SIMS CAVE PARK — Attraction in Gardendale

This was the most epic experience my 13 year old son and I had done together. I have done my own cave exploration and cave guided tours all over the states. I really wanted to do a real experience in a cave instead of handrails and lights but in a safer setting then what I did in my younger risk free days lol. Don’t get me wrong - I was blown away by the time we were on this adventure and the freedom to explore and challenge ourselves in and out of our comfort zones. Wes was super knowledgeable and could tell he was really into and passionate about the cave. My son said he wanted to see a bat and some salamanders and he sure did, even held the bat up close and personal! And thank you Wes for the knee and elbow pads, headlamps with fresh batteries, and helmets- so thankful for those)So my opinion is I would do a few things differently- I wouldn’t have taken my small pack, truck keys, or my waterproof armband with phone (if you bring your phone, make certain it is waterproof lol) But….. I did like taking photos myself, however when I got the ones from Wes there wasn’t anything I missed - he takes lots of pictures for everyone! I think it was a ton of fun and my son was able to squeeze through a place the rest of us couldn’t so I was impressed he did! Caves are cold, yes, water is cold, correct and in caves and water will make you cold, but totally worth it. The hours blurred by I couldn’t believe we were down there that long! If you are looking for a crazy long adventure you aren’t going to be disappointed. So for myself doing this hobby long before my son was born and doing over 4 other caves this past year, I had a blast and nothing I have done compared to this trip. Thank you Wes for searing a beautiful memory in our hearts. I hope my son never forgets this adventure, I...

Absolutely one of my all time favorite experiences! Judging based off the entrance, being non-descriptive and hidden, you wouldn’t expect much but man this was an adventure to take at least once in your lifetime; bucket list trip for sure. I have nearly no experience caving so this is doable for someone that is in good shape and not claustrophobic. I am 18 5’10” 180 pounds and this was more than doable for me, my dad went with me and he is the same height but 200 pounds. There are some very tight spots that are not for the faint hearted. We were down there for over 5 hours and by the end we were all pretty tired out so bring your endurance. There are some “challenges” that are scattered throughout the cave that are even harder than the routes taken on the main trip, so we were all entertained the entire time. Wes and his son are the only people I would want taking me on an adventure like this, they were totally awesome and very helpful! Wes is very knowledgeable in this field and he kept us with smiling faces all the way through. 10/10 I have recommended it to numerous people that are close to me and I will be back again in the future. We drove 3 hours just to do this one thing and it was 100% worth it. Definetly very challenging and not for those who don’t like tight spaces. You will get wet! I won’t post too many videos in the description because I don’t want to spoil it....

Adventure is an understatement - this was the absolute most exhilarating experience of ours to date! I took my wife on a cave tour as an early Valentine’s Day gift. We were the only ones present on this particular day, but there could have been a small group with us. We met Wes (owner and guide) and immediately knew we were in good hands. He is so passionate about the cave and sharing the beauty/adventure with others. We made sure to have our closed toe shoes with us along with a full change of clothes (we stupidly forgot to bring another pair of shoes to drive home in - don’t be like us). We brought a small backpack, but didn’t need it - Wes put our cell phone in his dry pack for us so we could take our own photos (but note that Wes takes several excellent photos throughout so it’s not entirely necessary). We weren’t sure if they would be necessary, but they definitely were - prepare to get soaked and dirty! Upon entering the cave, it felt like a natural museum - so much to look at and explore (bats included, this time of year). As we proceeded, more adventure was required of us. We quickly realized being a bit overweight and out of shape would be working against us, but wouldn’t preclude us from having a good time. Wes was great at helping us work through our fears and provide answers to our hundreds of questions. Highly recommended to anyone looking for...