Nashville, Tennessee is mainly famous for its deep roots in country music, but this unique city actually has a rich paranormal history that stems from many traumatic events, including battles and crime, with popular haunted sites including the Union Station Hotel and the Tennessee State Prison. The city’s history of saloons, gambling houses, and outlaws is said to contribute to its spooky reputation, and tours combine local history with ghost stories. Legends are derived from the Civil War era, in addition to numerous outbreaks of disease, such as cholera. The heart of the city is ripe with ghost stories from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee State Capitol, Hermitage Hotel, Gaylord Opryland Resort, nearby Bell Witch Cave, and multiple abandoned hospitals and prisons in the vicinity.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is a popular honky-tonk bar said to haunted by late famed singer-songwriter Hank Williams, who’s often blamed for any unexplained mishaps, even though he actually died several years before the club opened.
Union Station Hotel is often cited as one of Nashville’s most haunted locations, with tales of lingering spirits dating back to its railway past.
Tennessee State Capitol may be haunted by the ghost of former U.S. President James K. Polk. Also, some of the dark streets surrounding the building are included on local ghost tours.
Ryman Auditorium has come to be well-known as the “Mother Church of Country Music”, due to this iconic venue being the original location of the Grand Ole Opry. It’s believed to house the spirits of many past performers. Since the passing of Hank Williams, his spirit has been seen haunting this location, where he used to play. Count me as one of the lucky few to observe this gray apparition, which appeared in a photograph taken of the stage.
Printer’s Alley is a corridor adjacent to Broadway that was once a hub for nightlife and is now home to several restaurants and bars. It’s also believed to house a variety of paranormal spirits.
Old South Pittsburg Hospital, outside of city limits, is now an abandoned facility that’s widely considered a hotspot for paranormal activity, due to its history as a functioning hospital that shuttered as recently as 1998. Former employees continue to tell stories of unexplained events occurring. Located on land potentially once used by Union soldiers during the Civil War’s Battle of Chickamauga and possibly built over an underground spring, the location is a popular site for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators.
Old Historic Harriman Hospital now stands as an abandoned building that operates as a museum. Overnight investigations are offered for those people brave enough to spend the night in such a dreadful place.
Hermitage Hotel is an elegant lodging site that’s rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a woman seen in white. Also, the spirit of a baby is heard crying in a specific room.
Gaylord Opryland Resort is a major part of the Grand Ole Opry, which is like a mecca for country music fans. This massive and well-known hotel has also become a popular spot for ghost hunters.
Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, located a decent drive away, is a former prison with a dark paranormal reputation because of a well-documented history of death, torture, and harsh conditions within its coal mines. Visitors and paranormal enthusiasts can take nighttime tours and participate in overnight ghost hunts at the now-reopened site, which offers historical tours and hosts various events.
