9 Tennessee Ghost Tours That Locals Say Are Actually Scary

Ever felt a chill run down your spine that wasn’t from the Tennessee night air? I’ve been hunting down the spookiest ghost tours in the Volunteer State, and boy, have I found some hair-raisers! Local folks don’t scare easily, so when they say a tour gives them the creeps, you better believe it’s the real deal. Grab your courage (and maybe a friend’s hand) as we explore nine genuinely frightening ghost tours that even Tennessee natives won’t brave alone.

1. Haunted Memphis Walking Tour

The Haunted Memphis Walking Tour explores the city’s rich and sometimes tragic history through its oldest neighborhoods and buildings. Many stops on the tour, like the Orpheum Theatre and Beale Street, have long been associated with local ghost stories.

The Orpheum, for example, is rumored to be haunted by a young girl named Mary, a story passed down through generations, though never officially verified. Tour guides share historically grounded tales, including the impact of the Yellow Fever epidemics and Prohibition-era crime. While the tour includes atmospheric elements like storytelling and historic architecture, it does not rely on staged effects.

Some guests report odd feelings or sights, but these experiences remain subjective. The tour blends history and legend, offering visitors a compelling walk through Memphis’s shadowy past without making claims that go beyond local folklore and tradition.

2. Lotz House Ghost Tours, Franklin

Built in 1858, this unassuming home served as a Civil War field hospital where hundreds suffered agonizing deaths during the Battle of Franklin.

Throughout the house, phantom footsteps follow visitors between rooms. The piano occasionally plays by itself, a phenomenon I dismissed until hearing it myself from the upstairs bedroom. Most disturbing was the small handprint that appeared on a previously clean mirror while our group explored the children’s quarters.

Three separate paranormal investigation shows have featured this location, yet locals insist television doesn’t capture half the activity. A police officer in our group admitted he’d responded to false alarm calls here, triggered by motion sensors when the building was completely empty.

3. Historic Rugby Ghost Tour

Historic Rugby is a preserved Victorian village nestled in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. Founded in 1880 as a utopian settlement, it’s now a historic site known for its charming architecture and quiet isolation. The village also hosts guided ghost tours that blend historical facts with stories passed down by residents and visitors over the decades.

Guests explore locations like the Newbury House and the old schoolhouse while hearing accounts of strange sounds, moving objects, and glimpses of shadowy figures – none of which have been scientifically verified but are part of Rugby’s enduring folklore. Local guides emphasize respect for the site’s heritage and avoid sensationalism.

Some visitors describe the village as “timeless” or “eerily quiet,” especially at night. Whether or not one believes in spirits, the tours offer an intriguing glimpse into a community steeped in both history and legend.

4. Shiloh Battlefield After Dark Tour

Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee marks the site of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, with over 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing in just two days in April 1862. While primarily a historical site, some groups offer after-dark or special interest tours that delve into the battlefield’s more haunting aspects.

Though some claim to have heard unexplained sounds such as distant drums or voices, these reports remain anecdotal and are not officially recognized by the National Park Service. No paranormal investigations are conducted by park staff.

Still, Shiloh’s dark history and preserved terrain make it a powerful, sobering experience – especially when visited at dusk, when the setting naturally evokes a sense of reflection, mystery, and lingering presence from the past.

5. Old City Knoxville Ghosts and Spirits Tour

Knoxville’s Old City district is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, known for its red-brick buildings and layered history involving industry, immigration, and prohibition-era activity. The Ghosts and Spirits Tour leads guests through this area, highlighting sites tied to historical crimes, tragic accidents, and long-standing local ghost stories.

Guides typically share firsthand accounts from former residents or workers, along with facts about the area’s transformation over time. Places like Patrick Sullivan’s Saloon and nearby alleys are often mentioned in local lore, with some staff and visitors claiming to have seen or heard unexplained activity. These reports are not officially documented, but they contribute to the area’s reputation as one of Knoxville’s most atmospheric neighborhoods.

The tour doesn’t rely on theatrics but instead combines historical narrative with local legends, creating a thoughtful, immersive walk through Knoxville’s more shadowy chapters.

6. The Bell Witch Cave Tour, Adams

Located in Adams, Tennessee, the Bell Witch Cave is one of the most well-known sites tied to Southern folklore. The legend dates back to the early 1800s, when the Bell family reported strange sounds, sightings, and disturbances attributed to a spirit known as the Bell Witch.

While the cave wasn’t part of the original story, it sits on land once owned by the Bells and is now a private attraction offering seasonal tours. Visitors explore the small limestone cave and adjacent historic replica cabin, hearing about the legend’s history and local beliefs. Some guests claim to experience unexplained chills or feelings of unease, though these remain anecdotal.

The site is respected by folklore enthusiasts and often attracts paranormal groups, but there’s no confirmed scientific evidence of supernatural activity. Still, it offers a unique, eerie glimpse into Tennessee’s haunted past.

7. Chattanooga’s Underground Ghost Tour

Chattanooga’s underground tunnels, created during 19th-century flooding and urban development, form the backdrop for ghost tours that explore the city’s lesser-known past. The tour typically leads participants through areas beneath downtown buildings, where yellow fever outbreaks and Civil War-era events are part of the historical narrative.

Local guides often incorporate family stories and newspaper accounts into the experience, offering insight into life and death in old Chattanooga. Some guests report feeling cold drafts or uneasy sensations in certain areas, though these claims are anecdotal and unverified. Locations like old jails, speakeasies, or former morgue spaces add an extra level of atmosphere, but no paranormal events have been officially recorded.

The tour is popular among history buffs and ghost enthusiasts alike, offering a rare look at the hidden infrastructure beneath the city while weaving in tales that reflect Chattanooga’s darker past.

8. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Night Tour

“The worst of the worst ended up here,” explained our guide at Brushy Mountain, where Tennessee’s most dangerous criminals were imprisoned until 2009. This former maximum-security facility now offers overnight paranormal investigations that attract ghost hunters nationwide, yet locals find them too intense to complete.

Walking through death row, my recording equipment captured what sounded like cell doors slamming, though the facility has been abandoned for years. In the cafeteria, where multiple murders occurred, three people in our group reported feeling physically ill simultaneously – a common occurrence according to staff.

The isolation cells proved most terrifying. Standing alone in a pitch-black solitary confinement unit where a prisoner once resided, I distinctly heard breathing beside me. A Morgan County resident in our group refused to enter certain areas, explaining that former guards still have nightmares decades after working here. Unlike manufactured haunted houses, Brushy Mountain’s horrors are disturbingly real.

9. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure Ghost Tour, Gatlinburg

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg is a popular attraction known for its theatrical haunted house experience rather than documented paranormal activity. While the daytime tours are family-friendly, the company occasionally offers after-hours events that focus more on storytelling and immersive scares than actual ghost hunting.

The building itself sits on land with a history, including a devastating fire in the 1930s in the area, but no verified supernatural phenomena have been recorded on site. Staff sometimes report unusual occurrences typical in old buildings – such as unexplained noises or shifting objects – but these are not formally investigated.

The tour blends history, folklore, and entertainment, creating an engaging experience for visitors seeking thrills. Though some guests claim to have felt cold spots or seen fleeting shadows, these remain part of the attraction’s spooky atmosphere rather than confirmed hauntings.