9 Haunted Caves You Can Actually Explore (But You Shouldn't)
The Cave Hotel At The Grand Canyon Caverns
It’s no secret that the Grand Canyon's nooks and crannies have long been subjects of haunting rumors. The fact that someone created a cave hotel in such a place is equal parts awesome and terrifying.
While there's evidence these caverns may have been discovered by members of the Hualapai tribe a decade earlier, the official discovery is credited to Walter Peck in 1927. Obviously, Peck wasn’t the first to stumble upon the cave system, as he found the remains of two brothers who fell to the flu. Both brothers and even Peck himself are among the ghostly apparitions visitors claim to see at the Cave Hotel. Another source of paranormal activity in the Cavern Hotel is former manager Gary Ringsby, who took his life in what’s known as the “Bunk-House” back in the 1970s.
Those brave enough to sleep in the hotel's suites have reported the distant sound of Native American chanting and shadowy figures dancing along the rocks. Other claims include whispering sounds, the elevator door opening and closing without cause, and the image of a person dangling from the top of the cavern.
Tours of the cavern are available, and those who dare can book the cave suite to spend the night with subterranean specters.
The Hellfire Caves
Also known as the West Wycombe Caves, England's Hellfire Caves form a network of chalk and flint caverns extending a quarter of a mile underground. The caves were excavated by Francis Dashwood in the mid-1700s. Dashwood was also the co-founder of the Hellfire Club, a secret society said to have held meetings in the caves.
Members were all politically and socially influential throughout the 18th century. The group’s reputation is steeped in tales of dark rituals, debauchery, and devil worship. While the Hellfire Club dissolved by 1766, it’s believed that the ghosts of its members still linger. The caves began operating as a tourist attraction back in 1951 and visitors routinely report strange echoes and mysterious apparitions that appear and disappear in front of them. The reported activity is so frequent that Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and Syfy Channel's Ghost Hunters have conducted their own paranormal investigations.
The caves can be toured for anyone looking to capture evidence of their own.
The Moaning Cavern
As one could guess, the Moaning Cavern in Vallecito, California, is named after the creepy moaning sound air makes within the cavern. In addition to mournful wailing, witnesses have also heard echoes of what sounds like a hammer knocking up against rocks. Because of this, the Moaning Cavern is thought by some to be the home of mythical leprechaun-like creatures known as Tommyknockers. Some believe these mischievous cave dwellers are the spirits of those who perished in cave-ins and that their knocking warns of imminent collapses. Others say that they're malevolent spirits whose knocking actually causes cave-ins.
Others claim the cave is haunted not by Tommyknockers but by prehistoric people whose remains were discovered at the bottom of the cave. Three other ghostly apparitions are gold miners that fell into caverns. Allegedly, a prehistoric saber-tooth tiger also plummeted through the cave’s opening and some witnesses claim to have seen the beast’s ghost staring at them. One of its large fangs is noticeably chipped, which locals speculate happened in the fall that finished the spectral tiger now known as "Chip."
Various tours are available, including public walking tours and tours that include gold panning or geode cracking.
Bell Witch Cave
According to the legend of the Bell Witch, in 1804, a farmer named John Bell moved his wife and kids to a farm along the Red River in northern Robertson County. The property also included a cave, which became known as “The Bell Witch Cave," believed to be haunted by the spirit of a witch named Kate Batts, who felt that she was cheated by the Bells in the land purchase.
Strange animal sightings began in the summer of 1817. Late at night the family would hear strange noises, such as knocking on the door and all along the walls outside the house. At one point, the noises made their way inside the home and also included gnawing, choking, and dragging sounds. Vicious incidents by an unseen force plagued Betsy, the youngest Bell daughter, who suffered scratches, hair pulling, and physical beatings. John himself was prone to choking fits and illnesses until he finally passed in 1820. Once John passed and Betsy called off her engagement, the witch apparently felt her vengeful work was done and returned home to the cave for years.
She returned to the home in 1828, allegedly speaking to John Bell Jr. and promising to return 107 years later. Considering all the paranormal activity locals reported near the witch cave and even throughout the town in the interim, however, many believe she never left.
Anyone who wishes to take a peek inside the Bell Witch Cave or the replica of the old Bell Cabin can do so via a variety of official tours during the day or night.
Mammoth Cave
Horror author H.P. Lovecraft’s story “The Beast in the Cave” was inspired by this famously creepy Kentucky cave system. Mammoth Cave is as massive as its namesake implies. In fact, it may very well be the largest haunted cave in the United States, with about 400 miles of explored area. Much of the cave’s expanse remains unseen, however. Evidence suggests prehistoric people began mining the cave as far back as 4,000 years ago and eventually used it to bury their dead. This went on for 2,000 years before they abruptly abandoned the cave.
Whatever caused them to flee remains unknown, but it might have something to do with the plethora of ghost sightings that have occurred over subsequent years. After the War of 1812, the caves were sold off to mine saltpeter and enslaved people were sent to work (and die) in the caves. Apparitions of deceased enslaved people are often reported.
In 1839, a cave section was converted into a makeshift tuberculosis village by a doctor who believed the purity of the cave’s air would fight infection and purify patients' lungs. Many perished inside Mammoth, however, and are believed to still haunt it to this very day.
The National Park Service has an exhaustive selection of Mammoth Cave tours to suit any inclination.
Chislehurst Caves
The Chislehurst Caves in the United Kingdom are human-made mines that may very well be home to many spirits. The first record of this cave system dates back to 1250, and the 22-mile network is thought to be the work of generations of Druids, Romans, and Saxons. Tour guides highlight the supposed Druid altars and the chilling but apocryphal tales surrounding the caves involving both ritual sacrifices and cold-blooded slayings.
The sound of screams, murmurs, children giggling, and footsteps can be heard echoing from deep within the labyrinth. It's not just ancient ghosts either. During the blitz in WWII, over 5,000 Londoners took refuge in the caves at night. Naturally, modern locals report that those who lost their lives in the caves still haunt the tunnels.
For those who wish to see for themselves, paid tours lasting under an hour are available.
The Cave Of Sibyl
Cultures across the globe have held the belief that various natural formations can be gateways into the underworld. One of the oldest known "entrances to hell" is in the ancient Greek settlement of Cumae, near what is now Naples. It's known as the Cave of Sibyl and apparently, even birds won’t fly over it.
According to legend, the oracle of the ancient priestess, Sibyl, guards this gateway and guides travelers on their descent into Hades.
For a diabolical doorway, Sybil's Cave is a surprisingly well-reviewed tourist destination.
The Wabasha Street Caves
This quirky little place may look like a normal building on the outside, but it’s really a series of human-made cave in disguise. Saint Paul, Minnesota, is home to the Wabasha Street Caves, built into sandstone caves along the Mississippi River. The caves were bored to mine silica and have served many purposes since, acting as a speakeasy and a gangster hideout.
Three gangsters were gunned down here in the early 1930s and can still be spotted lurking around inside the caves today. The ghostly sightings have leaked out of the caves and into an adjoining cafe, where staff and customers have claimed to see the apparitions of a woman sitting at the bar with a man in a panama hat.
Anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of gangster ghosts can tour the cave for $8.
Robber’s Cave
Robber’s Cave of Lincoln, Nebraska, was once known as Pahuk Bluff and served as a sacred meeting spot for the Pawnee Indians. The cave system beneath the bluff was where the Pawnee taught many traditional practices, such as healing, animal powers, and the medicinal and magical value of plants and roots.
Nowadays, locals claim to hear the sounds of beating drums and chanting as if the rituals are still being performed by ghosts. There have also been reports of screams and moans emanating from the caves. The elaborate cave system was sealed for years but can now be toured by the public.
