價倍增(zeng)。經(jing)(jing)考察,發(fa)現洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)內有(you)(you)古樹化(hua)石和(he)其(qi)它溶(rong)(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)極(ji)少見(jian)的(de)巖溶(rong)(rong)(rong)物質,不僅是(shi)難(nan)得的(de)自(zi)然(ran)(ran)景觀,而且有(you)(you)極(ji)高的(de)科研價值。已經(jing)(jing)探(tan)明(ming)可供游(you)覽的(de)面(mian)積有(you)(you)250公(gong)頃(qing),號稱“亞洲第一(yi)(yi)大洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)”。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口南(nan)(nan)側2.5公(gong)里處(chu),有(you)(you)集自(zi)然(ran)(ran)風光和(he)濃郁民族風情(qing)于一(yi)(yi)體(ti)的(de)風巒溪天(tian)然(ran)(ran)森林公(gong)園與之相依(yi)相襯;洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口東南(nan)(nan)向(xiang)2公(gong)里處(chu),澧水像條銀色飄帶(dai),蜿(wan)蜒流過。
九(jiu)天洞(dong)總面積達250多萬(wan)平方(fang)米,分上、中(zhong)、下三層(ceng),最底層(ceng)于(yu)地表420米。洞(dong)內有40個大廳、3條陰河(he)、12條瀑布、5座自生橋、6處千丘田(tian)、3個自然湖。洞(dong)中(zhong)石(shi)(shi)筍、石(shi)(shi)柱林立,石(shi)(shi)簾、石(shi)(shi)幔(man)遍布。堆珍(zhen)疊玉(yu)、千姿百態。九(jiu)天洞(dong)被(bei)譽為中(zhong)國溶(rong)洞(dong)奇葩。