Floyd Collins 100th Anniversary of Carnival Sunday at Sand Cave

We visited Sand Cave, where Floyd Collins died, on the 100th anniversary of "Carnival Sunday".

Floyd Collins Museum Cave City Kentucky February 2025

I heard it had closed.....  but it seems the Floyd Collins Museum in Cave City is open!  It is housed in the Wayfarer B&B, literally a short walk from Sand Cave.  Call first- the museum is free but there isnt really a set time it is open.

"The Caves Beyond: The Story of the Floyd Collins Crystal Cave Exploration" by Joe Lawrence Jr & Roger W. Brucker

 

I found a great old copy of "The Caves Beyond" at an antique shop not long ago, and, being a fan of caves, this was a great find!  I REALLY enjoyed reading this one.

The book came out in 1955, a short 30 years after the death of the legendary caver, Floyd Collins.  If you don't know about Floyd look him up.  I have mentioned him here many times....  VERY BRIEFLY, he was exploring a cave and got his foot stuck.  He would not make it out of the cave alive.

When this book came out, he was still buried/on display inside of this books subject, Crystal Cave.  Again, an entirely different story, but Floyd would not find his hopefully final resting place until 1989.

Anyway, the purpose of this book was to cover a very large scale exploration/mapping/research expedition into Crystal Cave.  The authors cover the logistics of the week long project.  Food, medicine, equipment, and a PHONE LINE would need to go in to the cave!

Having read up on Floyd Collins and this area before, I was excited to read this one.  I had read some of Bruckers other books on exploring caves in this area, and glad to find this volume, that I had somehow over looked before.  In all fairness though, a whole lot of people contributed to this one.  There are even reports in the back from different contributors to the mission.

The adventures of the cavers, their successes in finding new areas of the cave, and even their short comings make this simply a fun read.  Again, as someone fascinated with the Floyd Collins story, I felt a little excitement when it was revealed that Skeets Miller was on the scene!  Skeets was probably the most notable player in the whole Floyd Collins story in 1925 (other than Floyd himself).  His appearance in the book was comparable to bringing in a surprise big name guest star to an exciting movie.  AND, I am sure anyone interested in caves would feel some excitement with Russ Gurnee who is noted as being one of the explorers too!

This is just a fun book for anyone interested in caves or the Mammoth Cave area.  I was especially happy to have a nice old copy to read.

CSX Train from B&B Window in Park City KY 02 25 2024

Here is a brief video from our February 25th, 2024 stay at the Grand Victorian Inn- A CSX train goes by our B&B window!

"Nine Miles To Mammoth Cave" by Colleen O'Connor Olson

 I picked up a copy of the late Mammoth Cave guide/author Colleen O'Connor Olson's "Nine Miles to Mammoth Cave".  I realized it was the only book of hers I did not have in my collection.  AND, it is a book that is pricey online (I assume thanks to bots).

This is a nice, small book that gives some quality info on the development (and end) of the railroad to Mammoth Cave.  It is under 70 pages, and is written in a way that it can be appreciated and understood by young readers, or mature readers wanting to know the basics about the railroads at Mammoth Cave.  It is a quick read, but you will get a lot out of it.

I thought it was interesting reading about how Glasgow Junction (now Park City) had a train that stopped by.  Tourists wanting to see Mammoth Cave could get off there, but they still had a ways to go (9 miles) to get to Mammoth Cave.  A bumpy stage coach was available to make the three hour trip...  but a group finally put in a train system to make the ride better- and it would make the 9 mile trip to the cave only an hour.  Of course the automobile would eventually put an end to all of that....  but the steps to get there were fascinating.

There are some other great nuggets of info scattered in the book, and the author brings up trivia connecting Bette Midler and even Mussolini to the area!

If you care about Mammoth Cave, you need to make sure you pick up all of the books that Colleen O'Connor Olson put out.

CSX Train in Park City KY 2 24 2024

Here is the first of a few train videos I made while staying at the Grand Victorian Inn in Park City Kentucky recently!

Bransford Family Cemetery Tour Mammoth Cave Kentucky February 2024

I really enjoy every visit to Mammoth Cave, and I am always discovering new things in and around the park.  Here is a video of our recent visit to the Bransford Family Cemetery....  a very short drive from the visitor center.

This family has been associated with the cave since it's very early mapping.  Mammoth Cave National Park offered free ranger guided tours to and of the cemetery for February.  I was thrilled to take advantage of the offer!

Mammoth Onyx Cave and Hidden River Cave in Kentucky Brochure 1930s

I picked up some old cave brochures recently.....  I am not sure exactly when this was printed, but most of the other items in the lot I found came from the mid 30s!  That seems about right for this one too.

I love this sort of thing, and I was thrilled to find promotional material on Hidden River Cave and Mammoth Onyx Cave dating back nine decades!

 

Spencer becomes a Junior Ranger at Mammoth Cave 2024

My young friend Spencer got his Junior Ranger Badge at Mammoth Cave!

Jesse James Stagecoach Returns to Mammoth Cave Lodge August 2023

On August 12, 2023, a newly restored McCoy Stagecoach from 1855 was driven to the Mammoth Cave Lodge.  This particular coach was robbed nearby- supposedly by Jesse James and company.

We stopped by for the arrival and to hear some of the folks who put this project together talk.

The park superintendent was there to say a few things....  along with a former guide who was born on the property in 1931.  Congressman Brett Guthrie also had a few things to say.

Onyx Cave and Rock Shop in Cave City Kentucky 2023

We had a great guided tour of Onyx Cave with Coleman.  This is one of several great caves that are near, but not a part of, Mammoth Cave National Park.

This is a nice, short cave tour that might be perfect for kids, or people that are a little cautious cave tours.

Postcard: The Giants Coffin Mammoth Cave KY

 I may have posted a similar postcard to this one before....  but its a great old card showing people on top of the Giants Coffin inside of Mammoth Cave.  They dont give you this kind of access anymore.

The postcard is unused and undated.

Outlaw Cave at Jesse James Riding Stables Kentucky June 2023

Here is the complete tour video I made of our tour of Outlaw Cave near Mammoth Cave here in Kentucky!

Cave City Kentucky April 2023

 And here is just a quick drive through Cave City Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave Wondering Woods Tour 2023

Here is a complete video of our "Wondering Woods" tour....  the newest tour offered at Mammoth Cave National Park!

This is a cave (separate from the main Mammoth Cave) that was opened for tours decades ago.  There was also an entire village attraction on the property, up until 1993.

Lost River Cave Boat Tour Kentucky May 2022

 We finally got to take a tour of Lost River Cave in Bowling Green Kentucky!

Lost River Cave Bowling Green Kentucky April 2022- no cave tour

 Lost River Cave was closed due to weather when we stopped by recently, but we still had a nice time exploring the nearby grounds!

Dinosaur World Cave City Kentucky December 2021

 AND, here is a video from our visit to Dinosaur Word in Cave City!

Mammoth Cave Domes and Dripstones Tour Aug 2014

 I have said it here a million times- I LOVE Mammoth Cave.  There is a link to the right-under "labels".  I have posted a LOT about this area....  and I am sure I will post a lot more.  Here is a video from 2014 that I made, and recently edited and put on youtube showing our time taking the "Domes and Dripstones Tour."  

This is, without a doubt, a very raw video.  I was trying to film the COMPLETE, entire tour, which I did.  I have edited it though (there are long moments of blurry dark video I removed), but I have tried to keep the feel of the complete tour here.  I left in all of the guides commentary, which, I feel, is great.

I hope that, if you aren't able to visit Mammoth Cave, this can give you an idea of what a tour is like.  I also hope that it might encourage you to visit, if you haven't yet.

Mammoth Cave National Park Drive January 2021

 We took a nice drive around the Mammoth Cave National Park area back in January 2021.