I spent '64 thru '73 in Florence and graduated HS in 67. My neighborhood friends and I explored every cave we could find. I have contacted several spelunker organizations but have never received any comments in return so I'm hoping you or other viewers might help. 1. Coffee Cave-I wasn't ever driving so I'm vague on actual locations but this was west of Florence off Hwy 20 W. We drove down a field road for a while and intimately the trail ended. There was a burned auto there and we climbed down the trail and there was the cave. The Tennessee River was south and this was a massive cave system. 2. Georgetown Cave. Located to the south of the Natchez Trace Bridge. I believe I've seen where the entrance to this cave was gated up for safety reasons. 3. Now the ultimate. On Hwy 72W west of Tuscumbia, we turned north on a dirt road and probably less than two miles off the highway was this sink hole. The opening was in the shape of a cat's eye and was probably 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. The bottom was if I remember about 80-100 feet. We bought a 1/1/2" hemp rope, 150' long; backed our friends Corvair back enough and secured rope to frame. Made a loop for a foot in the rope and as we held on to the rope my friend drove the Corvair forward and down we went. One at a time. Now we're all high school age and nobody was secure in being the first one to go down. In my brilliance I reasoned that if the rope broke.....it wouldn't break on the first one so I volunteered. It was an amazing adventure albeit a juvenile thought process. Anyway, we proceeded down in 2 groups of 4....exploring all we could and then we surfaced and let the other 4 descend. Now that I was on top I witnessed the rope smoking on the apparatus we'd rigged up for the rope. As we were leaving 2 adults came up....observed our methods and generally gave us quite a tongue lashing for the dangerous way we rigged up our system. They had roll up ladders....the kind professionals use. They secured the ladder and proceeded down. I have to admit that after the vicious tongue lashing the guys gave us on our "successful" system, we wondered just how much better the ladders since we could have very easily thrown the ladders down the hole and they'd been goners as they kept no one top side. Sorry for the length but if anybody can help me in the actual locations I'd be great full. And if anyone reads this and wonders......yes, I think about how stupid BUT lucky we were and I think about it almost daily. thanks for your posting
Been to everyone of those caves myself. I graduated Coffee High School in 97' and I've grown up here in Florence all my life (I'll be 41 this November) Lots of beautiful places around here to see. Coffee Cave, and Dust Cave are located off Al Hwy 20 (Savannah Hwy) located on the 7 mile island reservation. Key Cave is located off Gunweleford Road (Lauderdale Co Rd 2) wich is also off Al Hwy 20 to the west. The cave north of Tuscumbia is located im thinking in the Barton area (I'm not 100% sure it's been several years) There are 3 or 4 caves that are south, and south east of Cherokee in Colbert county, there is Bone Cave, Smokey Cave, and Rattlesnake saloon, a restaurant that's actually built underneath the cave, and its a very nice place to go eat. It's located off A Hwy 247 near the Freedom Hills wildlife preserve. The Georgetown Cave I don't think I've ever been to that one, I've heard of it, but never got the chance to visit. I don't think that would help much but thought I'd give my input lol. Have a good one!
You were lucky. Using a hemp road to descend a pit is risky at best. Using a car to pull the rope up as you hold on is very risky. Hemp ropes abrade very easily and luckily that abrasion didn't snap the rope as someone was on it. Contact the National Speleological Society in Huntsville, Alabama if you are interested in caving. Seek a local grotto (local caving group) to gain experience in caving and how to go safely. And above all, please don't post cave locations publicly online. They can lead to inexperienced people getting hurt or the cave being vandalized. Seek out other cavers. Generally, they are willing to have new cavers join their trips.
I went to visit my grandma down there and she showed me a few of them caves I am sure she did know tons I just didn't have time to see it all. She was Cherokee Indian. I just wish I could have seen more
I've heard that all my life and just watch 1 simple documentary and theyll explain they wrote it on a tour bus across country starting in muscle shoals alabama
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I spent '64 thru '73 in Florence and graduated HS in 67. My neighborhood friends and I explored every cave we could find. I have contacted several spelunker organizations but have never received any comments in return so I'm hoping you or other viewers might help.
1. Coffee Cave-I wasn't ever driving so I'm vague on actual locations but this was west of Florence off Hwy 20 W. We drove down a field road for a while and intimately the trail ended. There was a burned auto there and we climbed down the trail and there was the cave. The Tennessee River was south and this was a massive cave system.
2. Georgetown Cave. Located to the south of the Natchez Trace Bridge. I believe I've seen where the entrance to this cave was gated up for safety reasons.
3. Now the ultimate. On Hwy 72W west of Tuscumbia, we turned north on a dirt road and probably less than two miles off the highway was this sink hole. The opening was in the shape of a cat's eye and was probably 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. The bottom was if I remember about 80-100 feet. We bought a 1/1/2" hemp rope, 150' long; backed our friends Corvair back enough and secured rope to frame. Made a loop for a foot in the rope and as we held on to the rope my friend drove the Corvair forward and down we went. One at a time. Now we're all high school age and nobody was secure in being the first one to go down. In my brilliance I reasoned that if the rope broke.....it wouldn't break on the first one so I volunteered. It was an amazing adventure albeit a juvenile thought process.
Anyway, we proceeded down in 2 groups of 4....exploring all we could and then we surfaced and let the other 4 descend. Now that I was on top I witnessed the rope smoking on the apparatus we'd rigged up for the rope.
As we were leaving 2 adults came up....observed our methods and generally gave us quite a tongue lashing for the dangerous way we rigged up our system. They had roll up ladders....the kind professionals use. They secured the ladder and proceeded down. I have to admit that after the vicious tongue lashing the guys gave us on our "successful" system, we wondered just how much better the ladders since we could have very easily thrown the ladders down the hole and they'd been goners as they kept no one top side.
Sorry for the length but if anybody can help me in the actual locations I'd be great full.
And if anyone reads this and wonders......yes, I think about how stupid BUT lucky we were and I think about it almost daily.
thanks for your posting
Been to everyone of those caves myself. I graduated Coffee High School in 97' and I've grown up here in Florence all my life (I'll be 41 this November) Lots of beautiful places around here to see. Coffee Cave, and Dust Cave are located off Al Hwy 20 (Savannah Hwy) located on the 7 mile island reservation. Key Cave is located off Gunweleford Road (Lauderdale Co Rd 2) wich is also off Al Hwy 20 to the west. The cave north of Tuscumbia is located im thinking in the Barton area (I'm not 100% sure it's been several years) There are 3 or 4 caves that are south, and south east of Cherokee in Colbert county, there is Bone Cave, Smokey Cave, and Rattlesnake saloon, a restaurant that's actually built underneath the cave, and its a very nice place to go eat. It's located off A Hwy 247 near the Freedom Hills wildlife preserve. The Georgetown Cave I don't think I've ever been to that one, I've heard of it, but never got the chance to visit. I don't think that would help much but thought I'd give my input lol. Have a good one!
Well you lived life and you can share your knowledge and experience, some of it crazy, but at the time so much fun. Thanks for the story.
You were lucky. Using a hemp road to descend a pit is risky at best. Using a car to pull the rope up as you hold on is very risky. Hemp ropes abrade very easily and luckily that abrasion didn't snap the rope as someone was on it. Contact the National Speleological Society in Huntsville, Alabama if you are interested in caving. Seek a local grotto (local caving group) to gain experience in caving and how to go safely. And above all, please don't post cave locations publicly online. They can lead to inexperienced people getting hurt or the cave being vandalized. Seek out other cavers. Generally, they are willing to have new cavers join their trips.
@@MetallicAAlabamA you have an incredible memory.
@@jonathanbedsole1671 you did read the part where he said he was a kid and knew it was foolish ? Please STFU !
I went to visit my grandma down there and she showed me a few of them caves I am sure she did know tons I just didn't have time to see it all. She was Cherokee Indian. I just wish I could have seen more
Want to go there , what's it really like?
Hey everyone I went into a alabama cave that rumored ro be 5 miles long! I made a video about it
There are caves in northeastern clarke county also. Creeks running in the valleys creat great caves also. I have pics if anybody is interested.
ruclips.net/video/YAlgYjaAJN8/видео.html
Now you have to go to college to enter those caves.
MAN MADE ALL THE WAY
Sweet Home Alabama! (Song was written in Florida btw.)
I've heard that all my life and just watch 1 simple documentary and theyll explain they wrote it on a tour bus across country starting in muscle shoals alabama
@@w.e.s. I should've said: Song was written by a Florida band lol.
And?
melted buildings
Tom Brannon, great great grandfather
You may have a land patent
...a Wheat Lamp ????? How old is this video ?