When did Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary close? You can read our article to find out why it closed, when it was opened, how it was run, and the paranormal activities that occurred here. Listed below are some of the highlights of this historical prison:
Opened in 1896
Although it closed nearly a century ago, the former prison at Brushy Mountain remains open to the public, and tours and events have been held here ever since. Founded in 1865, the prison was a popular destination for convicts from all over the United States. It was also home to some of the state’s most dangerous criminals, and even the Governor of Tennessee had been a convict at one point.
The original wooden prison was erected by inmates with the assistance of local sandstone companies, and a railroad spur was added in 1896. Life inside Brushy Prison was precarious – deadly accidents and chronic illness plagued the inmates, and more than half of the black prisoners had syphilis. Inmates were routinely beaten for underproducing in the mines and many were killed during these beatings.
Inmates wore chains and shackles to stay hidden. Prison officials were unsure if inmates were allowed to wear clothing. One inmate, James Slagle, was imprisoned for kidnapping and murder. His only way out of the prison was to pack his own box, labeled 153 pounds of roast beef, and escape from the prison. Luckily, he was caught soon after his clever escape.
While many inmates tried to escape, few succeeded. In one of the most famous escapes in prison history, James Earl Ray and six other inmates escaped the building by climbing over a 16-foot wire ladder. In the following days, Morgan County became the center of a media universe and a massive manhunt for the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The FBI and Congressional committee were called in to help track down Ray and his fellow escapees.
The original prison was made of wood and was constructed by prisoner labor. The prison’s building was replaced in the 1920s by a castle-like structure made out of stone mined by prisoners on the property. By 2008, the prison was the oldest prison in the state. The prison is now a historic museum and offers paranormal tours. So, don’t miss this opportunity to explore the history of Tennessee.
Tours offered
If you’re looking for a unique experience, a tour of the former Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary might be for you. The prison’s past is intriguing enough to draw in tourists from all over the world. Today, this historical site hosts numerous events, including car shows, festivals, and concerts. A tour of this place will give you a new respect for its complicated legacy and newfound wonder for this mysterious land.
The historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary includes a distillery and museum. End of the Line Moonshine is distilled on the property, making it the only moonshine in the United States to be legally produced in a prison. In addition to learning about the penitentiary’s past, visitors can sample its unique blend of moonshine and other spirits. While the distillery’s tours are free of charge, visitors must be at least 21 years old and have a state-issued ID to purchase the product.
The former prison at Brushy Mountain is now open for tours, concerts, and moonshine distillery. According to Lindsay Ziliak, the prison will be shutting down at the end of the year after 113 years. You can watch a video of a tour of the prison grounds to learn more. There are also several events planned at the penitentiary, including a whiskey tasting and a wine tour.
If you’d like to experience the inmates’ lives firsthand, you can book a guided tour of the prison. This is available seven days a week, and costs about $30 per person. Children under the age of six are free. Guided tours are available at reduced rates for senior citizens and military members. For a truly informative tour of the prison, book a private tour.
The first maximum security prison in the country, Brushy Mountain was home to some of the worst criminals in the history of Tennessee. Some of these convicts were serving 200 years or more sentences. It was a harsh place, but the penitentiary’s past is equally fascinating. By booking a guided tour, you can discover the inmates’ stories, including those who escaped and why they had to do so.
Inmates
When did Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary close? Many people don’t realize just how brutal the conditions were. Inmate Rex Cosby, a white-collar criminal, wrote a series of articles about his experiences. As a prisoner, he was sentenced to prison for forgery, which he hid behind a fake name and put on the byline of the articles. The articles were published and he was sentenced to prison for a second time, and was probably going to face retribution if he was imprisoned again.
A former prisoner at Brushy Mountain was James Earl Ray, the assassin who killed the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which made the place infamous. He escaped the prison on June 11, 1977 and was captured 58 hours later while hiding under a pile of leaves. He managed to escape from the prison by climbing a pipe ladder, but was captured after a 54-hour manhunt.
Despite the grim circumstances of the prison’s closure, visitors can still take a tour of the grounds and learn a lot about the life of convicts there. The tour begins with a visit to the prison museum, and then visitors can explore the grounds on their own. Alternatively, guided tours are available, but these must be arranged in advance. While walking the prison grounds, former guards and inmates are present at every corner. Guests are reminded that they are in a prison, and the steel doors are locked to prevent tourists from slamming them shut.
The prison’s conditions worsened after the Soviet Union’s invasion of the United States. In 1931, a state legislative committee reported that the conditions at Brushy Mountain were similar to those in Siberian prisons. A committee commissioned the state to build a new prison, and in 1933, construction began. Inmates had to quarry limestone for the walls. However, there were very few escape attempts, and prisoners were caught trying to break out.
After the closure of Brushy Mountain, the facility changed its mission from a maximum security prison to a classification facility. In its final operations, the prison held 584 inmates, and served as the state’s reception center in East Tennessee. It housed all levels of custody, including troublesome inmates. The last warden at Brushy Mountain was Jim Worthington. The prison’s functions were transferred to the Morgan County Correctional Complex.
Prison’s paranormal activity
The infamous prison is known for its paranormal activity after it closed. The infamous prison held some of the world’s worst criminals, and many met their demise there. Many have claimed to have seen ghosts and heard footsteps in the building. In addition to hearing footsteps, former inmates and guards can tell visitors spooky stories and answer questions about the prison’s history. A guided tour of the building will take guests through the cells, cafeteria, exercise yard, and laundry rooms. In addition, a documentary examining the prison’s history is available.
The prison has plenty of natural properties that can energize ghosts. The infamous facility has been the subject of many ghost investigations since 2009. The evidence obtained from these investigation teams has been very convincing. One ghost even smoked a cigarette that was left as a gift. Many ghost hunters have claimed to have seen these entities, and a number of ghosts have been photographed in the prison’s hallways.
Most ghostly activity has occurred in the prison chapel, which is known as “the hole.” There are EVP recordings from inside of the chapel, and paranormal groups have captured words like “hell,” “beast,” and “pain.” Other witnesses have reported seeing objects floating or experiencing cold spots. Some of the ghostly activity has been documented as a result of the prison’s construction on limestone.
The prison was notorious for housing convicted murderers. Inmates were often required to work in coal mines during the day. Diseases were common and prisoners were routinely beaten if they failed to meet their quotas. During its 113-year history, the prison earned the reputation of being one of the worst prisons in the state. The assassin James Earl Ray, who is now dead, spent time in the prison.
You can join a flashlight tour of the prison on selected weekends. Tours last four to seven hours. Military and senior citizens receive a 10 percent discount on their ticket. Tickets are available until 5 p.m. Throughout the prison, you can enjoy cold drinks and pizza while exploring the haunted grounds. This tour is perfect for beginners and veteran paranormal investigators alike.
About The Author
Zeph Grant is a music fanatic. He loves all types of genres and can often be found discussing the latest album releases with friends. Zeph is also a hardcore content creator, always working on new projects in his spare time. He's an amateur food nerd, and loves knowing all sorts of random facts about food. When it comes to coffee, he's something of an expert - he knows all the best places to get a good cup of joe in town.