Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary

A close look at life behind bars on a guided tour of the grounds and history inside the walls of one of America's most dangerous prisons   . . . 

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Petros, Tennessee is home to the infamous Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Opened in 1896, this mighty fortress of a prison once housed some of the most dangerous criminals of the region. After it's closing in 2009, it was converted into a museum that details the history of the facility and its inhabitants. 

"Inmate for a Day" in One of America's Most Historic Prisons

​Upon approach, you will begin to sense the historic vibes radiating out from behind these walls as soon as the prison comes into view. There are two parking lots, one by the gift shop and the other at the main entrance. You will buy your tickets at the gift shop, then proceed to the prison. 

At the entryway, you will present your tickets to be greeted with the kind words "Enjoy your day in prison". I didn't want to go to prison alone, so I brought along a couple of friends to share in the experience. What would it be like to be a prisoner for a day? My unfortunate companions would soon be joining me in finding out.

​We had chosen the self-guided tour, which provided free reign of the place to explore at our own pace. If you have a group of people, you may want to opt for the upgraded tour which is guided by either a former guard or inmate. No matter which tour you chose, there will be staff members on duty to assist with directions and helpful information.

The main cell block contains four levels, but only the first two are open for exploration. Don't let this deter you; the main building is enormous and takes a while to make your way through. Some of the walls are lined with historic information about the inmates and the events of their time spent here. For many, this final destination would be referred to as "End of the Line". 

"Brushy", as it is also called, has been home to many high profile criminals over the course of its operation. James Earl Ray did time in this dreadful place for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It was in 1977 that Ray escaped with the help of several other inmates. He had constructed a ladder from pieces of pipe, in order to make his way over the rear wall. Just over two days later he was caught, over eight miles away in the surrounding mountains of Morgan County. 

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Life Inside the Prison

Each cell in the main building is designed to hold two inmates. Each prisoner could be out of the cell three times a day for meals, an hour for exercise, and a shower at night. Certain prisoners would be granted the opportunity to work for extra time out from behind bars. Brushy was notorious for being over populated. If necessary, this problem could be easily resolved by working inmates in twelve hour shifts to double the occupancy of each cell. 

In an adjacent building is the laundry room where many inmates would work their days away. The connecting chapel has now been converted into a museum and theater which features documentaries on the facility. Inside the museum you will find a display of artifacts ranging from shanks and makeshift guns to tattoo equipment and devices used to smuggle contraband. The pipe ladder that Ray used in his escape can be found here as well. 

In the corner stands a mannequin dressed in the typical prisoner's coal mining attire. Coal mining was not just a way of life in the mountains of Tennessee, but at the prison as well. Inmates could actually receive a few cents pay for producing large amounts, but if quota is not met, they could be punished by either suffering at the whipping post or being placed in "the hole". The hole was a maddening form of solitary confinement in which one could temporarily lose their vision due to the deprivation of light. Their eyesight would gradually return after a few days.

Well behaved prisoners could enjoy occasional access to the outdoor area, known simply as "The Yard" which featured a basketball court. This fairly large open area also consisted of a gymnasium with an indoor basketball court and a boxing ring. Unfortunately, it was in these locations that many sporting events would give way to riots and even fights that were staged as diversions. 

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D-Block:
​A Stay in Maximum Security

For those that were considered to be too dangerous for the main cell block, there was the maximum security D-Block. Built in 1957, this new addition provided extra security in private cells. These prisoners would not have the same privileges as others, but at least they had a room to themselves. 

As population began to grow D-Block experienced overflow into B-Block. Here in B-Block prisoners could enjoy an hour of daily exercise in an outdoor cell where they would have access to a pull-up bar and punching bag. This was the only time that they would come into contact with other inmates, which often turned deadly for many of these high-security level convicts.  

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Busting Out!

Though the walls and surrounding terrain may seem formidable, there has been a few escapes and numerous other attempts. James Earl Ray was not the only one to conjure such a brilliant plan. In another situation, a guard was taken hostage with a bar of soap that was carved to look like a gun and colored in black shoe polish. Other inmates used this as an opportunity to saw through the bars of their cells. 

During the course of the prison's lifespan, it was also the scene of many violent acts.  In 1982 a small group of convicts escaped from their cells and took four guards hostage. Two black prisoners were killed and two others wounded. This situation only lasted around 45 minutes, but created racial tensions as suspicions were roused of illegal activities between the white inmates and guards. 

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Fact and Fiction

In 1972, Brushy Mountain was temporarily closed due to a guard strike. One of the main concerns was the harsh working conditions, especially regarding the safety of the officers. This was settled in 1976 when the prison was unionized, and the facility was once again opened. Operations resumed, and continued until June of 2009 when it was permanently decommissioned. 

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary has found its place in pop culture as well. In the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is being transferred to this prison after making a deal to help capture the serial killer Buffalo Bill. While the movie and its characters were only loosely based on actual events and people, the existence of Brushy is most certainly a reality. 

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary may now be a page in the history books, but it seems to have served its purpose well. Today only interesting tales are held behind these walls, unless of course you believe that some may still reside here in spirit form. Many investigators have been known to haunt these grounds right along with the ghosts they chase. If you find this type of activity interesting, then you may want to look into one of the paranormal night tours. 

The prison proudly displays the quote: 
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​"Brushy was the damnation of many an evil man,
and the salvation of a humble few". ​

For some, it truly was the end of the line, while others made it through completely changed forever. Some former inmates have even returned to to the prison to work as highly knowledgeable tour guides with inside information. 

For those day-long prisoners that make it back outside to once again regain their freedom, you can enjoy lunch at The Warden's Table Restaurant. I also recommend that you stop by the gift shop where you will have the chance to sample the prison's very own Tennessee Moonshine which is made on site. For $5 you can taste 5 different flavors and receive a $5 discount on your purchase of a bottle. Their brand name End of the Line seems to fit the theme nicely, along with my flavor of choice "Scared Straight". 

Hours of Operation: 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Self-guided Tour: $15
Tour with a Former Guard or Inmate: $25

For more information visit:
​Brushy's official website