Posted in Nashville
May 23, 2016
This Creepy Prison In Nashville Is Still Standing… And Still Disturbing
The Tennessee State Prison was closed in 1992, but the behemoth of a prison still stands on the west side of town, presiding over The Nation’s neighborhood. It has a very interesting past, and wildly abandoned present, making the future of this gorgeous bit of Tennessee architecture all the more bone chilling. Curious? Take a look at this abandoned prison in Nashville…
Does this exterior look familiar? Well, it should. It was the filming location for "The Green Mile," starring Tom Hanks.
The castle-esque structure was based off of the famed penitentiary in Auburn, New York.
Originally, there were eight hundred cells, meant for an equal number of prisoners.
The prison opened on February 12, 1898, and there was a flood of over 1400 inmates.
As you can imagine, the immediate overcrowding made it a difficult environment for both prisoners and workers.
There was talk of numerous escape attempts. At one point, prisoners managed to blow up a wing of the prison, resulting in chaos and a couple of men who slipped away, never to be found.
You can still see the tiny living quarters and the open bathrooms in the cells.
What a terrible place to live out the rest of your life.
Yes, the prison housed old Sparky, the culprit to blame for all death row inmates interned during the lifespan of this harrowing place.
You can drive by the prison and take a look, if you're ever in the area. Beware, though - making your way inside will be trespassing. You'll just have to wonder, from your vehicle, about the wondering emptiness inside.
What do you think of this prison in Nashville?
