For more than 150 years Port Charles has been a main location for the smuggling of contraband goods into the country -- specifically New York and the Northeast. The catacomb tunnels were originally dug under the city's Asian Quarter by The Triad. (Brad Cooper's biological family has run it for generations.)
Over time, the tunnel system spread over more of the town to handle the flow of illegal goods much of it coming over Lake Ontario from Canada. The heyday for contraband flowing into the city was during Prohibition (Booze of all kinds was illegal in the U.S. but legal in Canada) when the series of tunnels on Spoon Island (including under Wyndemere Castle) were dug. Today smuggling is still a big business in Port Charles controlled by Sonny Corinthos and The Triad in a live-and-let-live arrangement, However, instead of using hidden tunnels the contraband is stored until shipment to New York City and other points in a series of waterfrontwarehouses.
Frisco Jones and Felicia Cummings in the Catacombs (1989)
The catacombs were run under the Asian Quarter of the city in a 1985 story-line where Frisco Jones, Sean Donely and Suki were hiding from evil mastermind Chaing Wu.
Following a shootout with Burt Ramsey, Duke Lavery fakes his death and hides out in the catacombs.
An entrance to one of the catacombs (1993)
A 1993 story-line saw Lucky Spencer and Sly Eckert hiding out in catacombs while hiding from Frank Smith's henchmen. As the henchmen close in, Bill Eckert finds them just in time and is shot in the back protecting the children. Bill dies in the catacombs while Lucky and Sly are rescued by Luke Spencer and Laura Webber.
In 1996, when Bobbie Spencer discovered Damian Smithslept with Lucy Coe, she plotted her revenge by pretending to be a secret admirer and lured Damian into the catacombs. Then she cut the electricity and left Damian trying to climb out of the tunnel in the dark. Not being able to see three inches in front of him, Damian fell and broke his back.
The catacombs were again referenced in 1997 when Sonny Corinthos was being set up for drugs and Brenda Barrett was kidnapped by an employee of Sonny's who blamed her for Lily Corinthos' death. Brenda was brought to the catacombs to lure Sonny and when he arrived an explosion was set off which sealed off all exits. Brenda went into withdrawal from pain killers and Sonny began to suffer from claustrophobia. Both thinking they were going to die admitted their undying love for each other and made love.
In 2004, Cody McCall was murdered in the catacombs under Wyndemere Castle by his former business partner, Ben Rogers.
In 2013, Stephen Clay aka "Caleb Morley" kidnaps Sam McCall and her son Danny Morgan bringing them to Wyndemere. While Rafe Kovich, Jr. looked after Danny in the living room, Det. John McBain and Lucy pursued Caleb in the catacombs beneath Wyndemere. Separated from John, Lucy encountered the spirit of Alison Barrington, who also appeared to her son Rafe. Meanwhile, Sam was found imprisoned by Caleb. After a tense standoff involving Lucy, Caleb, and John, Caleb was presumed dead at the hands of John.
Robert Scorpio and Anna Devane decided to deal with Cesar Faison once and for all by leaving him trapped inside one of the catacombs under Wyndemere. However unbeknownst to them, Faison managed to escape.
In early 2018, Faison returns to Port Charles and kidnaps Liesl Obrecht, taking her to the stables at Wyndemere. When Faison discovers Lulu Spencer attempting to rescue Obrecht he traps her and gases the room leaving both to die. However, Lulu remembered the catacombs under the stables, where she and Liesl hid until they were rescued by Det. Dante Falconeri and Sonny.
At the beginning of 2019, Terry Randolph tells Oscar Nero-Quartermaine, Josslyn Jacks, and his parents that the treatment for his brain tumor did not work and that he will die in a matter of seven to eight months, though it could also be as early as six weeks. Oscar decides that he wants to live that time to the fullest. They make a bucket list of things he hasn't seen in town - like the catacombs. They get as far as a cellar entrance when he has another seizure. He is saved by his fatherDrew Quartermaine and uncleJason Morgan after Sam finds them trapped and is taken to GH for observation.
In mid-February 2023, when it's discovered that Ryan Chamberlain, Heather Webber, and Esme Prince have escaped from Spring Ridge Prison the police mobilize to find the fugitives. The concerned citizens are shocked to learn that Ryan was faking his incapacitation, Heather is The Hook, and together they are Esme's parents. The fugitive trio head to Wyndemere, as Ryan plans to bring his beloved obsession, Ava Jerome, with them on the run. The police need to get onto Spoon Island without getting caught or causing Heather or Ryan to harm the hostages. Realizing their dire situation - Laura brings up the underground tunnel system leading from the mainland to the island. Using her long-ago knowledge of the catacombs, they are able to take back Spoon Island and rescue the hostages.
