Most Haunted Places in Tennessee Guide
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- The Hunter Museum of American Art
- The Read House Hotel
- The Greenbriar Restaurant
- Elkmont Resort
- Lucy at Roaring Fork
- The Union Station Hotel
- The Old South Pittsburgh Hospital
- The Bell Witch Cave
- Loretta Lynn’s Ranch
- Historic Scott County Jail
- Old Grey Cemetery
- Bijou Theater
- Shiloh National Military Park
- Earnestine and Hazel’s
READ MORE: The 10 Most Haunted Places in North Carolina
Haunted Places in Chattanooga TN
1. Chattanooga Choo Choo
The old Terminal Station was converted into the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, which opened in 1973.
Since then, the building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s still going strong as a destination for Tennessee travelers.
It’s also home to several stories of haunted Chattanooga: The hotel has reported sightings of ghostly figures, and the location has made it onto several Chattanooga Walking Ghost Tours itineraries.
Guests have reported seeing apparitions of a porter hauling luggage, a mother looking for her lost child, and a Civil War soldier wandering the hotel halls.
There have also been reported sightings of spooky specters on the train cars themselves, some of which have been converted into hotel rooms.
Check rates to make a reservation at this haunted hotel in Tennessee.
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2. The Hunter Museum of American Art
Official Website
The Hunter Museum of American Art is home to more than just paintings. Built in the early 1900s, this museum is said to be haunted by a number of ghosts, most famously the spirit of Augusta Hoffman.
Hoffman, who lived at 15 Bluff View (right next door to the Hunter Museum) was murdered in 1915 at the age of 60 by her aunt and uncle.
When she disappeared, people originally thought that Hoffman had found love and left the area to get married.
But in 1924, during basement floor renovations of the house, carpenters dug up a skeleton that was later identified as the long-missing woman.
Although she died in the building next door, the “feminine shadows” of Augusta still roam the museum, as well does the spirit of George Thomas Hunter, the building’s original owner.
READ MORE: Exploring Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park in Lookout Mountain
3. The Read House Hotel
If you haven’t had your fill of haunted hotels in Tennessee yet, book a room in The Read House Hotel.
This stunning Chattanooga hotel celebrates early 1920s glitz and glamor.
Built back in 1847, the hotel bore witness to a number of historical events, including the Civil War and stays by General Ulysses S. Grant. In the 1920s, the hotel was expanded into the building we see today.
If you’re an amateur ghost hunter, Room 311 is said to be haunted by Annalisa Netherly. She was a hotel guest who stayed in this room in 1927, and was ultimately beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover.
Subsequent guests have reported hearing unexplained noises, ghostly shadows, flickering lights, and running water in the room.
If you’re unwilling to stay the night in Room 311, the Read House offers tours on request when it’s not occupied.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Places for White Water Rafting in Tennessee
Haunted Places in Gatlinburg TN
4. The Greenbriar Restaurant
If you’re seeking out haunted places in East Tennessee, swing by the Greenbriar Restaurant in the Smoky Mountains for a bite.
This great Gatlinburg restaurant combines the best of modern dining experiences with the timeless traditions of rich Appalachian culture.
The tragic story of the Greenbriar ghost centers on a woman named Lydia, who was so distraught after being left at the altar on her wedding day, she took her own life.
She is said to have died in the log cabin that still stands as a part of the restaurant today.
What makes the story even more sad is the fact that the body of her beloved was found in the forest a few days later, having been killed by a mountain lion.
In truth, she hadn’t been left at all!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Smoky Mountain Waterfalls to Visit
5. Elkmont Resort
Elkmont Resort might just be one of the eeriest and creepiest places in the Great Smoky Mountains.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this place was a thriving mountain resort established by wealthy hunters.
Today it is more widely known as Elkmont Ghost Town. Empty homes, desolate cabins, and the remains of the Wonderland Hotel have all been consumed by nature and are gradually disappearing into the landscape.
This site saw the horrific deaths of many people who worked in this once-thriving logging community.
Some visitors to the area claim to experience uneasy feelings, and report getting the chilling sense that they’re being watched!
The Appalachian Clubhouse, Spence Cabin, and four other cabins were renovated by the US National Parks and are now open for visitors to walk through.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
5. Lucy at Roaring Fork
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile loop trail that takes visitors past pristine creeks, waterfalls, old-growth forests, and a number of historic buildings.
If you visit the area, look out for Lucy, a ghost who can reportedly be seen wandering the area and looking for a ride.
Local legend says that Lucy died in her family’s cabin when it burned down in the early 1900s.
Sometime later, a man named Foster was said to have seen Lucy walking barefoot on the road on a cold winter night.
He picked her up and took her home. Unable to stop thinking about her, he returned to the home a short time later to inquire how she was doing.
It was then that he was informed that Lucy had died quite a while ago. Her spirit has been looking for a ride ever since!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Great Smoky Mountains Campgrounds to Visit
Haunted Places in Nashville TN
7. The Union Station Hotel
One of our favorite haunted attractions in Nashville, the Union Station is now a beautiful hotel with all the modern-day conveniences. But back in the early 1900s it was a busy railroad station.
In this famously haunted hotel in Nashville, Room 711 is where the ghost stories begin Every piece of antique furniture in this room was said to have been hand-picked to suit its permanent resident, Abigail.
While waiting for her beau to return from France after WWII, young Abigail learned that she would not be seeing him again. In her grief, she is said to have thrown herself on the tracks in front of a moving train.
Her ghost has since been seen roaming the hotel halls looking for her lost love, and seems to have claimed room 711 as her own.
Noises such as phones ringing and furniture being dragged around can be heard from the room of this haunted Nashville hotel, and visitors report lights being inexplicably turned on and off.
You can visit the hotel as part of a number of Nashville haunted tours, or you can get a full overnight experience by checking rates for the Union Station Hotel.
READ MORE: What is Bluegrass? The History & Evolution of Appalachian Music
8. The Old South Pittsburgh Hospital
There’s nothing quite as spooky as an old abandoned hospital, and this haunted hospital in Tennessee does not disappoint.
Built in 1959, the Old South Pittsburg Hospital is said to be at the top of the list of haunted places in Nashville, Tennessee.
It was reportedly built on sacred Native American land, which was later claimed by Union soldiers during the Civil War. Since then, there’s been a lot of alleged paranormal activity in and around the hospital.
Many employees that worked at the hospital reported inanimate objects moving on their own, shadowy figures roaming the corridors, and voices seemingly coming from nowhere.
It is said that a past surgeon still occupies the 3rd floor of the hospital, and a toddler (affectionately named Buddy) has been seen playing on the 2nd.
Their “Free Roam” days allow curious paranormal enthusiasts to explore this old hospital for themselves. Check their website for specific tours and times.
READ MORE: The Appalachian Legend of the Mothman in Point Pleasant WV
9. The Bell Witch Cave
Adams TN is home of one of the country’s most intriguing mysteries, and it’s thought to be one of the most haunted places in Tennessee.
The Tennessee legend of the Bell Witch haunting dates back to 1804, when John Bell, his wife Lucy, and their children moved to a 320-acre farm along the Red River.
By 1817, the family began to be terrorized by strange noises, animal appearances, and even physical violence by an unexplained supernatural entity.
The Bell Witch (as the spirit came to be known) is officially recorded as the direct cause of John Bell’s death in 1820.
Today the Bell Witch Cave is one of the last remaining original features on the Bell Farm, which also features a reconstructed cabin built around the chimney where the Bell Witch hauntings took place.
There are also artifacts from the original cabin, along with photos and news articles from the time that the Bell family lived there.
READ MORE: 10 Best Caverns and Underground Caves in Tennessee
10. Loretta Lynn’s Ranch
Beloved country singer Loretta Lynn was a coal miner’s daughter whose life is celebrated at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Guests can visit several museums there, from the Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum to the Doll & Fan Museum and The Grist Mill Museum.
Research by the family found that their 1800s home was the site of Civil War battles, with more than 18 Confederate grave sites said to be on site.
Is this the most haunted house in Tennessee? Visitors to the home (built by James Anderson as the Hurricane Mills Plantation) have reported mysterious sightings, disembodied voices, and weird electrical occurrences over the years.
Some people have reported seeing Confederate soldiers in the hallways, mothers grieving for lost children, and a séance that connected participants with Anderson’s spirit.
Visitors are welcome to tour this real-life haunted house in Tennessee, but certain areas (including the upstairs) remain closed off. These areas are where some of the most frightening sightings reportedly took place.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Campgrounds in Tennessee to Visit
Haunted Places in Knoxville TN
11. Historic Scott County Jail
A haunted prison in Tennessee simply has to be near the top of the list of the Southern states‘ spookiest places to visit.
Built in 1904, the Historic Scott County Jail is home to a daytime Museum Tour as well as nighttime Paranormal Tours.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this creepy castle-like building is now home to a 3-floor museum that sheds light on true crime and law enforcement history.
For supernatural thrill-seekers, there are private and group flashlight tours that are guided by paranormal investigators.
Be prepared to hear inexplicable stomping in the corridors, and see shadows of infamous (and long-dead) inmates.
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12. Old Grey Cemetery
Hospitals, houses, hotels, and jails? They’re all pretty creepy stuff, but surely a Cemetery has to be one of the most haunted places in Tennessee.
A visit to the Old Grey Cemetery in Knoxville TN will certainly not disappoint amateur ghost hunters.
Named after 18th century English poet Thomas Gray, the cemetery is the final resting place for many victims of the Civil War, as well as other souls who met tragic and untimely deaths.
This 13-acre graveyard is serene and beautiful by day, but things get a little more spine-tingling after the sun sets. And you can learn more about the area’s dark history on one of the cemetery’s guided tours.
Haunting stories of “Black Aggie” abound. This dark, robed apparition is said by some visitors to be benevolent, while others report him as chasing people from the grounds.
There are a number of seasonal events organized by the cemetery’s staff, including a “Spirits of Old Gray Tour.” Check out their website for details on dates, times, and tour prices.
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13. Bijou Theater
Creepy old theaters aren’t just for the Phantom of the Opera anymore! Knoxville’s Bijou Theatre, once the site of The Lamar House, has a long and tumultuous history.
The lot where the theater stands was bought in 1801 by Thomas Humes, who intended to build a hotel or tavern there. But he ultimately died before his vision could be realized.
The property went through various incarnations during the mid-1800s, but was finally named the Lamar House.
Over the years it has seen many renovations, but finally became Jake Wells’ Bijou Theatre in 1909. The theatre itself recognizes local folklore and stories of ghostly apparitions seen in the building.
Stage crew and actors alike have reported ghostly goings-on here, including strange recordings, weird photographic phenomena, and inexplicable electrical light displays.
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Haunted Places in Memphis TN
14. Shiloh National Military Park
The Civil War Battle of Shiloh in 1862 saw thousands of soldiers killed. Today, the Shiloh National Military Park pays homage to those that died in battle.
There’s plenty to see here for those who simply wish to pay respects and learn about this important Tennessee history.
But there’s also a little something for the avid ghost hunters!
Visitors to the area have given reports of hearing military-style drumming, disembodied voices and footsteps, and the sounds of 19th-century gunfire in the park.
One weird (and somewhat difficult to believe) story tells of a nearby pond spontaneously turning red. What’s even weirder is the fact that this phenomenon has been reported on more than one occasion.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Civil War Sites in Tennessee to Visit
15. Earnestine & Hazel’s
Though it’s primarily known as the best dive bar in Memphis, Earnestine & Hazel’s also rounds out our list of haunted attractions in Tennessee.
The building originally housed a pharmacy back in the late 1930s before being turned into a hair salon, which was run by ladies named Earnestine and Hazel.
Later incarnations included a cafe that was frequented by local artists such as B.B. King, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and Chuck Berry (who played live music at the nearby Club Paradise).
In addition to these legendary musicians, the halls of this building were said to have seen non-earthly guests who were accused of playing havoc with the jukebox and playing the piano without an invite.
You can hear harrowing tales of the city’s haunted heritage on a 2-hour Walking Ghost Tour. –by Emma Gallager
