Cathedral Caverns State Park

Geobox|Protected area
name = Cathedral Caverns State Park
category =
category_iucn = III


caption =
country = United States
country_

state = Alabama
state_

state_type = State
region = Jackson
region_type = County
city_type = City
city = Woodville, Alabama
lat_d = 34
lat_m = 34
lat_s = 0
lat_NS = N
long_d = 86
long_m = 13
long_s = 0
long_EW = W
area = 1.87
established = 1987
map_locator = Alabama


governing_body = Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
website =

Cathedral Caverns State Park is located within Woodville, Alabama city limits. The cave was first developed as an attraction by Jay Gurley in the late 1950s.

The Cathedral Caverns entrance opening measures 128 feet (39.0 m) wide and 25 feet (7.6 m) high. The Caverns is approximately 11,000+ feet (3,350 m+) surveyed and explored cave with 8 feet (2.44 m) wide concrete walkways that are wheelchair accessible.

Inside the cavern, stalagmites, stalactites and one of, if not the World's largest stalagmite, called Goliath, that reaches the ceiling of the cave some 45 feet (13.72 m) above.

Mr. Gurley maintained the cave as a tourist attraction from 1959 to 1974. The cave was sold in 1975 at an auction. The State of Alabama bought the cave in 1987 with the intent to reopen the site as a state park. After funding delays, restoration work actually began in 1995. In May 2000, the Cavern re-opened to the public.

In 1995, Cathedral Caverns provided the cave settings for the Disney Studios film Tom and Huck .

Archaeological excavations at the mouth of Cathedral Caverns have indicated occupation by Native Americans 2,000 years ago, and perhaps as early as 8000 B.C.

External links

* [http://www.alapark.com/parks/park.cfm?parkid=2 Alabama State Parks - Cathedral Caverns]
* [http://www.showcaves.com/english/usa/showcaves/CathedralAL.html Critical assessment of World Record Claims]
* [http://home.hiwaay.net/~woodplb/cave.htm More Cave History]