Hidden away in a cliff cloaked by a forest, the Welsh Caves at Desoto State Park near Mentone are one of Appalachia’s greatest mysteries. A local legend claims that a medieval prince fled a civil war in Wales and built the structure three centuries before famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus laid eyes on America in 1492.
While the tale may seem far-fetched, the caves were in fact built by human hands. My video above shows how the structure’s small entrance was disguised at the back of a wall by a column. It leads to a hollowed-out chute that would have served as a defensive measure, opening up into the main chamber that features two columns and a spacious platform that overlooks the thick tree canopy bordering the cliff.
So who actually built the Welsh Caves? Although there’s no evidence supporting the arrival of Welsh explorers to the so-called “New World” before the dawn of the colonial era, several compelling stories of a 12-century prince named Madoc persist across the Deep South to this day. Flash-forward to the 16th century, and Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto led his famous expedition somewhere near the caves. And there’s of course the native peoples who first settled the tristate region of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee: Records from de Soto’s exploration tell of a powerful chiefdom that controlled the area.
With multiple historical suspects and few clear answers, unmasking the true architects of the Welsh Caves is no easy task. My article “Alabama: The Mystery of the Welsh Caves” reveals what we know of their origin; it’s a story that winds through medieval Wales, colonial England, Canada, and the American South, culminating with the greatest tragedy that has befell humanity.
Related Content
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection featuring images from DeSoto State Park in Northeast Alabama.
– Click to watch my high-definition video of 107-feet-high DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park.
– Click to read my short story “Spirit in the Sky” about a life-changing encounter with a hawk in the forests of North Alabama.