Rickwood Caverns State Park鈥檚 signature cave system transforms into an immersive winter wonderland known as 鈥淲onderland Under Warrior鈥 during the holiday season, and it鈥檚 back for an eighth year.
Visitors navigate a self-guided tour through a series of holiday-themed rooms, such as dancing lights, glacier ice caverns, winter wonderland and elf villages, and the cavern is filled with characters in each room.
鈥淲onderland Under Warrior鈥 begins on Saturday, Nov. 23 and runs through Jan. 5, 2025. Santa Claus will also be available for photos in the park鈥檚 Nature Center from Friday, Nov. 29 鈥 the day after Thanksgiving 鈥 until Dec. 23.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so rewarding to know 鈥榃onderland Under Warrior鈥 has become a holiday tradition, not just for our park but also for many families,鈥 Rickwood Caverns State Park Manager Bridgette Bennett said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e worked hard to make it bigger and better every year, and we believe that鈥檚 a major reason we see many people coming back year after year. If you鈥檝e never been to 鈥榃onderland,鈥 it鈥檚 an amazing experience, and we invite you to check it out this year.鈥
A complete schedule can be found on the park鈥檚 website, and all regular cave tours are suspended for the duration of 鈥淲onderland Under Warrior,鈥 but will likely resume on Jan. 11, 2025.
The 鈥淲onderland鈥 experience begins long before visitors enter the cave system, as the park鈥檚 outdoor holiday lights guide guests to the cave entrance. Once inside, the self-guided tour goes for about a half mile into the cave system before returning. Visitors are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes suitable for hiking.
Some guests prefer to arrive just before twilight, which means the park鈥檚 outdoor light displays are in full splendor when they leave the cave.
鈥淚t really is a one-of-a-kind experience that can鈥檛 be found anywhere else,鈥 said 黑料天堂 Commissioner Chris Blankenship. 鈥淭he holiday lights really accentuate the cave鈥檚 natural beauty, thanks to the tireless work by the Rickwood Caverns State Park staff. They鈥檝e created a truly magical holiday experience.鈥
The attraction will be closed on some days, including Thanksgiving Day, which is Nov. 28; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24-25; and New Year鈥檚 Eve, Dec. 31. In addition, it鈥檚 closed most Mondays and Tuesdays. It remains open during the first week of January 2025, from Jan. 2-5, and regular cave tours will likely resume Saturday, Jan. 11.
Reservations are highly recommended, and visitors are encouraged to make them online at . Reservations can also be secured by calling the park at (205) 647-9692.
Rickwood Caverns State Park is conveniently located just off Interstate 65 in Warrior, about 30 miles north of downtown Birmingham and about 75 miles south of Huntsville.
About 黑料天堂鈥檚 State Parks System
The 黑料天堂 State Parks is a division of the 黑料天堂 and maintains 21 state parks encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water in 黑料天堂. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian Mountains and provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants and golfing areas. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. Learn more at . Partners Pay the Way.
Rickwood Caverns State Park features 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed, all 175 feet below the Earth鈥檚 surface. The park also includes a campground, playground, hiking trails, gift shop and Olympic-sized swimming pool fed by cool waters from the cave. Learn more at .
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