1995年,被(bei)定(ding)為(wei)“國際溶洞協會探險基地”(全國僅二家),并被(bei)吸收(shou)為(wei)國際溶洞協會會員(全國僅三家)。
九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)因(yin)有(you)九(jiu)個天(tian)(tian)(tian)窗與洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)頂地面相(xiang)(xiang)通而得名。1987年山溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)探(tan)險(xian)勇士(shi)王(wang)海然(ran)(ran)發(fa)現,1988年正(zheng)式對游人開放,被列為省級風景(jing)名勝區,同年,經國際溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)組織(zhi)專家(jia)考察論證,認為九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)規模龐大(da),景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)獨(du)特,還有(you)一批溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)群沒有(you)開發(fa),適(shi)合開展探(tan)險(xian)考察,因(yin)而正(zheng)式接納九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)作為國際溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)組織(zhi)成員單位,同時確定九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)為國際溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)探(tan)險(xian)基地,九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)從(cong)此進入國際溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)世界,身(shen)價(jia)(jia)倍(bei)增(zeng)。經考察,發(fa)現洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)內(nei)有(you)古樹化石和其它溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)極少見的巖溶(rong)物質(zhi),不僅是難得的自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan),而且有(you)極高(gao)的科研(yan)價(jia)(jia)值。已經探(tan)明(ming)可供游覽的面積有(you)250公(gong)頃,號稱“亞洲第(di)一大(da)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)”。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口南(nan)側2.5公(gong)里(li)處,有(you)集自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)風光和濃郁民族風情于一體的風巒溪天(tian)(tian)(tian)然(ran)(ran)森林公(gong)園與之相(xiang)(xiang)依相(xiang)(xiang)襯;洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口東南(nan)向2公(gong)里(li)處,澧(li)水像條(tiao)銀色飄帶,蜿蜒(yan)流過。
九天(tian)洞(dong)總面積(ji)達250多萬平方米,分(fen)上、中、下三層,最底(di)層于地表(biao)420米。洞(dong)內有40個大廳、3條(tiao)陰(yin)河、12條(tiao)瀑(pu)布、5座自生橋、6處千(qian)丘田、3個自然湖。洞(dong)中石筍、石柱林立,石簾、石幔遍(bian)布。堆珍疊玉、千(qian)姿百態。九天(tian)洞(dong)被譽為中國溶洞(dong)奇葩。