Alabaster Caverns State Park
Alabaster Caverns State Park
4
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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3 within 3 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
152 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
54
Average
19
Poor
9
Terrible
7
sydney
Norman, OK4 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Park was pretty, nice playground seems like a decent place to camp. We just stopped by for the cave tour, which was fun. However due to a cave-in, we couldn’t see the whole cave including the black alabaster. For the $10 each price, the tour seemed a little lackluster as you go out the way you came and is cut about half a mile short. Neat cave, lots of bats, worth stopping by if you’re in the area.
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aria
2 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
I wanted to love this place so badly. My kids loved the idea of seeing the bats and its why we picked this place specifically while we made our way to Colorado for a funeral. When we arrived, my husband went in to check in and, since there is a water spigot by the tent sites, asked if it was potable or if it was just to rinse off dishes. She said it was fine. He asked about tours and she told him there was a sign outside and offered no other information so we went on our way thinking we could find the sign soon.
We went back to our site to set up and wanted to hike to the lookout with the kids and grab a soda from the shop and ask one more time about the tours. I went in and was met with, "what do you need?" I said I was just grabbing a few sodas to go with dinner and she looked at another woman in the shop and started laughing about how some people were too good for tap water. I told her to have a nice rest of her day after I paid for the sodas and she said, "I will in 17 minutes when I can leave." I didn't even ask about the tours.
We did find the sign and it said tours started at the tip of the hour. We explored a bit and read the posters about the bats that they had up but no one ever showed up to give the tour and, by that time, the woman inside was long gone.
The bathrooms are disgusting and hardly function. I put a roll of toilet paper on the roll. One sink didnt even work (use the one closest to the door). There was blood on the toilet of the first stall and feces on the toilet of the handicap stall.
We camp every weekend we can get away. I've been to dozens of state parks around the country and I've never had an encounter like that with anyone, nor have I ever seen such a disgusting bathroom in a state park.
That being said, when the sun goes down and the bats come out to eat, it is such a cool and surreal experience. It truly is a beautiful park. We had racoons and coyotes outside the tent a few times looking for food.
Maybe with someone else at the desk, perhaps someone that cares about their job and the people that come into the park, it would have been a much better experience.
We went back to our site to set up and wanted to hike to the lookout with the kids and grab a soda from the shop and ask one more time about the tours. I went in and was met with, "what do you need?" I said I was just grabbing a few sodas to go with dinner and she looked at another woman in the shop and started laughing about how some people were too good for tap water. I told her to have a nice rest of her day after I paid for the sodas and she said, "I will in 17 minutes when I can leave." I didn't even ask about the tours.
We did find the sign and it said tours started at the tip of the hour. We explored a bit and read the posters about the bats that they had up but no one ever showed up to give the tour and, by that time, the woman inside was long gone.
The bathrooms are disgusting and hardly function. I put a roll of toilet paper on the roll. One sink didnt even work (use the one closest to the door). There was blood on the toilet of the first stall and feces on the toilet of the handicap stall.
We camp every weekend we can get away. I've been to dozens of state parks around the country and I've never had an encounter like that with anyone, nor have I ever seen such a disgusting bathroom in a state park.
That being said, when the sun goes down and the bats come out to eat, it is such a cool and surreal experience. It truly is a beautiful park. We had racoons and coyotes outside the tent a few times looking for food.
Maybe with someone else at the desk, perhaps someone that cares about their job and the people that come into the park, it would have been a much better experience.
Written September 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlueHarmonyRanch
Milburn, OK46 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
Beautiful little area! There is a nice area for your RV and a tent area. Cute little gift shop with info on the cave. There is a nice covered picnic area for eating and relaxing. The tour was fun and my first time touring a cave without stalactites or stalagmites. Another fun stop on my Oklahoma State parks journey.
Written October 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zaz
Trinidad and Tobago2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
I took the tour with my friends and my friend's dad and it was very good. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of the cave such as ecology and geology. I saw a couple of bats and I enjoyed seeing the rock formations. A bit of the cave fell in so the tour does have you turn back after a point but it was a very reasonable walk. I am happy I visited here. The gift shop has cute souvenir t-shirts.
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph H
Beavercreek, OH1,460 contributions
Feb 2022
My wife and I made a quick stop at Alabaster Caverns State Park while driving enroute from Amarillo TX to Emporia KS. We hiked the trails around the park. We didn't stay for a tour of the caverns as the tours run at the top of each hour and last approximately 45 minutes - longer than we had available for our drive. Other than the park host I believe we were the only ones in the park. Nice small playground with swings and a slide. One of the trails had perilously close cliff edge to quite a drop.
Written February 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
153kcmo
Kansas City, KS4 contributions
Jul 2022
We were at Alabaster Caverns State Park to see the bats and thought it would be interesting to tour a cave. According to signage, you go in the entrance, tour the cave, and go out the exit. Unfortunately, there was a cave-in near the entrance which meant we had to go in the exit, go about 55% of the way into the cave, and then turn around and go out to the exit. We weren't told that until after we purchased tickets. Alabaster Caverns is one of three places where you can see black alabaster, but you actually can't see it because the tour doesn't go that far. Rather than trying to get everyone in and out in less than an hour, they really need to spread the tour times out so that everyone can go through the cave to the cave-in before having to turn back. This would allow everyone to see the black alabaster and pulpit rock. Also, they warn that the tour is strenuous. It's not, but it is treacherous because the actual walkway isn't lit. The sides of the cave is lit so you can see the rock formations, but you can't see where you are stepping. There were several dips in the walkway which caught people in my group off guard. Not sure it was worth the $10. There must be better cave tours in Oklahoma.
Written July 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael W
Ponca City, OK676 contributions
Jun 2020 • Friends
We arrived at the caverns around 10 am, and we had a 30 minute wait. There weren't very many people there so our group of 4 got what I would consider a private tour. The main entrance is closed right now due to a rock slide, which meant that we could go in the exit all the way through to the entrance and then back again which extended our tour. The staff was very helpful, accommodating, and friendly. This is a trip well worth your consideration.
Written June 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
okiecruiser4331
Yukon, OK245 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
We stopped here the day after Thanksgiving and we were the only two on one of the hourly tours. Lots of bats in hibernation and cool formations. I saw people complain on prior reviews about going in and back the same way and that wasn’t a big deal to me. I mean, how often are you able to tour a cave? There were a couple of slick spots but the guide pointed them out and we were fine wearing tennis shoes. There were a couple of picnickers and campers enjoying the park on this beautiful day.
Written November 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Haley L
Sapulpa, OK65 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
My mom and I took my 9 year old son. The cave takes about an hour to tour, and is a great way to pass some time during a hot Oklahoma day. While the cave does have year round bats, we didn't see any this time. The trail is slick in spots, and there are a lot of stairs. But it isn't too bad for hiking and walking. I'm not in great shape, so some of the climbs had me breathing hard, but if you can go up and down a house flight of stairs you will be OK. The ranger provided some interesting facts and the gypsum is really interesting! Don't expect the normal cave formations of stalactites and stalagmites because gypsum doesn't form that way. But it is beautiful!
Written June 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas B
Baltimore, MD160 contributions
May 2021
This is a great detour. Not far from the highway, the tour in the caves is about an hour. The guides know the history of the caves and the names of the major formations. It should be noted that you cannot enter the caves without a tour, as the black alabaster found in this cave is quite rare. Unfortunately a cave-in meant that we were unable to see any of the black alabaster when I was there, but it was still need to see the formations and the various bat species.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viola F
Edmond, Oklahoma
I have a small dog (chihuahua). Can visitors bring in their companion pets if they carry them?
Written July 5, 2021
I'm sorry but I don't know. Call them.
Written July 9, 2020
Which campground would be the best to stay at with kids?? Preferably one close to shower/bathroom facilities!!
Written April 19, 2019
Please be sure to call them and make sure they are open. When we were there they had had a rock slide and the cave was closed. We drove 3 hours one way only to find out we couldn't go in. As far as a campground, they have one there on the site I think.
Written April 19, 2019
I saw a review from Novembe that said the park was closed due to a cave in, is the problem fixed and the park open?
Written April 4, 2019
Hi Jacky, The park itself was not closed, the cavern tours were suspended for a time but they have been open again since January 7 of this year. The tours are available every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas days!!! Stop by and see us!!!
Written April 5, 2019
Hello Vegas!!! I can see from your information that you are from Norman so the most convenient place to stay would be near Woodward. For the nature experience, you might try a cabin at Boiling Springs State Park (580-256-7664) or there are several motels in Woodward that would meet your needs.
Written March 14, 2017
Dining would be best in either Alva or Woodward, depending on what direction from the park you are going or are headed. As far as accommodations are concerned, there are state park cabins at Boiling Springs State Park near Woodward or the Great Salt Plains State Park near Cherokee. Both Alva and Woodward have many fine motels to choose from.
Written July 22, 2016
We took my 3 yr old. And we carried him the whole time. He enjoyed it but carrying him was not fun for dad.
Written October 2, 2015
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