Wonderland Under Warrior kicks off holiday season

WARRIOR — Rickwood Caverns celebrates the holiday season with a magical underground experience like no other.

Beginning Nov. 18, Wonderland Under Warrior welcomes guests for a unique experience that celebrates the sights and sounds of Christmas and the natural beauty of the cavern.

Held at Rickwood Caverns State Park, Wonderland Under Warrior is a whimsical journey underground, transforming the already magnificent cave into a special holiday experience. Visitors come to see more than 100,000 twinkling lights and to walk the lighted path among the stalactite, stalagmites and other unique geological formations.

The self-guided tour takes visitors into the cave through different themed rooms such as dancing lights, glacier ice caverns, elf villages and more and plenty of photo opportunities with different characters will be available.

Santa Claus will arrive the day after Thanksgiving and be available through Dec. 23 to welcome visitors and to pose for photos. The gift shop will be decorated for the occasion and offer unique gifts, ornaments, snacks and hot cocoa to purchase.

The 110 steps at the end of the regular tour will not be included during this time which makes the walk easier for anyone with mobility issues. The walk is about a half-mile underground and a half-mile back out.

Hours for Wonderland Under Warrior are 2-8 p.m. Nov. 18-22, Nov. 24-26, Nov. 29-Dec. 3, Dec. 6-10, Dec. 13-23, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 1.

Santa hours are 2-8 p.m. Nov. 24-26, Nov. 29-Dec. 3, Dec. 6-10 and Dec. 13-23.

General admission for Wonderland Under Warrior is $12 per person for ages 5 and up.

Following a brief closure in 2016 due to the state’s budget shortfall, Rickwood Caverns has rebounded as a top attraction for the State of Alabama. What makes Rickwood Caverns State Park unique is its massive network of underground caverns that features intriguing geological formations, underground pools and rare blind cavefish.

Rickwood Caverns is located at 370 Rickwood Park Road in Warrior. For more information on Wonderland Under Warrior, visit https://www.alapark.com/parks/rickwood-caverns-state-park/wonderland-under-warrior.