When summer days turn hot, it encourages folks to seek out cool places to visit. One of the coolest place during a summer in the Southeast, at year ‘round 60-degrees, is located at one of America's most popular cave sites: Alabama's Cathedral Caverns State Park, located in Northern Alabama, in Marshall County, near the town of Woodville. Its refreshing, inviting interior temperature encourages visitors to stop by year 'round. Cathedral Caverns State Park is located in a community known as Kennamer Cove and lays claim to several world records, including that of featuring the widest cave entry in the world at 128-feet wide by 25-feet tall. It also claims the largest cave column in the world, called Goliath, measuring 243-feet around by 25-feet in height. It is known for having the largest “flow stone wall” at 135-feet long by 32-feet high. Cathedral Caverns also is known for the most “improbable cave formation,” a three-inch stalagmite rising at a 45-degree angle from a rock formation to the cave's ceiling 25-feet above. Finally, its Big Room is 792-feet long by 200-feet wide.
Cathedral Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972 and opened as a state park in 2000. Formerly known as Bat Cave, it became an Alabama state park after first being a tourist attraction during the 1950's. Explored thus far are more than 11,000-feet of surveyed caverns with the public portion extending some 3,500-feet, with two miles of pathways. Formerly inaccessible portions, beyond the paved pathways, are now open and known as part of the “Wild Cave Tour.” A Mystery River flows through the caverns that has with limited outflow. During heavy rains, this area is known for flooding. Cathedral Caverns' paved pathways are ADA accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Cathedral Caverns has been occupied by man since Prehistoric times. Archeological excavations indicate that it was occupied by Native American Indians as recently as 200-years ago, and has possibly been used going back as early as 7,500-BCE. The area that includes the caverns was settled by the Kennamer Family and became known as Kennamer's Cove. During the American Civil War, the Kennamer farmhouse was destroyed by Union troops, burnt to the ground. The family reputedly took refuge in the cave for an extended length of time afterwards. Cathedral Caverns is known as a “karst” cave system, meaning it is composed of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum: all soluble rocks. These are found characteristically in underground drainage systems.
“Inside the cavern, you will find Big Rock Canyon, Mystery River and some of the most beautiful formations.” [Photo/Alabama State Parks]
Located at 637 Cave Road, Woodville, Ala, 35779, Cathedral Caverns Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. until the last tour comes out after 4:30 p.m. Day use areas of the state park are open from sun-up to sun-down. Park officials offer gem mining, picnicking, improved camping and tent camping. One backcountry camp is also available. Call (256) 728-8193 for information or visit www.AlaPark.com. The gemstone mining activity, especially popular with youngsters, has them going through a purchased bag or bucket of mining dirt seeded either with rough cut gemstones or fossils. The dirt is sifted through running water in a special flue. A gemstone identification display makes found stones easy to identify. School children arrive here by the busload to learn about the cave, its systems, and history.
Cathedral Caverns State Park offers renovated campsites, along with primitive, backcountry tent camping areas with improvements planned for the future. There is a bathhouse nearby with hot showers. There are two large picnic pavilions near the park Welcome Center. The improved campsites offer 30/50 amp hookups with water. There is no sewer available. The cost is $20 plus taxes per night. There are no reservations and no minimum nights. Primitive sites offer drive up availability, with fire rings at most sites. The cost is $13 plus taxes. There is not a dump site available at this time. There is a one-time $4.50 registration fee charged for all campsites. Discounts are offered for those 62 and older. Disabled discounts are 10% off, March through October. On Sunday through Thursday, a camping fee discount of 15% is offered, November through February. There are no discounts available at group rates or for special packages.
Judy Holderfield, Cathedral Caverns facility manager says, “There's not a lot of RV parking, but if they have to park a little ways away, we shuttle them in. We also plan to make camping better with future improvements.” Holderfield also notes that Cathedral Caverns stays busy. She says, “Pretty much year 'round we accommodate guests. In summer, we get a lot of vacationers; while in late fall and early spring there are school field trips. In winter, the Snow Birds stop to see the caverns and during the holidays, when a lot of people are on the road, we get that traffic too.”
AlaParks Gift Cards, which pay for recreational activities, are available at 20 of Alabama's 22 state parks and pays for such amenities as golfing, lodging, food, and camping. They can be purchased on site or call 1-800-ALAPARK for more information.
Additional camping can be found nearby at Crawford RV Park in Scottsboro. Crawford RV Park is at 4320 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, Ala., 35769. It is recently under new management, taken over by new Proprietors, Travis and Brandy Hooper. Travis says, “It is a quiet campground where we accept RV's, but not tents.” They recently acquired the property about three months ago. The park is conveniently situated in the Cathedral Caverns area. Travis reports he has 25-sites with full hook-ups, 30/50 amp service and free WiFi. Scottsboro is a popular city where there is an Unclaimed Baggage Center on West Willow Street where shoppers find a treasure trove of all kinds of items for sale.
Another camping spot is at Parnell Creek RV Park, roughly 3 miles from Cathedral Caverns at 115 Parnell Circle, Woodville, Ala, 35776. An unusual feature of this campground is its salt water swimming pool. Campground management says, “It's better for your skin and kids can open their eyes under water. Great on hot summer days!” A full amenities park, there are 30/50 amp hookups with water, a four-unit bathhouse with showers, and sinks and toilets (one of which is ADA accessible). The park also features an outdoor pavilion, clubhouse, playground with swings and slide “fort”, a mini-golf course, fenced dog park, and fitness and tanning center. Furthermore, you will find WiFi, tables, grills and a dump station with on-site laundry facilities. Propane and ice are available. Parnell Creek RV Park's motto is, “Where friends become family.” They also offer a Parnell Creek Frequent Camping Card, good for a year, giving $49 savings off nightly rates.
Also nearby is Mountain Lakes Resort, just under eight miles away; South Sauty Creek Resort in Langston, Ala, which is 7.82 miles away; Little Mountain Camping Resort, reportedly 8 miles away; and Goose Pond Colony, which is also about 8 miles distant from Cathedral Caverns.
Alabama, Destinations, Education, Environmental Issues, Outdoors