In early November 1803, the Lewis and Clark flotilla passed a unique 55-foot-wide cave in the high limestone bluffs above the Ohio River. In 1797, Samuel Mason converted the cavern into a tavern he called Cave-in-Rock, but beware to anybody stopping here:
“From this apparently innocent and inviting position, Mason would dispatch his cohorts upriver to befriend unwary and bewildered travelers with offers of help and guidance. As they neared the cave, these henchmen would disable their boats or force them toward the yawning hollow, where the hapless pilgrims would be robbed, or worse. Few victims lived to tell their story.”
On their way down the Ohio, no doubt Lewis, Clark, and their crew heard that two Mason Gang members recently escaped from imprisonment and Governor Claiborne offered a $1,000 reward for their return—dead or alive.
Today, Cave-in-Rock State Park offers sweeping access not only to the cave, but to the heavily wooded bluffs above it. The park contains 34 Class A campsites and 25 Class B/S tent sites. The Cave-in-Rock Restaurant and Lodge features southern-style cooking and eight suites with deluxe baths, dining areas, and private patio decks overlooking the Ohio River.
The park is a great place to picnic with three playground areas, shaded picnic shelters, and four large shelters available for group rentals. Several hiking trails wind through the forests and provide expansive views of the river—the same views used by Ohio River pirates of the past.
https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.caveinrock.html
Restaurant and Lodge: 618-289-4545
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