Old Tennessee State Prison (38 pics)

Ghosts of the Tennessee State Prison
This gothic structure was the home of the Tennessee State Prison from 1898 to 1992. As years passed, overcrowding, prison break attempts, and riots gave the penitentiary a somewhat notorious reputation. The years took its toll on the structure as well, until it was ultimately decommissioned and a new facility was opened that could handle a larger population of inmates. Not everyone has left though, since there are reports of a various paranormal phenomena reported at the facility. Cell doors are said to open and slam, disembodied voices are heard, and apparitions have been sighted.

In Television and Film
The prison was the setting of a couple episodes of VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project, which is similar to MTV's Fear with the exception that celebrities are used as the "investigators." In 1977, country musician Johnny Cash performed the televised concert, A Concert: Behind Prison Walls, in the prison with Linda Ronstadt, Roy Clark, Foster Brooks and Carl Perkins. The prison was also the setting for Frank Darabont's 1999 adaptation of the Stephen King novel, The Green Mile. It was most recently used as the setting for the 2006 horror film, Furnace. Other films shot there include The Last Castle, A Letter From Death Row, Last Dance, Ernest Goes to Jail, Nashville, and Marie.

The Prison Today
The facility is very unstable in certain sections and is closed to the general public. There are no signs pointing to the prison from the roads in the area. Even if you find the road in, there is a checkpoint a good distance away from the facility that visitors are not allowed to cross. In short, you can't even get very close to the outside of the prison. If you still wish to visit the facility, you should contact the State of Tennessee to inquire about the possibility.