Cathedral Caverns State Park — Attraction in Grant

This place is absolutely 💯 breathtakingly gorgeous! Even the walking/ hiking trails all around are just amazing! There is no cost to just go and enjoy all the beautiful flowers, birds, and overall nature! You can even see the huge, and I do mean really huge opening/mouth of this spectacular cave without even paying a penny! The tour is well worth the price and the path is wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs & strollers! The guides are very friendly, knowledgeable & make the tour of this exciting cave very fun! These are some of the most beautiful stalagmites ( that are still growing daily) that I have ever seen! It's like a big cave full of sparkling ✨️ diamonds!! Don't touch any of the formations because they are all still growing !!!! ✨️ This has been one of my favorite memories ❤️ since getting out of the hospital with cancer surgery. I was still in recovery so the over one mile walk was not easy for me personally as I still had many drains coming out of my body the day I walked the entire tour. I still remember it very vividly because it got my mind off of my pain, feeling sad, and feeling sorry for myself. This place is magical ! Please book as fast as you can and buy your tickets for the tours in advance because they sell out all the time! My sister came all the way from Georgia to see this cave and all the tours were sold out ! We still had an amazing time there though!!! The gift shop is an amazing place all on its own! The prices for the gemstones are absolutely 💯 incredible!!! We had so much fun looking at all the copper wired citrine & Amethyst earrings and necklaces !!! I love the fill up your own bag of free range gems!!! They have some of the most beautiful large cathedral style Amethyst I have ever seen and I have purchased many of them here at unbelievable prices!!! This is a Must Goto Place!!! I love it so much I try & go as often as possible. There are even camp 🏕 grounds to stay the night! I had a good friend that stayed at the campground that ventured from Ohio to visit me & this Natural Wonder! Please don't miss this Spectacular Place if you even venture near the State of Alabama!!! This is a priceless memory !!! I rank it higher than when I visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris. ( in Paris it was so crowded,professional pick pocketers are everywhere and the 5 hour wait to go up into the Eiffel tower was horrendous and zero parking spaces) So please put Cathedral Caverns State Park on your " Must Do List" you will be so delighted that you did !!! Take lots of pictures!!!! And, enjoy this spacious, friendly & scenic...

A Cathedral Carved by Nature: A Review of Cathedral Caverns, Avery, Alabama

Cathedral Caverns isn't just a cave; it's a testament to the majesty of nature and the dedication of those who preserve it. Stepping into this subterranean wonderland is like entering another world, a cathedral sculpted by time and water, dripping with beauty and mystery.

The story begins even before you descend. Credit must be given to Jay Gurley, the cave's remarkable opener and extender. His curiosity and perseverance unlocked this hidden gem, allowing us all to marvel at its splendor. Thanks to his vision, Cathedral Caverns is not just a dark and forgotten place, but a place of wonder accessible to all.

The guided tour itself is an experience not to be missed. Our guide, though young, possessed a wealth of knowledge about the cave's history, geology, and unique formations. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and their explanations brought the caverns to life. It was clear they weren't just reciting facts, but sharing a genuine passion for this remarkable place.

As we ventured deeper, the cavern unfolded before us like a scene from a fantasy novel. Towering stalagmites reached for the heavens, while delicate stalactites hung like chandeliers, catching the light in a mesmerizing display. The formations themselves were breathtaking – columns, flowstones, and drapery formations, each whispering a story of eons past. The sheer scale of the caverns is awe-inspiring, leaving you feeling humbled by the power of nature.

But Cathedral Caverns isn't just about the grand spectacle. The delicate cave pearls, glistening like tiny gemstones, and the rimstone pools reflecting the light with an ethereal glow added a touch of intimacy to the vastness. The silence, broken only by the dripping of water and the hushed whispers of our group, added to the sense of reverence one feels in this sacred space.

The tour concluded all too soon, leaving us wanting more. Cathedral Caverns is more than just a cave; it's a place of peace, wonder, and a reminder of the beauty that lies hidden beneath the surface of our world. If you're looking for an experience that will touch your soul and leave you with lasting memories, Cathedral Caverns is a must-visit.

A special thanks to our guide for her foresight in preserving this natural wonder, and to our exceptional young guide, for sharing their knowledge and passion.

P.S. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket, as the temperature inside the cave remains...

Wonderful experience yesterday evening while checking in with camp host Mrs. Mary & Mr. Bruce! They made sure I had all the info I needed, gave me an overview, answered all questions, made sure I got to my site to set up camp and checked on everybody before settling in for the night. Bathrooms were phenomenal from what I expected. Nice so far. This morning’s camp hosts were friendly and checking on everybody first thing this morning while running errands. I would imagine that any camp host could ‘make your day’ or certainly ruin it, but they don’t seem to work here! I just got another visit while writing this review and so thankful for camp host crew that go above and beyond! I haven’t explored anything here yet after my arrival, but so far so good. And I’m gonna leave my mark #burnout nurse trip! UPDATE: Camp Hosts Mrs. Dianne & Mr. Mason were just as awesome and helpful! It was obvious that they had the same passion for their positions as my first camp hosts. I never ‘wanted for anything’ or wished the camp hosts were different in ANY way… That also goes for Mrs. Judy in the visitors center, who also verified all needs and was just as pleasant to deal with. AND then there was the tour: hands down, ask for Mr. Jason and you will have THE best time in your tour journey! He adapted to all the tourists needs, made everyone feel welcomed, encouraged questions and made it a fun laid back experience. I absolutely LUV everyone that I encountered and they made me feel like insta-family. You don’t find that in many places; rare gift. The only thing about Google suggestions/questions: Goggle kept asking me to answer questions about the park; like 3 times! One of the questions that stood out was “Is there a playground?” One of my insta-friends that was here before me told me there were many children running around playing at campsite during the weekend. When I got familiar and drove around, I didn’t see a playground for them….. I will say that Rickwood Cavern had a pretty cool playground and it was really busy when I went(even though the campground didn’t look that busy.) I didn’t have youngins traveling, so it didn’t matter to me, BUT if Google is asking me- it must be for a reason & I hope the park realizes that & will plan accordingly. Luv to my insta-fam, we must part ways. It’s...