It is sunset, and I am sitting on a blanket-covered stone waiting. My children are not really listening to the park guide. My husband adjusts his digital camera. Suddenly, one black speck flies from a dark spot on the side of the hill. We all lean forward. At that moment, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats fly from the mouth of the Selman Bat Cave. Darkening the sky, they pour out for several minutes and even my teenagers are in awe. I try to remember the guide's reassurance that the bats will not fly into my hair they don't. The bats are off to eat an estimated ten tons of mosquitoes and other insects during this one evening.

Boarding the bus to return to Alabaster Caverns State Park, the boys talk about making a bat box; my daughter asks to buy a bat in a can at the gift shop, and I am still amazed by what I just witnessed.

Advance Reservations Required
Giving children this experience takes some advanced planning. Bat watches are only offered Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays in July. The park starts taking reservations in mid-May and spaces are usually filled by mid-June. Only 75 people are accepted for each watch, but unfulfilled requests are given priority the following summer. After receiving confirmation of your watch date, you can begin planning the rest of your trip.

Find a Q&A about the Selman Bat Tours here.

Accommodations
The watch ends after 10pm and Alabaster Caverns State Park is more than three-hours from the Metro area so most families will want to spend the night. This area of Oklahoma, called Red Carpet Country, offers a family-friendly Western experience. Alabaster Caverns State Park is within driving distance of Woodward, Alva, and Freedom. If your family likes to camp, the park has clean and recently-renovated camp sites. Woodward and Alva have several excellent B&Bs as well as chain motels.

Cave Tours
You may now enjoy the recently upgraded tour of Alabaster Caverns. The cool temperatures in the cave make it a perfect hot summer afternoon activity. The tour takes a little over an hour and for most people will be a simple mile-long guided hike over somewhat rocky terrain. Young children can be carried in back carriers. Tours leave every hour from 9am to 4pm. Tour fees are $8 for adults, $6 for Seniors (62 and older), and $5 for children, ages 6-12. Children under 5 admitted free.

Bat-Free Fun
Before your watch, you can stay cool above or below ground. Early morning is a good time to discover the town of Freedom. Exploring the Old Jail and Boot Hill cemetery is like walking through the pages of a Western novel. As the day heats up, if you want to stay above ground, take a stroll through the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum in Woodward. Known for its collections of Native American artifacts, the museum also houses materials from Temple Houston, Sam Houston's son.

When we came home, the children stayed interested in bats long enough to build a bat box, and they look forward to watching the bats and to participating in the Wildlife Department's bat box survey. I just hope the bats eat mosquitoes and stay out of my hair.