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All the United States Illinois Cave-In-Rock Cave-In-Rock

Cave-In-Rock

River pirates, murderous bandits, and serial killers used this Illinois cave as their debauched hideout.

Cave-In-Rock, Illinois

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Eric Grundhauser
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Cave-In-Rock   amygwen on Flickr
Cave-In-Rock   David Wilson on Flickr
Cave-In-Rock   Scott Thiessen on Flickr
Cave-In-Rock   Scott Thiessen on Flickr
The ferry to cross to Ky  
On our way in!!!   tiffanyheatley22 / Atlas Obscura User
In side the cave   tiffanyheatley22 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located in an Illinois state park bearing its name, within a village that does as well, Cave-In-Rock is a fairly peaceful public park feature. But it has a storied history of gambling, prostitution, piracy, murder, and general villainy. 

The 55-foot-wide cave sits on the bank of the Ohio River. When a French explorer came across the cave 1739, he dubbed the natural shelter, "caverne dans Le Roc." The cave features a fissure in the top which acts as a natural chimney, making it perfect for wilderness habitation.

Almost immediately after the cave was named, it became a wretched hive of scum and villainy. From around 1790, Cave-in-Rock was base camp for a group of river pirates who would ambush flatboats carrying cargo down the Ohio River. Pirates, bandits, fugitives, and murderers used the cave as a sort of hideout and hangout where they could scheme, gamble, drink, whore, and even kill. People are said to have been forced off the cliff above the cave to their death.

Among the famed criminals said to have hidden out in the caves are the Harpe brothers, considered America's first serial killers due to a spate of murders they embarked on in 1798. There is even a local legend that Jesse James and his gang once took refuge there.

However the bad times could not last forever. In 1799 a group of justice-minded vigilantes known as "The Exterminators" raided the cave and the surrounding area, effectively destroying the ne'er do wells' hold on the site. More bandits moved into the space, but none stayed for long. In the mid-1800s the cave was even used as a church, while the small village that would come to be Cave-In-Rock was established nearby.

Today the cave sits empty in Cave-In-Rock State Park. Visitors willing to seek out the cave can still explore the space and kick back in the style of a bloodthirsty river pirate.

Related Tags

Crime Crime And Punishment Caves Pirates Ecosystems

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Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

tiffanyheatley22, EmileeRicketts, michelehodge328

  • tiffanyheatley22
  • EmileeRicketts
  • michelehodge328

Published

November 27, 2014

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  • http://www.interestingamerica.com/2011-07-18_Cave-in-Rock_by_Phil_Dotree_47.html
  • http://www.shawneeforest.com/Hiking/CaveinRock.aspx
  • http://www.prairieghosts.com/caveinrock.html
Cave-In-Rock
Cave-In-Rock State Park
1 New State Park Road
Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, 62919
United States
37.468611, -88.155833
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

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Places 368
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum

Marion, Kentucky

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 368
Stories 18

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