While Tennessee may be known for its country music and fried chicken, many people might not know that it is also home to some of the most haunted houses in America. And while Halloween is the prime time for those looking for haunted places and strange things, some of these attractions are open other times of the year too, so you don’t have to wait until Halloween night for some creepy fun.
If you are looking for a good scare and a chance to get your heart racing, here are the scariest haunted attractions Tennessee has to offer.
Creepy Hollow Haunted Woods
Creepy Hollow Haunted Woods is for the bravest of souls. Located in Spring Hill, Tennessee, right outside of Nashville, this top-rated haunt draws visitors from near and far. This is not your average haunted house, because you’ll experience a unique blend of indoor and outdoor scares here.
The wooded trails feature original scenes that are sure to startle, with different scares added every year to keep things fresh. Nashville Scene Magazine has rated Creepy Hollow as the most customer-interactive haunt in the area, so you should not expect an ordinary horror experience.
The Zombie Maze is sure to scare, with live zombies ready to pounce on you at any turn. Once you enter, there’s no going back, so enter at your own risk! The Halls of Horror’s fortune teller will tell you of your unfortunate future, while the Trails of Terror’s acres of horror are filled with monsters lurking around the cemetery and an abandoned school bus.
While you’re waiting for your turn at this haunted hell, spend some time around a cozy bonfire, and enjoy concessions or queue-line entertainment. And because it is an indoor/outdoor haunt, you can expect a rush of adrenaline and spine-chilling thrills.
Creepy Hollow is open Fridays and Saturdays during the month of October. Check their website annually for details.
Nashville Nightmare
Step inside Nashville Nightmare and you will be transported to a world of horror, where reality and fiction converge into a nightmarish experience. Located just northeast of Nashville, in the Madison Town Center shopping center, this haunted house has been scaring visitors for 12 years.
Over the years, Nashville Nightmare has modified its haunts to make them even scarier. With intricate sets and special effects, Nashville Nightmare creates many spooky environments that will surely shake you in your boots. Nashville Nightmare also offers five different themed haunts at one ticket price.
These haunts are Horror High-All Hallow’s Eve, Midnight Mortuary, Cursed Legends of the Deep, Outcast Carnival and Vector Research. Outside of the Halloween season, Nashville Nightmare also opens up during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other times throughout the year.
Frightmare Manor
If you’re searching for a real haunted house, explore the dark secrets hidden within Frightmare Manor, located in east Tennessee in Morristown, about a one-hour drive from Knoxville. This 20-acre plantation was once the home of Jeremiah Lexer, a psychotic serial killer from the 19th century who performed animal and human experimentation in his house. These bloody acres went abandoned for years, with the last business before Frightmare being a restaurant that closed in 2001.
Jeremiah unfortunately suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, both conditions that were not treatable during his time. He was known as a loving family man by his community, but at night he terrorized his community with numerous murders. The exact count is not known, but 31 victims were found in a pit behind the house. This deep, dark history makes Frightmare one of the most intense haunted houses in Tennessee. If you’re looking for a true terror, and not just an attraction, Frightmare is for you.
Today, Frightmare offers three independent haunted houses filled with frights and scares. The site also features a unique free-fall attraction known as “the Lexer Jump,” which is not for the faint of heart. Lexer finally committed suicide by jumping out of the window, and you’ll jump too – no bungee cords, no anything holding you back.
The attraction is also home to the nationally recognized Nightmare at Frightmare Challenge, a controversial challenge that offers a money-back guarantee – if you finish it. You will sign a release form, and if you make your name and picture will be etched into their survivor gallery. If not, you’ll hang your head and shame and walk out the door.
After your way through its dark secrets, you will leave with memories that will surely consume your nightmares.
Bell Witch Cave
Located about a 40-minute drive from downtown Nashville, The Historic Bell Witch Cave is a mysterious place that has been the focus of many tales since 1817. Legends have it that a malevolent spirit resided in the cave and wreaked havoc among its inhabitants.
Families who have visited the place have reported being terrorized by strange noises, knocks, and unexplained phenomena. In fact, Bell Witch is sought out by paranormal researchers and is considered one of America’s most haunted locations.
According to local lore, the enigmatic presence lingering in this place is rumored to be Kate Batts’ ghost—a once-unfriendly neighbor of John Bell, who firmly believed that he had swindled her in a land purchase. Although the exact details of the story are unclear, visitors have reported hearing strange noises and feeling a presence inside the cave.
The Historic Bell Witch Cave is also home to a reconstructed cabin of John Bell, which contains many artifacts from the original Bell cabin, such as a chimney stone and an iron kettle. So, if you are into the paranormal, this is a must-visit place in your travel plans.
Devil’s Dungeon
Experience fear like never before in Devil’s Dungeon! This haunted house is in Nashville beside the Cumberland River. They been scaring people for over two decades.
Having first served as a cotton processing factory in the 1800s, this ominous building now features apartments on the first and second floors. There is also a huge basement that is said to be the haunt of demonic activity.
Visitors enter the building and are taken on a horrific journey filled with sights and sounds of pure terror. Equipped with animatronics, special effects, full lights, sound production, and terrifying actors, Devil’s Dungeon is a theatrical performance sure to scare and entertain at the same time.
In addition to the Devil’s Dungeon performance, they also have a Haunted Hell production in both Nashville and Clarksville.
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary is a place of spectral darkness, where tales of inmate abuse and wrongful imprisonment have been whispered for generations. Located close to Frozen Head State Park, this Tennessee state prison was built by prisoners in the 1920s in an attempt to make escape impossible.
In recent years, it has become a tourist destination, and ghost hunters seeking the lost souls within its walls can take an overnight tour. It may not be the most uplifting of activities, but it certainly provides a unique insight into the dark history of this haunted place. Visit if you have the courage!
Wicked Ways Haunted House
Describe the depths of terror and explore the most hauntingly horrific experiences you may ever come up at Wicked Ways Haunted House! Located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, this is may be the scariest haunted house in the area, offering an unparalleled immersive experience.
Discover what lurks in the darkness as you traverse myriad frighteningly realistic scenes and environments, each with its unique brand of terror. Be prepared to come face-to-face with incredible creatures and monsters you can imagine.
Wicked Ways offers a 5-Minute Escape Room and a Tormented Extreme Virtual Reality Encounter. This promises to take you deeper into the nightmarish realm of Wicked Ways and the creatures who inhabit it. One thing that’s not horrific is free parking, which is available to all guests. So come early to explore the horror in ways you’ve never experienced!
Frightworks Haunted House
The Frightworks haunted house is another extraordinary and terrifying experience guaranteed to shock you! It is located in VAULT 67 right outside Knoxville and houses some of the most dangerous and horrifying entities in the known universe.
The facility utilizes ancient magics and state-of-the-art technology to trap, contain and monitor its frightful inhabitants. As you navigate the sprawling complex, you will move through environments designed to secure and distract the residents.
From dark, dank dungeons to eerie, haunted forests, you will encounter a variety of spine-tingling creatures. The Frightworks haunted house will take you on a journey of fear and terror as you experience the thrills and chills that come with every step.
Full Moon Slaughterhouse
At Full Moon Slaughterhouse, you can explore the depths of a Nashville icon. As the longest-running Haunted Attraction in the city, you can experience a glimpse into the supernatural and otherworldly.
The old Courtyard Cinema on 3445 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage became the new home for the haunt when Stacey and Ben Dixon took over as owners of Full Moon Inc. in 2014. As you enter, you will travel through five old theaters and spend around 40 minutes wandering the eerie halls filled with chilling surprises. Not only is this your chance to explore the unknown, but it’s also a chance to check out classic movies at the Full Moon Cineplex or visit Lone Wolf Tattoo.
Be brave and explore the depths of Full Moon Slaughterhouse. With every step you take, something unexpected may lurk in the shadows. Dare to challenge your fear and explore what is lurking in the dark. Or will you crumble under the pressure of supernatural forces? No matter how brave you are, it’s likely that a few chills will race down your spine as you make your journey through the historic haunt.
Dead Land Haunted Woods
Lastly, we have Dead Land Haunted Woods, a place so terror-filled that it earned the title “SCREAM PARK.” But don’t let that scare you away! Dead Land Scream Park has many attractions if you’re brave enough to face your fears. There are three attractions, each with its own set of spine-tingling thrills.
First is The Carnevil, where you can experience a unique horror show you will remember. Then there’s The Portal, an area steeped in the history of some of the most notorious serial killers.
The third and most chilling attraction is The Crypt. It is where vampires lurk in the darkness, waiting to make you their next victim. You’ll have to use your courage and agility to make it out alive!
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled adventure or a creepy chill, you will find something that suits your taste. That is, if you are brave enough to take on these Tennessee haunted houses, creepy historical landmarks, and more!
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