Back In The Day, This Arizona Cave Park Was A Bandit Hideout

If any state is infamous for its Wild West history, it's Arizona. After all, the O.K. Corral shootout happened in our very own town of Tombstone. Another place in the Grand Canyon State that once served as a hideout for outlaws is Colossal Cave Mountain Park near Tucson. Four train robbers allegedly stashed their stolen loot in the cave over 100 years ago, evading law enforcement for weeks before a deadly gunfight ensued. Learn all about the Colossal Cave bandits:

Located just 15 minutes outside of Tucson, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is one of the most underrated places in Arizona.

Hidden in the majestic Rincon Mountains that were created 80 million years ago, Colossal Cave is one of the largest dry caves in America. It has been inhabited since as early as 900 AD, and, in more recent history, was allegedly used as a hiding place for train-robbing bandits.

The legend goes a little something like this: In 1884, before Colossal Cave was open to the public for tours, four men robbed a train near the tiny town of Pantano at gunpoint.

After escaping with approximately $72,000 in gold and currency, the men stole away into the Rincon Mountains to evade law enforcement.

As the story goes, then-sheriff Bob Leatherwood traced the bandits' escape route to the entrance to what is now Colossal Cave.

The sheriff poked his head into the cave and was greeted by the sound of gunfire, so he decided to hole up outside the entrance for two weeks and wait for the inevitable emergence of the men.

Towards the end of the two weeks, a deputy found the sheriff and told him that four men in a Willcox saloon were boasting about how they had taken a back exit out of the cave and left the Pima County sheriff looking like a fool.

As they gloated, the men were throwing gold around without a care in the world, and it became immediately apparent that they were the train robbers.

Law enforcement raced to the saloon and engaged in a gunfight with the men. Three of the bandits were killed, and the fourth, Phil Carver, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison.

The sheriff and his deputies discovered the bandits' lair in the cave, complete with the remains of a campfire, food, and clothing - but no gold or cash. Upon his release from prison, Carver must have headed straight for the cave to retrieve his incredibly well-hidden stash, because when law enforcement returned to the lair to inspect it even more thoroughly, several empty mailbags were waiting for them.

Infamous history aside, Colossal Cave is a must-visit when in the Tucson area.

Not only can you explore the cave on a variety of unique tours, but the park also offers hiking, horseback riding, camping, a restaurant, and a gift shop.

As is the case with many legends, this story is likely a combination of several (true) stories, which you can learn more about on the Colossal Cave Mountain Park website. You can also visit the Colossal Cave Mountain Park Facebook page for more information about the park and its myriad of activities.

Did you know about the Colossal Cave bandits? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don't forget to check out our previous article to learn about the various activities you can enjoy at Colossal Cave Mountain Park.