BLOUNT
BEYOND
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
BY SHANON ADAME
Nestled away in Petros, TN, flanked by steep, rocky mountains and thick forest, sits Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.
For many prisoners, the prison was“ the end of the line,” as the website states. The prison operated from 1896 to 2009 and has a rich history, not all of it pretty.
Brushy was the state’ s first maximum security prison.
Nowadays, the dilapidated prison is a mere shell- a remembrance of a different time. Folks interested in its history can purchase tickets to tour the property.
Guides lead folks from section to section, exploring the cafeteria, cell blocks, a gymnasium and“ the hole”, a place where they put unruly prisoners.
Even in the light of day, it’ s easy to get spooked at the historic prison. The buildings are lined with empty cells, their paint-chipped walls graffitied with drawings and tally marks from some lonely prisoner checking off the days.
The cafeteria, which holds brutal stories of violence and murder, is decorated with murals- all painted by the prisoners.
Outside, small recreation cells stand side-by-side, a place to put maximum-security prisoners for their outdoor time. Kudzu vines twist their way through the cells, spilling out through the doors, a reminder that all things eventually go back to nature.
For anyone from the morbidly curious to the history buff, touring the prison will offer a wealth of interesting information; like the role the prison played in the Coal Creek Wars or the fact that it housed James Earl Ray, the man who was convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King.
The tours can be guided or self-guided, depending on how a visitor wants to travel through the prison. For the self-guided, each area has plenty of signs and plaques to give visitors a good look into Brushy. The guided tours are usually led by a former prison guard or inmate who can provide some personal insight into what life was like inside Brushy.
With its unsettling history, it’ s no surprise that ghost hunters from all over visit Brushy Mountain to hold investigations. For $ 150 per person, anyone hoping to get a glimpse of a ghostie or ghoulie can book a paranormal tour
24 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2025
BCQ | SHANON ADAME A row of empty cells takes up an entire second level at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.