Heavy rain causes part of an old cave in Michigan where “The Great Train Robbery” was filmed to collapse

BERRIEN COUNTY, Michigan – Part of an old cave in Michigan where the movie “The Great Train Robbery” was filmed has collapsed during heavy rain.

A wall of Bear Cave in Buchanan collapsed this week, Adam Morris, the property manager of a campground near the cave, told MLive.com. The wall collapsed at night and was already closed to the public due to flooding, Morris said. He did not specify which night the collapse occurred.

The cave will remain closed until the inspection, Morris said. It was unclear when the inspection might take place.

Storms on July 9, 10 and 15 brought up to 7 inches of rain to Berrien County. According to the National Weather Service, the average July rainfall in Michigan is between 3 and 4 inches.

Bear Cave was formed more than 25,000 years ago, according to the campground. It served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped slaves, and bandits hid there in 1895 after robbing an Ohio bank. This story prompted producers to film part of the 1903 silent film “The Great Train Robbery” in the cave.

A large population of pygmy bats lives in the cave.