Cave-In-Rock Illinois: Notorious Harpe Brothers Hideout

In this video, we're going to see the Cave in Rock, which is a natural cave formation inside a rock ledge along the Ohio river in Illinois. The cave itself is cool enough, but I first heard about it in reading about two notorious early American outlaws known as the Harpe Brothers. The cave was a hideout for river pirates and bandits in the late 1700s, and the Harpe Brothers went here in 1799 when they were on the run from authorities across the river in Kentucky.
#Cave-In-Rock #harpebrothers #cave
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[@theeclecticnurse2485]

I remember in the 80s we had family reunions here. Fried cat fish from the river and playing in the cave and throwing rocks in the river while my parents drank beer. A childhood with minimal supervision.

[@Keithdotson]

Awesome memories! Thanks for sharing.

[@rosspatton8306]

The cover over the top of the cave was put in place in the late 1960's, after a young man fell into it. That young man, unfortunately, later died in action in Vietnam

[@Keithdotson]

Oh no! Well thanks for that information. I appreciate it.

[@retiredyeti5555]

Looks the same as it did when my wife and I visited it on our 25th anniversary trip back in 1994. We were on our way home to MIlwaukee from The Great Smoky Mountains, Chattanooga, and Nashville by taking back roads and exploring small towns and Historical Markers.

[@Keithdotson]

I love that! The back roads show such a different look at America.

[@earlbonafide9119]

I grew up in the area and have been down to the cave millions of times. It's definitely worth seeing if you never have before. I could sit and tell you folklore and ghost tales of the area for days. Nice video! 👍👌

[@sparkynm156]

Yes, Please Do !

[@rossbrady4880]

Millions ov times aye

[@dougs7044]

Is the upper chamber still there? My understanding is that the outlaws would use a ladder to reach an upper chamber in the cave. From the pictures I have seen in a book, it looked like it was somewhere in the middle of the cave.

[@djohnson2194]

Rememb?er the tv ?series "Davy Crockett and the Riverboat Pirates" ? The segment about the pirates was filmed in and near this cave, if I'm not mistaken!

[@Keithdotson]

I need to look that up. Thanks!

[@williamjerge1096]

Don't know if it was mentioned, but an excellent read is "Satan's Ferryman". Tells you everything about the Harp brothers, the pirates of the cave in the rock and other historical documentation. I use to live across the river.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you! I’m looking it up

[@jamesdavis1919]

Well it doesn’t tell everything because my mothers family is the Harpes and there’s things I know that I’ve never heard told anywhere!

[@williamjerge1096]

Please expound. Just how demented and sadistic were they?

[@strongestnattyever-videos2247]

⁠@@jamesdavis1919that’s a lie…your mothers family is your family too

[@jamesdavis1919]

@@strongestnattyever-videos2247 what in the world are you talking about?

[@lyndalwilliams9076]

We live just one mile from the cave. Thanks for sharing our local history to the world.....

[@Keithdotson]

Do you like living in that area? I really enjoyed visiting! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@richardharp4398]

My name is Harp. My great grandfather claimed we came from little Harp. No proof though. I lived in Marion Kentucky across the river in this video. Big Harp had his head removed but Little Harp got away. He died later in Texas I believe.

[@Keithdotson]

Wow -- amazing! Thanks for that information.

[@lyndalwilliams9076]

Little harp was hung near natches miss on the natchis trail... On interstate 40....

[@swhod2190]

I've read about the Harpe brothers years ago and what I read made my hair stand up. Vicious and without conscience.

[@Keithdotson]

Yes. Travelers who had the misfortune of meeting them were very unlucky.

[@dwaynebeavers2088]

I was raised in Cave In Rock and it's amazing how much they raised the river with the new dams and the cave over the years have lost a lot of the history from those who have gone in the cave when it was flooded and wrote their names and dates when they done it and what most get wrong is there is a landing just north east of the cave known as pirates landing is where they would stop most travelers and then take them to the cave and the state covered the hole at the top to keep people from falling in and the nice thing about the cave is during the summer heat it's always nice and cool inside the cave.

[@Keithdotson]

Oh that's interesting about the pirate's landing! Thanks for the information.

[@dwaynebeavers2088]

@@Keithdotson If you go up by the restaurant and lodge and drive down toward the lodges there's a pathway that will take you down to it I don't know if they keep it up now or not but when Mike Gullett was the park ranger they did and there was a sign to show where the path is and it circles back up by the bluff comes out just below the cabins.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks! Man, I wish I'd known when I shot this footage. I'm definitely coming back to check that out.

[@dwaynebeavers2088]

@@Keithdotson And if you want to go to the highest point on the Ohio river it's at Tower State Park between Cave In Rock and Elizabethtown and Rosiclare has the Floraspar museum and north of Cave In Rock on route 1 is where Fords Ferry hotel used to be where the couple killed their own son because they didn't recognize him when he came home to visit.

[@Keithdotson]

Wow -- thank you!

[@mac4fun57]

I just happened to find this vid (suggested by KZbin). It reminded me of a scene in "How the West Was Won" with Jimmy Stewart. I have not watched the movie in decades. Anyway, it very much reminded me of that scene in the movie. I told my wife about it and mentioned to her the scene with Jimmy Stewart. I told her maybe the idea for that scene was from the brothers and Cave in the Rock. I did a quick search and sure enough...that scene was actually filmed there. Pretty cool. Since I live in Central Illinois, I'll have to take a short trip down there to visit the cave. Thanks for posting this video.

[@Keithdotson]

I remember that movie but I haven't seen it in years! I'll have to go find it and watch it again. Yes -- go see the cave! And while you're there, you may want to take the ferry across to Kentucky just because. Thanks for watching.

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*If you don't come, you haven't missed anything* *The 'See the 'Creechur' scene is just about right, although Jimmy Stewart's character would never have been that stupid if he were real* *'Cave-in-Rock' has become a zombie of it's former self, not realizing it's dead, although the State Park is actually nice with a 'killer view' from a 100ft. escarpment to the Ohio* __________ *Elizabethtown or 'E-town' has a better waterfront area than 'Cave' with temp. RV parking and if you like 'sleazy bars' there are two of them...odd, considering Hardin County is 'Dry'*

[@Dreamhelmet]

That was a great movie!

[@playhooky]

@@gerrynightingale9045 Perhaps it's that you live in the area & as part of the human condition, we take for granted and have less appreciation for the things that are easily available to us & we see/are around all the time. lol I live in west central IL and have a son-in-law & grandkids that live down in Shawneetown, and I want to go visit them & the area & I want to not only see the cave but also hike to Garden of the Gods & Giant City state Park!

[@gerrynightingale9045]

@@playhooky *NOTHING has ever been 'easily available' to me...I PAID for it all with money and my life and constant work and maintenance* _____________ *I haven't been inside the Cave in years because it is a 'Cave in Rock' and nothing more than that and back-'meanders' collapsed decades ago from an earth-tremor* *If I want to see something 'Hollow & Pointless' I'll think on my past life and the life I currently live* _____________ *I take NOTHING for 'Granted' other than Despair/Dissolution/Decay/Degeneracy/Despondency and a host of other 'unwanted things'*

[@GeoFishing]

Be sure to check out the awesome Diner when your there! Strawberry butter is always a treat ✊😊🎣🎣✌️

[@Keithdotson]

Yes! Thanks for that tip!

[@kickapootrackers7255]

Great area, go there quite a bit. Use to be a great diner called Roses, think it's closed now though. Still a decent campground close by there. Good vid, had to check it out. Grew up round there. Thanks

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching! I enjoy visiting that entire region

[@greenspiraldragon]

We drove over there when we were in Southern Illinois. It was real nice and interesting to see. Worth the trip if your in the area. There is another small cave across the other side of the path.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks! I wasn't aware of the other cave.

[@stuartflemingphotography6337]

What an amazing place. The Ohio River looks huge. Love your tours you are great at telling the story. Thanks

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks so much Stuart!

[@rickjohnson5386]

Areas like that are interesting. I've been thru Luray Caverns, Endless Caverns in Virginia both great places to visit.

[@sbennettyt]

I have never heard of the Harpe brothers but I first heard of this cave reading the book "Celebrated American Caves". Thanks for the tour.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@normsweet1710]

Cool ! I learned of a place I’d never heard of before, thank you for taking time to educate us ❤️👍😃

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching!

[@catnk9]

After the Harpe brothers got to the cave, Sam Mason was head honcho there. While they did many murders they met their match while having another good ole time; stripped a man naked, tide him to a horse.... blinded folded the horse and spooked it over the cliff. The men heard the horse and man screaming in panic then they landed very near the entrance. The men approach the brothers and told the to leave immediately or they would be killed right there on the spot for doing that to that horse!

[@Keithdotson]

Such a crazy story. Thanks for sharing

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*There were never any 'Head Honchos' in Cave...it was a matter of 'Who had the most relatives' around more than any other factor* __________ *As far as I know, damn near everyone here was either a murderer/thief/or both* *My grandfather 'Charlie Crow' put a pick-axe thru some guy's head in the 1920's and then buried him...the man was chasing after 'Minnie' his wife, who was something of an 'encouraging slut' for any interested males* ( *No charges of course because no witnesses and no body* ) *My 'Mommy Dearest' Mary Lou Crow B.1930 was also a 'scheming whore' and would happily steal anything she could get her hands on that she fancied, and it was usually worthless crap* ( *At least I think he was 'G-pa' because 'Mommy' said it was possible the guy who ran the ferry might've been 'Daddy'* ) *My uncle 'Buster' Crow was 'some piece of work' himself, the very definition of 'conniving hustler con-man' who once ran a 'taxi service' in Marion, Ky. during WW-2 for all servicemen to hit every whorehouse for 20-miles in either direction!* *He slept on a cot right there at his cab-shack so he wouldn't miss a call...he got 'kick-backs' for bringing-in anyone with a bankroll and they'd be 'rolled' when drunk* ( *He made a LOT of $$$ then!* *Especially given that his Plymouth 'taxi' was stolen to start with!* )

[@mpgarr]

A nice tour of the cave. Its bigger than I expected it to be. One of these days I am finally going to run the entire river and would like to stop around here to check it out. Its not clear from any of the cruising guides if there is a dock nearby to tie off to, if not, I hope that the park allows boaters to pull ashore and tie off to whatever you can find to do so. I need to investigate that. I am sure its a lot prettier at the park on a nice and warm, sunny summer's day. It really is something all of the history that is related to the Ohio River that so many people just don't know that goes back before the founding of the nation and every period since then.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you! And yes the history of this region doesn't get much publicity but it's interesting!

[@jerrykinnin7941]

I've heard that before the 1812 earthquake you could walk underground From Cave in rock to near St Louis. The earthquake ended that. I grew up in Marion KY.

[@Keithdotson]

Wow can you imagine that!?

[@daniellinehan63]

That earthquake reversed the flow of the Mississippi for 3 days

[@Keithdotson]

@@daniellinehan63 Unbelievable! Wow

[@oliveo.5022]

That's really interesting, all the cave and tunnel systems in the world and where they lead! Thank you for sharing

[@Captain-ln3vh]

Pretty cool. Road trip.

[@TrulyUnfortunate]

Love places like this!! It really stirs the imagination.

[@Keithdotson]

It really does! thanks for watching and commenting

[@Dwendele]

That cave really resembles an ancient lava tube.

[@buckwheatsofia]

Very interesting , never heard of this place. Thank you

[@bonnieharris8112]

That cave reminds me of something that could have been created by lava and volcanic activity. Very interesting to see it!

[@ernestclements7398]

The geology in that area is limestone, some shale, and coal is mined in the area on both sides of the river.

[@wayartio]

We visted the cave. I never knew this until now. Great video! Thanks!

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching :-)

[@mikerigsby5225]

Read about this in a Cameron Judd novel years ago.

[@jerrinepaiva3835]

Thank you for the video and information. My ancestors were James and Elizabeth McFarlan, who operated the Rose Hotel. I am interested in the history of the area.

[@Keithdotson]

Very cool! Thanks for watching! That area fascinates me.

[@circlestar8697]

Nice video. Thanks

[@Keithdotson]

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting

[@nkirk8740]

So cool, I really enjoy when one KZbin video leads me on to find out about subjects I've never heard of, this looks like it's going to be an interesting juicy historic tale, thank you. 😁👍👊✌️🇬🇧.

[@Keithdotson]

The power of KZbin! Thanks for watching! It was interesting to be in such a notorious location.

[@nkirk8740]

@@Keithdotson yes, it's wonderful to be in a place and really feel the history, thank you. 👍👊✌️🇬🇧.

[@441rider]

Hey student film kids this is a great stranded in a hole on Moon movie set. Nice find!

[@halweilbrenner9926]

That was pretty cool. Thanks

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching

[@dallasgraf6442]

Been there a lot when I was young. Had family in the area

[@whirlofbliss5925]

Ruins of a massive,melted building 💥💯

[@bobcansee]

That was cool af!

[@Keithdotson]

Hey thanks for watching

[@wmcbarker4155]

can imagine 10,000 years ago that was a place of power

[@Keithdotson]

Definitely!

[@johnlounsbury6191]

thanks good history and tour

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching

[@royramey5659]

I've read about these stories but never seen the cave , thanks.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching

[@erickort1987]

awesome cave,i like to explore it

[@Keithdotson]

It is an awesome cave. Very unique. Thanks for watching

[@erickort1987]

@@Keithdotson i subbed :)

[@Keithdotson]

Hey thanks! I really appreciate that!

[@alexandertroup5324]

Good story thank you perfect day too shot.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching

[@alexandertroup5324]

@@Keithdotson your welcome keep up The search for a mystery in History.

[@iainpaton7129]

Very interesting 👌video thanks 😊 keep the great videos coming friend from Scotland

[@iainpaton7129]

For got to say back here in Scotland the street a stay in is called Harperbank Grove

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching -- interesting about the street name!

[@iainpaton7129]

@@Keithdotsonhi friend a stay in a small town called Cumnock in East Ayrshire Scotland on the West Coast friend if you want to try and find more information 😀

[@Keithdotson]

@@iainpaton7129 I will look into that! Thank you

[@iainpaton7129]

@@Keithdotson your welcome friend 😊

[@GeoFishing]

A lot of history and a lot of Crystals 😎✌️ Do Not Ever Litter !!

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

Cool place to bong out

[@DR_SOLO]

That wood was still green when it was carved out originally crazy to think how big the trees once were to be walking inside of a tree trunk is mind blowing to see how thick those growth rings are! .😳😳🤯🤯🤯

[@oriraykai3610]

That last pic almost looks like a painting. Nice.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you!

[@thomasmeadows256]

Well there's actually a harp town across River toward Crittenden Kentucky. Where several outlaws used to hang. And I believe there is a ferry at one time. Of course the river's been damned many times. The Ohio River back then was half the size. And where's the island

[@rossbrady4880]

Looks like the stories my great uncle Harpe told me about

[@JonnyTheLeprechaun]

Only one picture it does not change.

[@retiredyeti5555]

Those shafts of sunlight are known as crepuscular rays.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you

[@timsawyer1000]

Far many caves throughout the Appalachians that's unexplored for Centurys. Many are habitable dwellings with spring water and eatable vegetation abound. I miss the cave I went to alone sometimes. But it got scary when I started seeing large dog like prints around the spring edges that growed vary healthy cat tails which I would seldom eat the roots of. The roots are vibrant energy snacks. Hoping it's never been destroyed like so many have. I plan on finding out and video recording the inner n outer beauty of it.

[@theeclecticnurse2485]

According to my grandpa, the Harps pushed them into the opening and that’s why it was screened off.

[@Keithdotson]

Oh, that's interesting!

[@stuartb9323]

Awesome video I'm sure that entire area has been explored with a metal detector. Wonder what was found 🤔

[@Keithdotson]

That’s a good question

[@floydjones6373]

It's in a few old movie also

[@tracylinzy1516]

The book Satan's Ferrymen, is a great book about the cave and Fords Ferry Gang.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you!

[@wsearp]

To my chagrin wile searching my family tree, I find I am related to these guys....

[@Keithdotson]

Wow! That must have been a shock!

[@wsearp]

@@Keithdotson Yes, it was a little.... The Harpes, Earps, Harps, Erp, Irps and Urps are all of the family lines.. The closest ones to me go by the surname of Harp and Earp.....

[@dougs7044]

I’m reading a book now about the outlaws of Cave-In-Rock. It talks about a ladder that led to an upper chamber. Is the upper chamber still visible?

[@-Kreger-]

Your voice sounds like Will Forte. Cool video.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you

[@terryolsen4244]

An interesting place with an even more interesting history. It's nice to visit such places without worrying about gangs of outlaws. When you first showed the opening in the roof of the cave I wondered if heavy rain produced a waterfall. After seeing the top, I decided it probably doesn't.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks Terry! Yeah I have read that water flows through the cave at certain times of year, but nothing about water off the top edge.

[@terryolsen4244]

@@Keithdotson I was asking because there is a place in the Ozarks called the "Glory Hole". Over the years, water has eroded a hole in the rock allowing a waterfall to come in through the top of a small cave. One of the coolest photos I've seen of it was taken by Arkansas landscape photographer Tim Ernst. instagram.com/p/CJMDF75h-h2/

[@Keithdotson]

That is cool!!!

[@joshuanicholsjr5327]

we love this kind of stuff like to know more, was it ever used by the Indians, or giants good stuff god bless

[@Keithdotson]

I read one old story that the Indians believed it was home to the great spirit. They would fire rifles in the air as they floated past on the River.

[@jackrabbitjeep5954]

Imagine the height and power of the river when it made that cave. Would have been awesome to see.

[@Keithdotson]

Truly!

[@chrisskinner6291]

Harp brothers I wonder what else they was part of.

[@rashakawa]

Is there any description of what the inside looked like back then? I'm guessing they had wood building's of some sort.

[@Keithdotson]

There must have been something because the Mason gang fashioned the cave into an inn for weary travelers whose possessions were examined while they slept. But flooding would have been a problem for permanent structures

[@playhooky]

@@Keithdotson Ah, but wouldn't the river have been much lower - due to no damns on the Mississippi back then?

[@Keithdotson]

@@playhooky I think so. It would have fluctuated a lot more but I’ve read in some places the River was only a few feet deep before dams where built. I’ve also seen historical paintings of the cave that show water up to the mouth - who knows if those paintings were accurate?

[@playhooky]

@@Keithdotson Well, I bet the paintings were accurate - probably still had high floods at times.

[@PS-du3mn]

Great. How much is the rent?When can I move in?

[@Keithdotson]

Right! 😊

[@spacemandudley6237]

Very interesting, have never heard of this cave. You still in TN?

[@Keithdotson]

Yes I am.

[@spacemandudley6237]

@@Keithdotsondo you have a gallery?

[@Keithdotson]

@@spacemandudley6237 Not any more -- I used to have work in various galleries but these days I'm 100% online at my website. keithdotson.com/

[@chrisskinner6291]

Wow times where they are pushing the bad as good we was warned of this.

[@OldsmobileCutlassSupremeConver]

Looks like Thundball Grotto with no water

[@Keithdotson]

Ha! Yes!

[@bondinvisible]

This is worse then crawling in a hollow log after after a bear

[@cancergurl6998]

Even though we are all suppose to have evolved into modern homo sapiens by now, I think there are still some stragglers among us.

[@jnolette1030]

A few of the lesser developed are my coworkers

[@cancergurl6998]

@@jnolette1030plus there's Tucker Carson.

[@dinarogers8433]

can you go in the cave

[@Keithdotson]

Yes you can

[@Telephony954]

This was a kool video. To bad about the sucky history. just goes to prove that not much has changed, they had ass holes back then as well. Be well.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching and commenting

[@trader4239]

Waw just did some Harpe research, what a story and what a bunch of psychopaths

[@Keithdotson]

Yes truly scary and dangerous and irrational people.

[@ashleykuntz9599]

"Natural", sure...

[@ryanm6898]

I’m going to find that gold! Just saying….

[@timsawyer1000]

So it's claimed or owned by who, the state or fed gov I'm guessing, and you must pay to explore there as of so many of nature's monumentals?

[@Keithdotson]

There's no charge to visit this particular place. Parking lot on the other side of the hill and a short walk.

[@jamesdavis1919]

I am a Harpe.

[@Keithdotson]

Descendant?

[@jamesdavis1919]

@@Keithdotson My Grandmother was Bonnie Harpe, my son is named after Big Harpe.

[@Keithdotson]

Wow! I'll bet you have some family stories!

[@jamesdavis1919]

@@Keithdotson Absolutely!

[@josephbingham1255]

Might be they got the idea for the How The West Was Won scenes of an ambush of flat boat people.

[@Keithdotson]

I think so! ☀️

[@playhooky]

@Joseph Bingham Another commentor said that he did an internet search and found that it was not just the inspiration but was even actually filmed there! I searched & it's true! I'd never watched that move as have never been big on old westerns, but it is on my 'must watch' list now!

[@josephbingham1255]

@@playhooky A great film. American history of Westward expansion without apologies.

[@mpedmar9701]

What a beautiful place with a horrible history.

[@Keithdotson]

Very true! We never know what secrets the landscape holds.

[@mpedmar9701]

@@Keithdotson So true ! Thanks for coming on my comment. . Lol Stay happy, healthy, hydrated and safe. May God continue to bless you, your family and your adventures.

[@maryhutt4263]

I think you can find a better word than amazin

[@Keithdotson]

Which word would you choose?

[@sharksport01]

Spelunkarific.

[@Frogskinman]

Why would you tell criminals story? I want to know how the cave formed, and the beauty of it. Not some criminal screw them!

[@katalackatt76]

Wow! Who made you believe the world revolves around you? Some of us, ALOT of us want to know the TRUTH whether it's bad or good.

[@almeggs3247]

They had to live like animals and their parents were probably unchristian immoral bitter and angry at the world Hopefully God will take that into consideration?

[@minihooperprod.8332]

Jesus Christ is savior

[@jasonmiller4046]

i love southern illinois

[@Keithdotson]

Me too