Nature Is Reclaiming This One Abandoned Nashville Spot And It's Actually Amazing
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Meghan Kraft
Author
The old Tennessee state prison in Nashville is known for its cameos in big blockbuster films and the ever so often music video, but it’s mainly falling to pieces on the west side of the city. How much do you actually know about this hulking masterpiece of architectural design? You may just want to take a look…
The Tennessee State Prison was opened in 1898, having been modeled after the famous Auburn Correctional Facility in New York. The maximum facility prison is well-known for its castle-like exterior.
Tucked away in West Nashville, it has actually been closed since 1992. Twenty-six years of aging has definitely done a number to its structural safety (AKA - it's not safe), and there is a guard posted at the main entrance.
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This is about as close as you can get to the prison without stepping onto private property. It sits on the edge of a now fairly normal neighborhood, edged out by a few factories and packing plants.
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Here you can see a noon line up in an undated photograph. At the time it was active, the prison housed 1,403 prisoners on the first day - the cell count capped out at 800.
Here you can see another undated photograph, showing the line of prisoners as they enter the main dining hall.
Here's how the courtyard looks right about now.
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The cell blocks are completely unusable, and the damage to the metalwork is intense.
The whole exterior of the building is being eaten alive by greenery and rot, the windows broken.
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It's hard to believe that this prison was once used as the prison in, "The Green Mile." Yes, it's here in Nashville that you can find the epitome of Stephen King's wicked prison.
Here you can see the once was electric chair for the state of Tennessee - it was once known as Old Sparky.
The state holds permits to enter very close to their chest - you cannot simply mosey on up to the prison and walk right in. If you're looking for filming privileges, you'll want to submit a permit request to the city.
For now you can look and wonder - the place is a beautiful, beautiful piece of Nashville history. And it's simply falling apart.
Tour some equally exciting places throughout the city with our 10 unforgettable Nashville tours! Each one is positively better than the last.
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