Cave-In-Rock State Park: Cave-In-Rock, Illinois

Cave-In-Rock cave is located in Cave-In-Rock State Park in the village of Cave-In-Rock, Illinois.
It was established in October 1849. The 55-foot-wide cave lies 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.” Almost immediately after the cave was named, it became a hangout for outlaws, highwaymen, counterfeiters, bandits, fugitives, serial killers, and river pirates! There is a local legend that Jesse James and his gang once held out there.
In the mid-1800s the cave was even used as a church, while the small village that would become known as Cave-In-Rock was established. In 1799 a group of vigilantes known as 'The Exterminators' raided the cave and the surrounding area, eventually taking out the bad guys that hung out at the site.
We were able to visit the site and explore the cavern while chillin' like a bloodthirsty river pirate would have back in the day.