Cathedral Caverns State Park

Cathedral Caverns State Park is a publicly owned recreation area and natural history preserve located in Kennamer Cove, Alabama, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Grant and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Woodville in Marshall County. The park's main feature, first known as Bats Cave, was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1950s. Cathedral Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972[3] and opened as a state park in 2000.[4]

For other areas named Cathedral Caverns, see Cathedral Cavern (disambiguation).
Cathedral Caverns State Park
Location in Alabama
Cathedral Caverns State Park (the United States)
LocationMarshall, Alabama, United States
Coordinates34°34′24″N 86°13′20″W
Area461 acres (187 ha)[1]
EstablishedSignificant dates[2]
OperatorAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
WebsiteCathedral Caverns State Park
DesignatedJune 1972

Description

Cathedral Caverns is a karst cave with a large stalagmite forest covering approximately 3 acres (1.2 ha). The public portion of the cave extends along 8-foot-wide (2.4 m) wheelchair-accessible, concrete walkways for approximately 3,500 feet (1,100 m) and has some 2 miles (3.2 km) of paths; another 2,700 feet (820 m) extend beyond the end of the pathway.[5] Some 11,000 feet (3,400 m) have been surveyed and explored; only experienced cavers are allowed to go beyond the developed trail.[1] The cave system laid claim to many world records in its commercial heyday though their accuracy has been disputed.[6]

Cathedral Cavern Entrance 2019
Cathedral Cavern Interior 2019
Features

Notable features of the caverns include:

  • an entrance measuring 25 feet (7.6 m) tall and 128 feet (39 m), believed to be the world's widest entrance to a commercial cave;[4]
  • the column known as Goliath, one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet (14 m) tall and 243 feet (74 m) in circumference;[4]
  • a large flowstone "waterfall", 32 feet (9.8 m) tall and 135 feet (41 m) long;
  • an "improbable" stalagmite, only 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter at its base and rising at a 45-degree angle from a rock formation to the cave ceiling 25 feet (7.6 m) above;[5]
  • The Big Room, 792 feet (241 m) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide;
  • Mystery River, which flows through the cavern and due to limited outflow may cause flooding after heavy rain.[5]

History

Archaeological excavations at the mouth of Cathedral Caverns have indicated occupation by Native Americans as recently as 200 years ago and perhaps as early as 7000 BCE.[5]

The area around the caverns was settled by the Kennamer family and became known as Kennamers Cove. During the Civil War, the Kennamer family lived in the cave for an extended period of time after their farmhouse was burned down by Union soldiers.

The cave was maintained as a tourist attraction by Jacob "Jay" Gurley from 1955 to 1974. It was sold at auction in 1975 to Tom German, who in turn sold it to the State of Alabama in 1987. After funding delays, the state began restoration work in 1995. The cavern was re-opened to the public as Cathedral Caverns State Park in May 2000.[2]

Awards

In September 2020, Cathedral Caverns State Park was one of eleven Alabama State Parks awarded Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.[7]

Activities and amenities

The park offers cave tours, gem mining, and facilities for picnicking.[4] The park has improved and primitive campsites and a single backcountry camping site.[8]

The caverns appear in two motion pictures: in 1983, principal photography for the horror film Secrets of the Phantom Caverns took place there;[9] and in 1995, they provided cave settings for the Disney film Tom and Huck.[2]

References
  1. "Cathedral Caverns" (PDF). Alabama State Parks. May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  2. Ress, Thomas V. "Cathedral Caverns State Park". The Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  3. "Cathedral Caverns". National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  4. "Cathedral Caverns State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  5. Rainer, David (October 2008). "Cathedral Caverns Inspire Awe" (PDF). Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 18, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  6. Duckeck, Jochen. "Cathedral Caverns: Bat Cave". Show Caves of the World. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  7. "TRIP ADVISOR AWARDS 2020". Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. "Camping: Cathedral Caverns State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  9. "Gas blamed for illness, panic on set: Caves are being used to shoot sci-fi flick". Miami Herald. August 23, 1983. p. 3B. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
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