Cathedral Caverns, Alabama

Frozen Waterfall, Cathedral Caverns, Alabama

A portion of the world's largest frozen waterfalls, 100,000,000 years old. Featuring the 7 greatest wonders In the world.

postmarked with US Buffalo Bill Cody 15 cent stamp in 1989

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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. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in June 1972.

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 especially where the vicious Injun Joe (Eric Schweig) falls into an enormous chasm.

Cathedral Caverns holds six world records:

(1) Cathedral Caverns has the widest entrance of any commercial cave in the world. It is 25 feet tall and 128 feet wide.

(2) Cathedral Caverns is home to "Goliath"--the largest stalagmite in the world. It measures 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumstance.

(3) Cathedral Caverns has the largest flow stone wall, which is 32 feet tall and 135 feet long.

(4) Cathedral Caverns is known for the largest "frozen" waterfall.

(5) Cathedral Caverns has the largest stalagmite forest of any cave in the world.

(6) Cathedral Caverns has the most improbably formation in the world which is a stalagmite that is 35 feet tall and 3 inches wide!