Local Legends & Myths About Bristol Caverns

Discovered before the completion of the Washington Monument and open to the public longer than Mountain Dew has been on shelves, Bristol Caverns has long cemented itself as one of the pillars of the Tri-cities. Thousands upon thousands have ventured into its depths, with tourists and locals alike enjoying its timeless beauty.

However, whenever a site such as ours has been around for so long, legends and myths are bound to pop up. These stories around Bristol Caverns number far too many to list in their entirety, but here are a few of the more common ones.

3 Common Myths

Myth #1: Bristol Caverns Caves System Connects to Multiple Caves in the Region, Most Notably in Abingdon, VA.

This is demonstrably false. For years locals have claimed that nearly all of the caves in our area are connected—and be assured, many are—but this is simply not the case for our system.

Myth #2: Natives Used Our Cave to Escape From Settlers

This is perhaps the most widespread of these rumors, but this too is unfounded. No artifacts from civilizations past have been found, no writings are to be seen on the walls, but most importantly no signs of smoke or fire can be seen in the cave. The total lack of evidence leads us to believe that this is simply a rumor stirred up to attract attention.

Myth #3: The Story of Betty Bishop

Perhaps the most interesting of the three, the story of Betty Bishop is as widespread as it is inconsistent. Many versions of the tale exist, but the core version remains intact. Essentially, in the early days of Bristol’s founding, a woman named Betty Bishop was murdered and thrown in the cave through our natural skylight entrance. Despite rigorous searching, this too has yet to be proven by local records.

Why So Many False Stories?

Many of these stories likely find their origin in the Kentucky Cave Wars of the early 20th century, a brutal conflict between showcaves that extended well into neighboring states, including Tennessee. In this multiple-decade long dispute, many showcaves would send staff undercover to other caves to sabotage their formations and steal their stories, each trying to one-up the other in an attempt to dominate the market. In light of this, it is very reasonable that the vast majority of our tall tales were created in the dying embers of the conflict, perhaps even being created before Bristol Caverns’ official opening in 1944.

The Stories Live On

Whether they be truth or the creation of man, the stories surrounding Bristol Caverns are unlikely to ever die. Use our contact form to tell us the myths and legends that you’ve heard or ask us any questions that you may have.