'It's breathtaking': Cave of the Winds shows visitors the true power of Niagara Falls

"It's breathtaking to see how close we can get to the Falls."

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) -- More than 9 million tourists travel to Niagara Falls State Park every year from all over the world -- and many don't pass up the opportunity to experience the true power of the Falls, safely.

The Cave of the Winds, allows you to step as close as 15 feet away from the rushing water of Bridal Veil Falls. You might feel a gust of wind that can reach up to 75 mph, similar to a category one hurricane.

"When they get here, they're in awe, it's breathtaking to see how close we can get to the Falls," said Carlos Nieves, who works at the Cave of the Winds.

This attraction dates back to even before Niagara Falls became a state park, and has seen a splash of changes throughout the years.

"It used to be a spiral staircase, that you took down here, it was a wooden one and you would walk along the upper part of the gorge, to a cave that was by the Falls," Nieves said. "Once that collapsed, they took out the stairs, decided to put in the elevator, [that] took about two and a half years to put that in, and they did it all by hand; hand carved it out, no machines, no dynamite."

Nieves has devoted more than a decade of his life to the Cave of the Winds and helps build these decks by hand every year. He says it takes six weeks to put up and four weeks to take them down, but the view never gets old.

"As a person who does build the decks, and all the guys that do build, we all find happiness in their happiness because it took us a lot to do that," Nieves said. "It makes us feel good that people are enjoying it, something we can put up for them to enjoy."

Before you make your 175-foot journey down to the base of the Falls, at the beginning of the tour, you can learn more about how the power of the falls has really changed the world.

"There's so much more to Niagara Falls than just the water falling over the rocks and to be able to tell those stories is really exciting for us," said Angela Berti, Director of Public Information for New York State Parks.

"Alternative Current, we would not have the electricity in our home that we have, without what happened here in Niagara Falls, Nikola Tesla, and the world changed because of it. We learned how to make private property public green space, you know parks were created, there's so many stories that happened here beyond those things--it's really exciting to be able to share that with people from around the world."

Your shoes might squeak after the experience, but there are other attractions to enjoy just down the path. Like walking around the 400 acres of Niagara Falls State Park, or maybe taking a ride on the Maid of the Mist, but whatever attraction you choose, you can enjoy the beauty of a natural wonder.

Though the decks are only standing through the fall, some parts of the Cave of the Winds are open all year round. All tickets can be purchased only in person.

For more information on the Cave of the Winds, visit their website here.