A Fright at Tennessee's Creepiest Haunted Locations

It’s time for stories filled with ghosts, furniture that moves by itself, figures in hallways and everything paranormal. When you come to Tennessee, ghosts are tied to history, reliving their past in battlefields, hotels, theaters and mansions. Don’t be surprised if you bump into one when you visit these historically haunted Tennessee destinations:

Haunted Hotels

The Read House Hotel – Chattanooga, TN

Before you book a stay at the luxurious Read House Hotel in Chattanooga with plush bedding, complimentary Wi-Fi and name brand bath amenities, make sure you book a tour of Room 311 where it’s believed to be haunted by Annalisa Netherly who tragically died while at the hotel. Reports have been made about ghostly figures appearing in the mirror and resting on the bed.

Thomas House Hotel – Red Boiling Springs, TN

One of the most haunted places in the U.S., the Thomas House Hotel is built on an ancient Native American trail and has been witness to deaths, murders, accidents and a home for a cult. Beds move, dark figures appear. You’ll experience cold spots, hear disembodied voices and feel absolutely terrified. The hotel hosts overnight ghost hunt weekends throughout the year, not for the faint of heart.

Gaylord Opryland Hotel - Nashville, TN

Gaylord Opryland Hotel is one of Nashville's luxurious hotels, home to nine acres of gardens and indoor waterfalls, beautiful accommodations and extensive dining options. But, did you know it's also frequented by a ghost? Reports have been made that an apparition visits the hotel. People have said they have seen ghostly figures. The ghost is known to rattle the chandelier in the Magnolia Lobby.

Haunted Ghost Tours

Appalachian Ghostwalks - Johnson City, TN

Tennessee's cities and towns host ghost walks throughout the year, giving visitors an opportunity to have their own close encounter with the abnormal and paranormal. A few to consider include the Appalachian Ghost Walks, which occur around Johnson City, Jonesborough (a Travel Channel "Top Ten Haunted Towns in America"), Rogersville, Gatlinburg and more. Jonesborough also conducts a ghost tour through the East TN Tours & Paranormal Technology. The certified tour guides lead participants along Historic Jonesborough's streets by candlelight, sharing historic facts and stories sure to leave a shiver down your spine.

Chattanooga Ghost Tours - Chattanooga, TN

Weekend ghost hunts and day and nightly tours are available through the Chattanooga Ghost Tours. Bring a camera to document the ghostly orbs, full figures and mists that are seen at some of the locations you visit. Referred to as the Most Haunted Public Square in America, Gallatin Ghost Walks host weekend tours in October in and around downtown Gallatin. Visitors can hear the history of the area and perhaps experience seeing orbs and figures in their photos. Sevierville hosts History & Haunts every Saturday in October. Visitors can walk downtown Sevierville to hear family-friendly ghost stories. 

Elmwood Cemetery - Memphis, TN

Elmwood Cemetery is Memphis' oldest active cemetery and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a self-guided audio tour which dives into some of the notable people and more than 1,000 Confederate soldiers, officers and generals who are buried here. Or, opt for one of the docent-led events that happen throughout the year. While not considered officially haunted, Elmwood Cemetery hosts 'Soul of the City' in October each year that includes tales from Elmwood residents. You can even grab dinner on-site, too. 

Haunted Hospitals

Old South Pittsburg Hospital - South Pittsburg, TN

Voted Tennessee's most haunted hospital, Old South Pittsburg Hospital is nestled in the foothills of the South Pittsburg Mountain. Experience the 68,000 square-foot hospital with an overnight ghost hunt. Many have reported seeing dark shadow figures in the corridors and rooms, disembodied voices and other paranormal phenomenon. The third floor, especially, you have a chance of seeing a 7-foot shadow figure of a man believed to be one of the past surgeons. Some have also reported seeing a toddler on the second floor, playing or urging the living to play with him and hold him as well as a female nurse and an elderly woman.

Old Historic Harriman Hospital - Harriman, TN

The Old Historic Harriman Hospital was once an active hospital with state-of-the-art healthcare. Once the new surgical wing was added, the hospital stretched a whole city block by the 1970s. Now, the historic hospital is active for other reasons. People have reportedly seen Joanna, a nurse who worked until her death at an early age and now walks the halls; items moving with no one present; figures standing in windows and hallways; and kids walking around the area. Two overnight investigation tours are available - full night tours each night from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. and half-night investigations Sunday-Thursday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Haunted Jails

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary - Petros, TN

Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary was a prison started in 1896 as a jail and a coal mine for Tennessee. Some of the nation's most dangerous prisoners came to Brushy including James Earl Ray, Paul Dennis Reid and others. Today, the penitentiary is open for self-guided daytime tours, but also paranormal tours where visitors may hear footsteps, disembodied voices and see apparitions. Though the death penalty was never carried out here, some inmates did die of natural causes or by the hands of their fellow inmates. Tour guests have been shoved, growled at, touched and even scratched by invisible forces. 

Historic Scott County Jail - Huntsville, TN

One of the oldest buildings in Scott County, the Historic Scott County Jail was built in 1904. The three-story building includes the jailer's quarters on the first floor and the third floor served as maximum security. The jail is on the National Register of Historic Places. Self-guided museum tours and guided tours of the jail are available. The Historic Scott County Jail has some spine-tingling stories attached to its name, including an unsolved murder of a sheriff, inmate murders and many men and women imprisoned in its century-long history. See if you can interact with the ghosts of the jail during a public or private paranormal investigation. You'll be guided through the experience by a professional paranormal investigator and will learn about all the techniques used to detect apparitions. If you're on a public ghost hunt, you will have time to investigate on your own with the paranormal expert on-hand to answer questions or assist you. Participants must be 18 years old or older.

Haunted Theatres

Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN

One of the city’s oldest buildings, the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville has served as a hotel called the Lamar House, a hospital during the Civil War, a site for Vaudeville, an “adult” movie house and, currently, a theater for concerts, plays and more. Paranormal voices, audio recorded noises and sights of apparitions have been reported.

Orpheum Theatre – Memphis, TN

Many Memphis travelers and locals alike adore the plethora of musicals, concerts and fine arts events hosted by the Orpheum Theatre. However, one guest in particular, Mary, hauntingly enjoys the theater from her balcony seat in C5. Many patrons, workers and actors have seen Mary watch the performances. She has allegedly been spotted dancing in the hallways and playing pranks on housekeepers by hiding their tools. 

Haunted Historic Mansions/Homes

Historic Rugby, TN

Did you know the entire town of Historic Rugby is haunted? And now, you can take an After Dark Tour Thursdays-Sundays - choose the Haunted Village Lantern Tour or the Haunted North Village & Cemetery Tour (also conducted by lantern light) - to hear the ghost stories yourself. The village of Rugby preserves the history of the community that called it home in the 1880s. Tours, conducted by History, Highways, and Haunts, LLC, include Haunted History and Ghost Walks, guided ghost hunts and private paranormal investigations. You'll hear the village's rich history as well as ghost stories that will stay with you forever.

Wheatlands Plantation - Sevierville, TN

Take a scenic drive on the Boyds Creek Fall Driving Tour in Sevierville. While journeying over rolling hills and fertile river bottoms, you'll see Boyd's Creek, an historic farming community dating back to the American Revolution. You'll see Dolly Parton's Statue, farms, Oak Haven Resort and Spa, historic churches and historic homes, including Wheatlands Plantation. A story goes that you may see blood stains in the home's parlor during a guided tour. After the owner of the estate left the plantation to her grandson, his jealous father confronted him and was murdered with an iron poker. Though the floors have been cleaned numerous times, the blood stains seem to return. 

Lotz House - Franklin, TN

Learn about the haunted history of the Lotz House in Franklin. You'll have a chance to experience the Civil War spirits and unexplained phenomenon that are said to haunt the home like sounds of a woman crying out for a loved one, moving items and a little girl staring out the window. The guided, 90-minute tour tells the story of the Lotz House, one of the homes that was ground zero for the Battle of Franklin. Travel Channel has even dubbed the home one of "The Most Terrifying Places in America."

Cragfont State Historic Site - Castalian Springs, TN

Visit Cragfont State Historic Site in Castalian Springs for rich history and paranormal activity. The home is located on what were originally hunting grounds for native American peoples and was home to white settlers and enslaved families. While touring the home, you'll hear their stories and explore the landscape and buildings that saw this history unfold. 

Oaklands Mansion - Murfreesboro, TN

Oaklands Historic Mansion is known as Murfreesboro's spookiest historic home. The mansion celebrates in October with a variety of events including "A Mansion in Mourning" which highlights the funeral traditions of the 19th century. Additionally, guided night tours and self-guided night tours of the mansion where you'll find dimly lit parlors and obscure objects on display. After your tour, make your way along the wetlands trail and see the dark reflections of Maney Spring. For your safety, please bring your own flashlight. 

Woodruff-Fontaine Mansion – Memphis, TN

Mollie Woodruff, who lived in the late 1800s, lost a child to yellow fever. Three days later, she lost her husband from a boating accident. She eventually remarried and had a second child who also died as an infant. She’s said to haunt the Woodruff-Fontaine Mansion, as that was where she was the happiest. Reports of staff needing to smooth out the bedclothes in Mollie’s room have been shared along with other paranormal activity. 

The Mallory-Neely House - Memphis, TN

The Mallory-Neely House is one of Memphis' most visited historic homes by visitors and ghosts alike. One of the best preserved collections of high Victorian decor and furnishings in the U.S. can be found here as well as disembodied sounds of a crying woman from the home's third story. Reports have been shared of the home being guarded by an older woman's ghostly figure with untamed, white hair on the third floor staircase as well as a disembodied hand that has been spotted on the banister.

Haunted Bars

Earnestine & Hazel's - Memphis

While in Memphis, make your way to one of the best dive bars in the U.S. On S. Main Street, Earnestine & Hazel's welcomes you to enjoy the greatest jukebox in the country, get a taste of a Soul Burger and take a ghost tour to see if Earnestine and Hazel are still around. The dive bar has been named one of the most haunted places in America. Stop by for music that will get you dancing, satisfying food and a spooky story or two.

Haunted Battlefields

Shiloh National Military Park - Shiloh, TN

Shiloh National Military Park in Shiloh preserves the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. You can hike the grounds of the park, following trails that will lead you to tablets and monuments away from the auto tour roads. There's also a 1.1-mile trail that leads to the historic Shiloh Indian Mounds village. You can also pick up a map from the visitor center and drive the 12.7-mile, 20-stop, self-guiding driving tour of the battlefield.

Haunted Caves

Bell Witch Cave - Adams, TN

No list would be complete without Tennessee’s scariest ghost story: The legend of the Bell Witch. Kate Batts is reportedly the witch who haunted John Bell and his family, particularly a daughter, Betsy Bell. Batts believed Bell cheated her out of a land deal. She later died and that’s when the strange occurrences began: sounds of a rat gnawing on bed posts, knocking, and sounds of chains being drug through the house, stones dropped on the wooden floors, choking and gulping and seeing strange-looking animals on the property. She currently haunts the Bell Witch Cave which is open for tours. You can also visit the John Bell Cabin where these paranormal activities occurred.

Ruby Falls - Chattanooga, TN

In the months of September and October, you can get in the Halloween spirit by taking a special, after-hours Lantern Tour in Ruby Falls. Enjoy ghost stories from the 95-year history of Ruby Falls and Chattanooga by the light of hand-held lanterns on the walk to the waterfall. Visit the sites of mayhem, tragedy and peculiar encounters.