The Return of the Mammoth Cave Stagecoach
Story by Brandi Dixon
After the death of the infamous Jesse James, authorities found a watch on his body belonging to Judge Rutherford Harrison Rountree. As the story goes, Rountree and his daughter were robbed while traveling by stagecoach near Mammoth Cave.
“2 men were arrested and charged with the crime, but it wasn’t until Jesse James was killed that the judge’s watch with his initials engraved on it and a very distinct brooch belonging to his daughter were recovered on his body,” says Greg Davis, historian and Mammoth Cave National Park Association board member. “The belongings actually revealed James as the 1 who robbed the stage.”
Known today as the Mammoth Cave Stagecoach, this piece of history came to life thanks to the efforts of board member Greg Davis and Bobby Bunnell, president of the Mammoth Cave National Park Association.
Greg served as general manager of concessions to the park for many years, overseeing a warehouse housing the stagecoach remnants. “Having watched over it for many years and getting close to retiring, I knew I needed to do something,” he says. “So, I approached the association about taking ownership of the warehouse and moving the pieces.” To accomplish this goal, Greg worked with park services and the Hanson family, who owned the coach pieces.
The Restoration
After taking ownership to have the stagecoach restoration, Greg learned about Raymer’s Coaches in Montgomery, Indiana. Owner Vic Raymer, a member of the Amish community, and his team took on the project for the Mammoth Cave National Park Association, which lasted close to 2 years.
“Our ultimate goal of the association was to have the coach on display at Mammoth Cave,” Bobby says. “It took a little while to work through the process with park services, but we just knew once we saw the new design for the Lodge that the coach would become the prime photographic piece on display there at Mammoth Cave, and sure enough, it is the focal point of their lobby.”
The Mammoth Cave Stagecoach returned to Mammoth Cave National Park in 2023 with historically accurate fanfare and procession. Pulled by a team of 4 horses and announced with blasts from a bugle, she made her way proudly into the Lodge where she resides today.
Greg says having this piece of history gives families visiting Mammoth Cave National Park a unique opportunity to see how early visitors traveled to the area.
“Guests can take walking tours and see the stagecoach and the Hercules steam train engine,” Bobby says. “Our main focus was returning a piece of history to Mammoth Cave for the preservation and enjoyment of the people.”