7 Spooky & Unique Tourist Attractions in Tennessee

Spanning 120 miles from north to south and 440 miles east to west, Tennessee has many tourist attractions, from the Great Smoky Mountains to Dollywood and the Music City of Nashville. But for those who want to get off the beaten path, there are plenty of unique roadside attractions that will show you the strange and outlandish side of the state.

Here are some unusual attractions—from haunted farms to bloodstained crypts—you should consider visiting as Halloween approaches and beyond.

The Bell Witch Cave in Adams

If you like horror movies, creepy ghost stories and everything in between, then the Bell Witch farm and cave in Adams, near the Kentucky state line, is for you. The official home of the Bell Witch has been closed due to COVID, but you can still learn about the legend in preparation for its reopening. The story goes that the Bell Witch claimed to be the spirit of Kate Batts, a mean old neighbor of John Bell who believed she was cheated by him in a land purchase. On her deathbed, Kate swore that she would haunt John Bell and his descendants, including his daughter Betsy. The Bell Witch is said to have tortured the family on this property in the 1800s. You can still canoe or kayak the Red River to get a glimpse of the farm.

Giant Wind Chime in Memphis

Although there is nothing scary or creepy about this attraction, the Giant Wind Chime in midtown Memphis is truly a marvelous sight to behold. It’s the largest wind chime in the state and gathers thousands of visitors, travelers, explorers and tourists each year. Talk to the locals; they will tell you lots of stories to remember about it, but local artists transformed an old bell tower into the giant wind chime in 2013.

“Evil Dead” Cabin in Morristown

See the site of the cabin where Sam Raimi shot his iconic horror film “Evil Dead”—or what’s left of it. A chimney and a tomb-sized hole in the ground are what remain of the movie set. Keep in mind that this is private property in Appalachia, but there is a trailhead just past Martin Road.

Patsy Cline Memorial in Camden

This one is a monumental place for all fans of the influential vocalist Patsy Cline. The memorial is placed in the middle of the woods in Camden where her plane crashed, paying tribute to the tragic death of this country queen. Aside from the sobering memorial boulder, the path through the woods is a transformative experience.

Bloodstained Crypt of Nina Cragmiles in Cleveland

Little Nina Cragmiles was tragically killed in an accident when she was just seven years old. Her father built a Gothic Revival-style church and tomb in her honor. No one knows when the bloodstains magically appeared on her white marble crypt and no matter how much the local cleaning services tried to remove them, the stains remain. Aside from that, the crypt is chilling enough to give you the creeps on its own.

Rotherwood Plantation in Kingsport

Rife with foreboding scenery, ominous architecture and spooky ghost stories, Rotherwood is one of the most haunted places in Tennessee. Ghosts include Rowena, daughter of original owner Frederick Ross; second owner and slaveholder Joshua Phipps; and then there’s the reported moaning, wailing and crying of former slaves.

The mansion is currently a private residence so be respectful.

Carter House in Franklin

The Carter House used to be a command post for U.S. Gen. D. Jacob Cox in 1864 during the Civil War. It was one of the crucial and pivotal strongholds during the Battle of Franklin. The Carter family sought refuge and shelter in the basement with a neighboring family and their slaves.

At the end of the battle, the farm office and brick smokehouse structures were filled with bullet holes that remain there to this day. Some say there are more than a thousand bullet holes in the house alone. The house, outbuildings and battlefield are currently being restored, but tours are offered seven days a week.

Stay Safe

Whether you go for a quick weekend, longer vacation or a business trip, you’ll need to follow certain safety tips. You need to protect your valuables and also ensure that all of your activities are offered by reputable services. Additionally, no vacation is complete without some improvisation. For instance, you might get lost or find new locations to visit. However, you need stable internet access to navigate in an unknown setting.

Of course, many establishments offer free wifi, but experts discourage tourists from connecting to them. Why? Well, free wifi is typically unsafe, and people nearby could intercept your communications. Luckily, you can use free wifi safely if you have a Virtual Private Network. A VPN hides IP addresses and encrypts your internet traffic. Thus, even if someone dared to monitor your activities, it would be futile.

Tennessee is full of fantastic oddities that will bring thrills to your adventures. If you want to your trip to be entirely out of the ordinary, visiting these attractions will open a whole new dimension of possibilities.