Rickwood Caverns State Park in Alabama, about seven miles north of Warrior, combines a 380-acre recreation area with a natural history preserve centered on caverns. Brought to wider attention in the early 1950s by Eddie Rickles and Sonny Arwood, the caves operated commercially from 1954 until Alabama acquired them in 1974 and reopened them as a state park. Guided tours highlight illuminated limestone formations estimated at 260 million years old, fossils about 300 million years old, spring-fed and underground pools, and blind cave fish. The park also offers trails, camping, picnic areas, and swimming, and it remained a popular destination after a brief closure during Alabama’s 2015 funding crisis.