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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
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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
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the end of the pathway. Some 11,000 feet (3,400 m) have been surveyed and explored; only experienced cavers are allowed to go beyond the developed trail. The cave system laid claim to many world records in its commercial heyday though their accuracy has been disputed.
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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;
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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;
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The park offers cave tours, gem mining, and facilities for picnicking as well as improved, primitive, and backcountry camping sites.
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244:. The park, first known as Bats Cave, was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1950s. Cathedral Caverns was declared a
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360:’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.
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The area around the caverns was settled by the
Kennamer family and became known as Kennamers Cove. During the
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Mystery River, which flows through the cavern and due to limited outflow may cause flooding after heavy rain.
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The caverns appear in two motion pictures: in 1983, principal photography for the horror film
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In
September 2020, Cathedral Caverns State Park was one of eleven Alabama State Parks awarded
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Archaeological excavations at the mouth of
Cathedral Caverns have indicated occupation by
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is a 493-acre (200 ha) public recreation area and natural history preserve in
626:"Gas blamed for illness, panic on set: Caves are being used to shoot sci-fi flick"
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606:. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. September 3, 2020
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489:. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from
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The Big Room, 792 feet (241 m) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide;
311:"waterfall", 32 feet (9.8 m) tall and 135 feet (41 m) long;
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took place there; and in 1995, they provided cave settings for the
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as recently as 200 years ago and perhaps as early as 7000 BCE.
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426:. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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521:. Alabama State Parks. May 2009. Archived from
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30:For other areas named Cathedral Caverns, see
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1211:Protected areas of Marshall County, Alabama
933:Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
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348:Cathedral Caverns State Park in May 2000.
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293:Notable features of the caverns include:
151:1987 (state purchase); 2000 (park opened)
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236:and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of
1246:Landforms of Marshall County, Alabama
1236:National Natural Landmarks in Alabama
918:Little River Canyon National Preserve
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27:State park in Alabama, United States
1241:Former populated places in Alabama
450:National Natural Landmarks Program
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928:Pinhoti National Recreation Trail
32:Cathedral Cavern (disambiguation)
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1226:Show caves in the United States
1216:Archaeological sites in Alabama
1160:Mobile-Tensaw Delta-W L Holland
896:National Wild and Scenic Rivers
584:. Alabama Humanities Foundation
480:"Cathedral Caverns Inspire Awe"
284:Cathedral Cavern Interior 2019
154:
138:
578:"Cathedral Caverns State Park"
478:Rainer, David (October 2008).
420:"Cathedral Caverns State Park"
379:Secrets of the Phantom Caverns
276:Cathedral Cavern Entrance 2019
201:U.S. National Natural Landmark
1:
634:. August 23, 1983. p. 3B
549:"Cathedral Caverns: Bat Cave"
656:Cathedral Caverns State Park
226:Cathedral Caverns State Park
75:Cathedral Caverns State Park
42:Cathedral Caverns State Park
582:The Encyclopedia of Alabama
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881:Dugger Mountain Wilderness
604:"Trip Advisor Awards 2020"
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1177:
1142:Wildlife Management Areas
1009:Confederate Memorial Park
805:National Wildlife Refuges
246:National Natural Landmark
219:
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364:Activities and amenities
248:in 1972 and opened as a
94:Marshall County, Alabama
752:Birmingham Civil Rights
553:Show Caves of the World
452:. National Park Service
260:Cathedral Caverns is a
143:493 acres (200 ha)
1206:State parks of Alabama
285:
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230:Kennamer Cove, Alabama
910:Other protected areas
283:
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124:34.57333°N 86.22222°W
528:on February 10, 2012
300:the column known as
156:Administered by
1084:Tannehill Ironworks
923:Natchez Trace Trail
795:William B. Bankhead
516:"Cathedral Caverns"
446:"Cathedral Caverns"
424:Alabama State Parks
129:34.57333; -86.22222
120: /
81:Location in Alabama
744:National Monuments
734:Tuskegee Institute
716:and Historic Sites
372:In popular culture
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170:Alabama state park
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1039:Lake Guntersville
984:Cathedral Caverns
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938:Weeks Bay Reserve
886:Sipsey Wilderness
876:Cheaha Wilderness
853:Watercress Darter
843:Mountain Longleaf
547:Duckeck, Jochen.
496:on March 18, 2010
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18:Cathedral Caverns
16:(Redirected from
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1221:Caves of Alabama
1074:Rickwood Caverns
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868:Wilderness areas
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650:External links
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1150:Cahaba River
1122:Little River
1064:Oak Mountain
1044:Lake Lurleen
983:
974:Blue Springs
818:Cahaba River
762:Russell Cave
636:. Retrieved
631:Miami Herald
629:
620:
610:September 4,
608:. Retrieved
598:
586:. Retrieved
581:
558:November 16,
556:. Retrieved
552:
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530:. Retrieved
523:the original
510:
500:November 16,
498:. Retrieved
491:the original
486:
454:. Retrieved
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428:. Retrieved
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389:Tom and Huck
387:
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225:
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1107:Choccolocco
1034:Joe Wheeler
961:State Parks
902:Sipsey Fork
456:February 1,
430:January 10,
358:Tripadvisor
256:Description
166:Designation
148:Established
127: /
102:Coordinates
1200:Categories
1155:Lauderdale
1089:Wind Creek
1059:Monte Sano
848:Sauta Cave
813:Bon Secour
588:October 5,
396:References
344:soldiers.
266:stalagmite
262:karst cave
250:state park
208:Designated
115:86°13′20″W
112:34°34′24″N
1049:Lakepoint
1004:Chickasaw
833:Fern Cave
785:Talladega
338:Civil War
309:flowstone
252:in 2000.
238:Woodville
211:June 1972
1132:Weogufka
999:Chewacla
838:Key Cave
790:Tuskegee
638:July 19,
532:March 9,
307:a large
289:Features
90:Location
1019:Florala
858:Wheeler
828:Eufaula
823:Choctaw
780:Conecuh
705:Federal
697:Alabama
325:History
302:Goliath
176:Website
1117:Geneva
1054:Meaher
1014:DeSoto
994:Cheaha
384:Disney
352:Awards
1127:Macon
1112:Hauss
952:State
526:(PDF)
519:(PDF)
494:(PDF)
483:(PDF)
386:film
342:Union
234:Grant
1029:Gulf
640:2013
612:2020
590:2014
560:2012
534:2014
502:2012
458:2017
432:2023
140:Area
1185:web
695:of
240:in
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568:^
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20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
