Sequoyah Caverns set to close

The general public has until Sept. 3 to visit Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead, before it closes for good. Located in Wills Valley at the foot of Sand Mountain in northeast Alabama, near fort payne, the caverns have attracted thousands of visitors over the past 49 years. A decline in tourists was among the reasons the Jones family decided to close the privately owned Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead in September. Unlike other caves, Sequoyah Caverns is full of “looking glass lakes”, which reflect the thousands of intricate rock formations and nature’s magnificent underground creations. Along with the reflection pools, the Caverns also feature towering stalagmites, waterfalls, and writings on the walls dating back to the early 1800s. Along with exploring the caverns, the grounds also contain a picnic pavilion and a farm animal corral, as well as offer fishing and hiking the pristine Lookout Point Trail to a view of the beautiful valley below. Other activities include mining for multicolored gems as cool mountain water flows down a hand-made wooden trough and watching farm animals such as oxen, sheep, goats, and horses, milling around the property.Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead is located off I-59 north of Valley Head and is open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with guided tours available daily. For more information, call 800-843-5098.