Knoxville may not have a haunted reputation like Savannah or New Orleans, but it has its fair share of the macabre. From ghost tours in downtown Knoxville and legends tied to historic homes to eerie cemeteries and full-on Halloween attractions, we’ve got quite a few spooky spots for you to check out on your next visit to Knoxville.
So, what are some of the most haunted places in Knoxville, Tennessee? Read on—if you dare!
For some truly paranormal experiences, look no further than Knoxville Haunted Ghost Tours. J-Adam Smith welcomes visitors to become paranormal investigators themselves with hands-on experiences that combine Knoxville history, ghost stories and paranormal investigation equipment. The “Spirits on the Square” paranormal adventure visits downtown locations tied to some of Knoxville’s more unsettling stories, including a three-way homicide, places where the dead were prepared and the site of a notorious fire. Other experiences explore Knoxville’s former prisons, the Old City and other chapters of the city’s darker history. If investigating isn’t your thing, daytime haunted history tours are also offered. Their job isn’t to convert skeptics but to give attendees the opportunity to make up their own minds. Welcome to the investigation!
Laura Still is the face and passion behind Knoxville Walking Tours. She hosts several historic tours covering everything from the early days of Knoxville and the Civil War to women’s suffrage, music and literary history. Especially popular in the fall are Laura’s Shadow Side Ghost Tours, which dig into the darker side of historic Gay Street and downtown Knoxville with tales of haunted hotels, gunfights, restless spirits and other unsettling stories from the city’s past. There’s also an Old Gray Cemetery Tour for visitors interested in the history—and possible spirits—of one of Knoxville’s oldest cemeteries. The number of ghost tours alone should give you an idea of just how many spooky stories Knoxville has to tell. Laura is also the author of A Haunted History of Knoxville, so she knows her stuff!
Are there ghost tours in downtown Knoxville?
Yes. Knoxville offers ghost tours and paranormal experiences centered around downtown, historic sites and the people and stories that shaped the city.
Knoxville’s historic homes hold plenty of fascinating stories—and a few of them apparently aren’t finished telling theirs. If this kind of history is your thing, Knoxville has seven Historic House Museums that offer a deeper look into the people and events that shaped the city.
James White’s Fort
James White’s Fort, known as Knoxville’s first home, traces its history to 1786 and city founder James White.
When White sold the property in the late 1700s, the Kennedy family stayed there while having a Georgian-style home built nearby. While living in what is now known as James White’s Fort, the Kennedys removed the stockade walls and guest cabins, leaving the two-story cabin and adjacent kitchen. Sadly, Mrs. Kennedy died on the property. Several guests over the years have claimed to see a woman making the trundle bed on the second floor and saying she is “staying here while the house is being built.” Others have reportedly watched the figure turn and head down the stairs.
During one Williams family reunion—a branch of the family that would eventually include playwright Tennessee Williams—a six-year-old reportedly claimed Mrs. Kennedy told her to quit being rambunctious and go downstairs.
There are more stories…but you’ll have to visit in person and ask about them!
Blount Mansion and the Craighead-Jackson House
Blount Mansion is known as the birthplace of Tennessee and was the 1792 home of U.S. Constitution signer William Blount. While Blount Mansion itself has no well-known reputation for hauntings, the same cannot be said of the adjacent Craighead-Jackson House. The Federal-style home was built in 1818 for John Craighead and later owned by Dr. George Jackson and his family.
Ghost stories often involve tragedy, and the spirit said to occupy the Craighead-Jackson House is tied to one. A female servant reportedly died after the Civil War when her skirt caught fire in the basement’s large fireplace. Through the years, people have told of hearing footsteps on the front stairs and locked doors mysteriously opening. The legend is that the servant’s spirit is still in the house.
Ramsey House
Historic Ramsey House was built in 1797 for Francis Alexander Ramsey and today is one of Knoxville’s Historic House Museums.
This quiet estate apparently isn’t always so quiet. Visitors and staff have reported seeing shadows, hearing footsteps and, occasionally, even hearing some choice words.
Stories over the years have identified several spirits said to roam the property, including Billy, a child said to tap staff and visitors on the arm; Ann, described as a tall, thin woman with her hair in a bun; and a few other personalities who supposedly make themselves known from time to time.
Passersby have even thought the house was being broken into after hours after spotting the figure of a tall, thin woman inside.
Ramsey House also hosts special seasonal programming throughout the year, so check the current calendar before your visit for fall and Halloween experiences.
Mabry-Hazen House
Mabry-Hazen House was built in 1858, and three generations of the same family lived in this Italianate home overlooking downtown Knoxville.
Surprisingly, there aren’t many traditional haunting stories here. Perhaps after three generations the Mabry-Hazen family was simply ready to move on to new pastures.
There is, however, one interesting tale involving Evelyn Hazen. While living in the house, Evelyn said an apparition of an old friend from New York City, Jack McKnight, visited her bedroom for several weeks. After conversing with Jack during his visits, Evelyn apparently became bored of their convos, moved into another room and never saw him again. Sometimes ghosts just need to know when they’ve overstayed their welcome.
During the Halloween season, Mabry-Hazen House has also hosted immersive experiences exploring nineteenth-century Spiritualism and Victorian séances, giving visitors another reason to add this historic house to a spooky-season itinerary.
Haunted Cemeteries in Knoxville and East Tennessee
Cemeteries are an obvious option for haunted places, but apparently some are more “haunted” than others. Around Knoxville, these are among the spots with the most stories and legends.
First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
First Presbyterian Church is Knoxville’s first church, founded in 1792 on land donated by James White. Its historic graveyard may have been used as a community burial ground as early as 1786, around the time White established his fort. Among those buried here are Knoxville founder James White, early minister Samuel Carrick, presidential candidate Hugh Lawson White, territorial governor William Blount and other notable figures from Knoxville’s earliest history. The graveyard is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers an especially fascinating glimpse into Knoxville before it became the city visitors know today.
Old Gray Cemetery
Founded in 1850 in Old North Knoxville, Old Gray Cemetery is known for its Victorian art, architecture, monuments and mausoleums. More than 9,000 people are buried here, including victims of Knoxville’s 1854 cholera outbreak, Civil War soldiers and victims of the 1904 New Market Train Wreck. Visitors over the years have also claimed to see “Black Aggie,” a mysterious hooded figure said to roam the grounds. Whether the spirit is benevolent—or even there at all—is still up for debate. Take an Old Gray Cemetery Tour with Knoxville Walking Tours and decide for yourself.
Red Ash Cemetery
Looking for a spooky detour outside Knoxville? Red Ash Cemetery is located north of Knoxville in Caryville near Cove Lake State Park. Red Ash was once a coal-mining community, and legends suggest the spirits of miners and former residents still wander the cemetery at night. Some tales get even stranger, including stories of a half-goat, half-human creature supposedly roaming the area. Tall tale or terrifying truth? We’ll let you decide.
For more eerie outdoor adventures around East Tennessee, check out these spooky hikes near Knoxville, where local history and ghost stories meet the trail!
Ghost stories aren’t limited to historic houses and cemeteries. From a downtown theater to a college campus, a few other Knoxville places have developed their own paranormal reputations.
Bijou Theatre
The historic Bijou Theatre on Gay Street has seen a lot during its long life. The property dates to Knoxville’s earliest days and was once part of the Lamar House hotel. During the Civil War, sections of the building were used as a hospital. Over the years, its long history has produced plenty of stories involving unexplained activity and possible spirits. Special ghost tours have occasionally taken visitors into parts of the theater normally closed to the public, from beneath the stage to upper floors of the historic Lamar House. Whether or not you encounter anything paranormal, catch a performance while you’re there. The Bijou is one Knoxville landmark where the history alone is worth the visit. And while you’re downtown, there’s plenty more to explore along historic Gay Street, from theaters and galleries to restaurants and historic architecture.
Finn's Tavern (Baker Peters House)
The historic Baker Peters House on Kingston Pike was built in 1830 and is especially known for its connection to the Civil War. Dr. James Harvey Baker was killed inside the house in 1863 after Union troops raided the property. Over the years, stories have persisted that his spirit—and possibly others—never entirely left. Because restaurant operations and paranormal programming at the property can change, check current information before making plans specifically around a tour or event.
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus has its share of haunts that surpass the “Volunteer Spirit.” Stories tied to the Civil War and other local legends swirl around places including Perkins Hall, The Hill, Hoskins Library, Tyson Alumni House and Strong Hall. Take a self-guided stroll through campus and see if anything feels a little…different. The campus is just steps from downtown Knoxville, making it easy to combine a walk around UT with other historic and cultural stops.
Lakeshore Park
Modern-day Lakeshore Park occupies land that was once home to the East Tennessee Hospital for the Insane, which opened in 1886 and later became Lakeshore Mental Health Institute. Only a few historic structures remain from the institution today, including the former administration building. Over the years, the site’s long history has also produced its share of paranormal stories. Visitors and paranormal groups have reported unexplained shadows, lights and voices around the former hospital grounds. Today, however, Lakeshore Park is one of Knoxville’s most beautiful public spaces. Its 185 acres along the Tennessee River include greenways, playgrounds, sports fields, birding opportunities and outstanding views of the Smoky Mountains. Maybe not so haunted after all!
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary: A Haunted Day Trip from Knoxville
If you’re willing to venture beyond Knoxville, Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros makes for one seriously spooky day trip. For more than a century, Brushy Mountain housed some of Tennessee’s most notorious inmates. The former maximum-security prison closed in 2009 and later reopened as a visitor attraction. Today, daytime visitors can explore the prison and hear stories from its past. For those looking for an even more intense experience, Brushy Mountain also offers paranormal investigations that allow small groups to explore the prison after dark. These are the souls said to haunt this stone-cold fortress—spirits with unfinished business who, according to the stories, never quite left. And speaking of spirits…the former prison is also home to a distillery, restaurant, gift shop and live entertainment. Try some locally made spirits while you’re there. See what we did there?
Looking for fewer historical ghosts and more chainsaws, monsters and jump scares? Knoxville and the surrounding area also offer seasonal haunted attractions for those who prefer their scares a little more theatrical.
Dead Man’s Farm Haunted Attraction
Dead Man’s Farm Haunted Attraction, located in Philadelphia, Tennessee, just outside Knoxville, offers plenty for serious scare-seekers.
The current lineup includes the Bludgeon Haunted House and Lost Souls Haunted Trail, along with escape games, midway carnival games, food trucks, bonfires and seasonal special events.
If you’re looking for a full evening of Halloween fun near Knoxville, there are plenty of reasons to stick around. Dates and experiences can change from year to year, so check current information before heading out. You can also browse Visit Knoxville’s current events calendar for more seasonal events happening during your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Haunted Knoxville
Are there haunted places in Knoxville, Tennessee?
Yes. Knoxville has ghost stories and paranormal legends connected to historic homes, cemeteries, theaters, downtown landmarks and other historic sites. The city also has guided ghost tours and seasonal haunted attractions.
Does Knoxville have ghost tours?
Yes. Knoxville offers experiences focused on local history, ghost stories and paranormal lore. Some are traditional walking tours, while others include hands-on paranormal investigation.
What are some haunted attractions near Knoxville?
Dead Man’s Farm in Philadelphia, Tennessee, is one seasonal haunted attraction near Knoxville. Other Halloween attractions and special events can change from year to year, so check the Knoxville events calendar when planning a fall visit.
Where can I find more spooky things to do near Knoxville?
Looking for more chills without the haunted-house actors? Explore spooky hikes near Knoxville, historic cemeteries, ghost tours and seasonal events throughout East Tennessee.
Hope this helps you find—or avoid—some of the most haunted places in Knoxville!
Kristen Combs is the Director of Communications & Social Strategies for Visit Knoxville. With an extensive knowledge of Knoxville as a tourist destination, Kristen is also the author of 100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die, published by Reedy Press and available in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. Find Kristen on Instagram at @100thingsknoxville.
