Your Guide to the Floyd Collins Entrapment: A 100-Year Commemoration

  • 9 min read
  • Rachelle Wright

In 1925, the world was mesmerized by the entrapment of caver, Floyd Collins. 100 years later, his entrapment in Sand Cave – a tragedy that captivated national and international radio waves – is about to be commemorated in Kentucky’s cave country. Floyd Collins’ legacy as a daring explorer and the dramatic events surrounding his death make this centennial a meaningful time to reflect on his life, his contributions to cave exploration and the tenacity of his Kentucky culture.

Here’s your guide to understanding his story and planning a road trip to honor his life.

The Story of Floyd Collins

Floyd Collins was an ambitious caver, determined to find a new cave that could boost tourism and therefore his family’s opportunities. He had successfully discovered and opened Great Crystal Cave on his family land and was notorious for helping others with cave exploration and development in the area. As the stories go, if he could get his head and one arm through a hole – he was gone. 
Floyd was living in an era now known as “Cave Wars.” Money was scarce in this area of Kentucky. Farm land could provide a subsistence, but not much more. Once land owners realized that travelers would pay to tour a cave, then everyone was scurrying to find a cave for visitors to tour. And as the real estate golden rule proclaims, in this war a lot had to do with location, location, location.  
On January 30, 1925 Floyd set out to explore Sand Cave – a small cave “on the way” to the famed historic entrance of Mammoth Cave. 
As he was leaving Sand Cave, after a day of exploring, he became unable to free his left leg from beneath a heavy rock that had moved as he was crawling through a tight spot. What followed was an extraordinary rescue effort that captivated the world, but despite the tireless work of rescuers, Floyd passed away underground, a casualty of the Cave Wars. 

The Timeline of Events

January 30, 1925 – Floyd Becomes Trapped

Collins entered Sand Cave on a solo expedition to find new passages. Deep inside the narrow cave, a large rock dislodged, pinning his left leg. Unable to free himself, he was stranded 55 feet below the surface.

January 31, 1925 – A Desperate Search Begins

When Floyd failed to return, his brothers went to find him and discovered him trapped. Rescue attempts began immediately, but with the dangerously tight passage, shifting rocks made progress nearly impossible.

February 1–3, 1925 – A National Story Emerges

Rescue efforts intensified, drawing locals and media alike. Reporters documented the race against time, and one journalist, William “Skeets” Miller, became a central figure. Miller, a Louisville Courier-Journal reporter, went on to earn a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of this event. Crawling into the cave to speak with Floyd, Miller delivered food and reported on the caver’s deteriorating condition, bringing the story to national prominence.

February 4–5, 1925 – The World Watches

As news spread, thousands of spectators descended on the site. Sand Cave became a chaotic scene, with vendors selling snacks and souvenirs as engineers devised rescue plans. Experts determined a vertical shaft was the only viable option for rescue.

February 6–13, 1925 – Digging the Rescue Shaft

Workers began digging a shaft parallel to Floyd’s location. The process was grueling, with freezing temperatures, unstable ground, and growing public pressure. As the days passed, hopes of reaching Floyd alive began to fade.

February 16, 1925 – Floyd’s Death Confirmed

By the time rescuers reached him through the completed shaft, Floyd had succumbed to exposure and starvation. It was estimated he had died three days earlier. His body remained pinned beneath the rock.

February 17–18, 1925 – Recovery Attempts Abandoned

Efforts to recover Floyd’s body were deemed too dangerous, leaving him entombed in Sand Cave for the time being. The public mourned his loss, and the rescue site grew quiet once more.

July 1925 – Floyd’s Body is Recovered

After months of planning, Floyd’s remains were finally retrieved. He was buried on his family’s property. His story does not end here. 

1935 – The Display of Floyd’s body

In 1927, Dr. H. B. Thomas purchased the Collins Homestead, grounds and cave. Thomas had Collins’ body moved to Great Crystal Cave (today a part of Mammoth Cave National Park) and displayed in a glass topped coffin. The decision was controversial but drew tourists, keeping his story alive.

1989 – A Final Resting Place

Collins’ body was brought out of Great Crystal Cave and laid to rest in Mammoth Cave Baptist Church Cemetery. Today, this is a cemetery you can visit to pay your respects to Floyd. 

Ready to take a Floyd Collins journey of your own? Here’s a few spots to include in your road trip:

1. Mammoth Cave National Park

  • Location: Mammoth Cave, KY
  • Why Visit: Sand Cave is now part of Mammoth Cave National Park in the heart of Kentucky’s cave country. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a fascinating look at the underground world of which Floyd Collins was such a part. 
  • What to do: Guided tours range from easy walks to challenging spelunking adventures.  There are also accessible tours available throughout the year. 

2. Hidden River Cave

  • Location: Horse Cave, KY
  • Why Visit: Floyd was involved in the early development of Hidden River Cave, which is just off/under Main Street in Horse Cave. He assisted with the building of steps into the cave and some exploration of the cave in the early 1900’s. 
  • What to do: Follow Floyd’s steps into the cave on a tour and cross the world’s longest underground suspension bridge. See Sunset Dome, a full acre room underground. Take an Off Trail Cave Tour where you can crawl through passageways like Floyd and yes, get a little muddy. Overalls, pads, helmets and lights provided with tour reservation. 

3. Mammoth Cave Baptist Church Cemetery

  • Location: Mammoth Cave, KY
  • Why Visit: This cemetery on Flint Ridge Road is Floyd Collins’ final resting place. After years of controversy surrounding the display of his remains inside Crystal Cave, Floyd was reburied here in 1989. When you visit you’ll see that people often leave small tokens on the grave. 
  • What to do: Take time to step inside the church when you visit, it is one of several preserved buildings from the pre-Park communities. 

3. Sand Cave (Observation Area)

  • Location: Mammoth Cave National Park (accessible via trail)
  • Why Visit: Sand Cave is closed to the public for safety reasons, but the entrance where Floyd became trapped, is visible from an observation deck. Interpretive trail signage provides historical information about Floyd and the rescue efforts. The short trail to the observation deck is an accessible boardwalk trail. 
  • What to do: Take the accessible boardwalk trail to the observation deck – make sure you take a moment in the woods to imagine what it would have been like to have waited there with thousands of people while the rescue efforts were happening back in 1925. 

4. Collins’ Homestead, which includes the ticket office for Great Crystal Cave

  • Location: Mammoth Cave, KY 
  • Why Visit: Great Crystal Cave was originally discovered by Floyd in 1917 on the homestead once owned by Collins’ family. This cave was the focus of his efforts to attract tourists. Today, the cave is part of Mammoth Cave National Park and closed to the public, but its history is inseparable from Floyd’s legacy.  
  • Pro tip: Visiting the home and grounds requires walking a closed road inside the park. There is a small area for parking on Flint Ridge Road, just passed Mammoth Cave Baptist Church. The road is over one mile in length, one way. 
  • Also of note: In 1927, Dr. H. B. Thomas purchased the Collins Homestead and cave. He renamed the cave to “Floyd Collins Crystal Cave,” and continued to attract tourists. Dr. Thomas and his descendants operated the Floyd Collins Crystal Cave as a private show cave from 1927 until 1960 when it was purchased by the National Park Service to be included within Mammoth Cave National Park. This is the cave where Floyd’s body was on display.  

5. Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

  • Location: Horse Cave, KY
  • Why Visit: This nearby attraction offers a family-friendly way to experience Kentucky’s caves. While not directly related to Floyd Collins, its on-site cave – Mammoth Onyx Cave – provides an educational look at underground ecosystems and geology. The park today also includes interactive encounters with kangaroos, lorikeets and many animals in the zoo.
  • Also of note: Dr. H.B. Thomas owned Mammoth Onyx Cave, Hidden River Cave and Floyd Collins’ Great Crystal Cave, after his death. 

6. Floyd Collins artifacts on display at American Cave Museum 

  • Location: Horse Cave, KY 
  • Why Visit: Permanent exhibits displaying artifacts and newspaper articles from Floyd’s entrapment and life. 

6. Special Events

  • Floyd Collins theatre production at SKyPAC: In commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of Floyd’s entrapment, the Ramsey Theatre Company presents Floyd Collins. A haunting story featuring folk and bluegrass score at SKyPAC in Bowling Green, Kentucky on March 8th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
  • Mammoth Cave Evening Programs: the park will host special evening programs in the Rotunda Room in The Lodge at Mammoth Cave to discuss the life of Floyd Collins. The available dates are: Friday, February 21st at 6:45 p.m. for The Life and Tragic Death of Floyd Collins and Saturday, February 22nd at 6:45 p.m. for Floyd Collins Discussion Panel with Subject Matter Experts.

Tips for Your Commemorative Journey

  • Timing: All places on our list are open for year round adventure
  • Gear Up: Bring sturdy walking shoes for hiking trails and layered clothing for exploring caves (temperatures underground remain cool year-round).
  • Stay Local: Book accommodations in Horse Cave to immerse yourself in the area’s charm

Why Remember Floyd Collins?

Floyd Collins’ story isn’t just about tragedy—it’s about courage, innovation, and the human spirit’s desire to explore the unknown. As you visit these sites, you’ll not only connect with a pivotal moment in Kentucky’s history but also gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and mystery of the underground world Floyd loved so dearly.

This centennial road trip is more than a journey through Kentucky—it’s a tribute to tenacity and the enduring spirit of adventure.

Want to listen to a Floyd expert or two, recounting the stories of his life? Here’s the links to two podcasts we have recorded Mammoth Cave National Park Ranger Chris Clark and American Cave Conservation Association’s President and CEO, Dave Foster.