Are you fascinated by movies about prisons and escape attempts? Have you researched Alcatraz one too many times, or found yourself stuck hard in The Shawshank Redemption? If so, then it’s about time you learned about the two famous prisons that lie within Tennessee state lines. Their stories are hard, the people held behind their walls harder, but fascinating nonetheless. Without further ado, here are some of the worst prisons in Tennessee.

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary - est. 1896
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Cemetery, Wartburg, TN 37887, USA
Blogspot / Misc
First called Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex, this huge maximum security prison housed inmates until it closed in 2009. The Barkley Marathon now uses the property as a part of its course, and the heap of stone buildings continues to pique curiosity today.
Wikipedia
The prison was opened after the Coal Creek War in 1896. It was originally built of wood by the hands of the future prisoners themselves, and it wasn't until the 1920s that the actual stone buildings were drawn up and built. There were few to no escape attempts.
Wikipedia
Except for one. James Earl Ray, infamous for the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., led six inmates over a fence in the summer of 1977. He was caught a couple of days later not even five miles from the prison. Many believe this is due to its location on the Cumberland Plateau.
KnoxNews
Although Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary started to accept inmates that did not require maximum security in the 1980s, it still retained its title and housed Tennessee's most troublesome inmates. This was done in addition to housing convicts at all custody levels.
Flashbak
All prisoners were transferred to the Morgan County Correctional Complex in 2009. There is still a small museum that lies on the old prison property, so you can take a look at the miscellaneous paraphernalia that has been kept and collected over the years.

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Tennessee State Prison - est. 1898
State Prison, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
Wikipedia
There actually is a reason behind the scary thick walls and intense presence of this prison: it was built to instill fear in people. The builders were originally given a budget of $25,000 to build on what is now Church Street in 1831. It quickly became overcrowded so construction began on the formidable stone prison to the far west of the city. The wings were segregated by color, and there were 800 beds split between two blocks.
Wikipedia
In 1902, a group of prisoners blew out the end of a prison wing, there were multiple fires - one that completely demolished the mess hall - and a couple of riots. There were also severe overcrowding issues, which most definitely played a starring role in the prison's problems.
Wikipedia
Every inmate had to perform laborious physical tasks on a daily basis to take care of a bit of the prison cost. With labor hours reaching sixteen hours a day, the lack of heat as well as food started to rile the convicts into a wildly unhappy pool of people. The electric chair was also housed here until the prison closed in 1992.
Thomas Hawk / Flickr
There was no one wildly famous housed behind these walls, but the prison is said to be haunted. It lies on private property on the west side of the city with a security guard at the gate. With almost 1500 inmates stuffed into an 800 convict facility, the deaths and horrendous heartache behind these walls has since been lost to history. It's a popular spot for photographers and videographers if they are granted the correct privileges to shoot on site.
Playbuzz
The movie "The Green Mile" used the Tennessee State Prison for all exterior shots. It's a little bit eerie, knowing that Ol' Sparky was housed here as well. Does this give anyone else goosebumps...? The property has also been used for multiple music videos and tv shows, including the wildly popular hit show "Nashville." It's also possible to take a tour of this terrifying prison in Tennessee -- if you dare!

Have you visited any of the above facilities, or do you happen to know an interesting fact about any of the worst prisons in Tennessee? If so, be sure to let us know in the comments below! Looking for related content? Check out the Ghost House Trail — it’s a haunted Tennessee hike that’s sure to send chills down your spine!

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worst prisons in Tennessee

Beth C. | December 29, 2022

What are the most haunted places in Tennessee?

With a fair share of complicated history, it's no mystery why Tennessee has so much paranormal activity. Whether you're fascinated by ghostly spirits or are a bonafide ghost hunter, you'll find no shortage of places to look. Here are some of the most haunted places in Tennessee where it's quite likely you'll find a ghost:

  • Graceland
  • Hurricane Mills
  • Carnton Plantation
  • Stones River Battlefield
  • Bell Witch Cave
  • The town of Franklin

 

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, there's no denying that Tennessee is filled with haunting locations. For more information on the above destinations, check out this road trip that will take you to the most haunted places in Tennessee.

Does Tennessee have any abandoned places?

Tennessee is brimming with abandoned homes, buildings, and entire towns. In fact, there's an entire abandoned town residing within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The town is known as Elkmont, and it was once bustling with activity and wealth. Elkmont was founded in 1908 by a local logging company before it became a resort town. The Elkmont Wonderland Club was famous for its wealthy guests, and the town included an entire hotel where visitors could extend their stay. When the logging industry waned, so too did interest in Elkmont, which was eventually abandoned altogether. Learn more about the fascinating and eerie history behind this abandoned town in Tennessee.

 

 

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