With over 300 miles documented, Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world. The cave has been toured by the public since the early 1800s and is even mentioned in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
One of the first and most famous cave guides of Mammoth Cave is said to still walk the corridors. Stephen Bishop was a slave who is said to have refused freedom due to fear he would have to leave his beloved cave. And some say he still hasn't left. Whether or not Bishop's spirit has left the cave, his legacy remains. Many of his cave maps are still in use today.
Another famous ghost at Mammoth Cave is known as Melissa. Melissa is reported to have been a very beautiful bell who fell in love with her tutor, a northerner from Boston. When the tutor rejected her, she mischeivously lead him deep into the cave, which she knew very well, and left him there alone. When she went back to find him again, he was gone and was never found again. Some say the distraught woman is still searching for him until this day.
Sand Cave is said to be haunted by Floyd Collins. Floyd Collins was a very brave cave explorer until one day, back in 1925, while trying to crawl through a very tight spot, he found himself hopelessly wedged between rocks. Rescue workers tried their best to free him, but nothing they tried worked. His unfortunate situation soon caught the attention of the media, and people came from all around to visit the sight. Not wanting to let a good opportunity pass them by, his own family made a nice profit selling Floyd Collins souvenirs. Floyd died before he could be rescued, but I'm sure he would have been happy to know that his body was displayed for a time at the cave entrance in a glass coffin for everyone to gawk at. The body was stolen for a time but was safely returned minus one left leg. Perhaps someone thought it would be nice to keep the leg as a momento. Given the horrendous circumstances surrounding his death, it's no wonder some believe Floyd' s spirit still dwells there.
