The Most Haunted Places in Knoxville

Knoxville can hold its own when it comes to haunted locations. Its connections to the Civil War have produced countless spirits, from angry Confederate soldiers who were hanged to seemingly lost Union troops. There’s even a Frankenstein-esque tale that’s sure to leave you wondering what other spooky stories Knoxville has to offer. 

To see some of the most haunted sites for yourself, book a ghost tour with Knoxville Ghosts. From a theater-going general to a playful little boy, you never know who you might spot.

What is the most haunted place in Knoxville?

While there are plenty of phantom-laced spots in Knoxville, we rounded up some of the most haunted locations in town. These include:

• Bijou Theater
• Craighead-Jackson House
• Knoxville County Courthouse and Jail
• Ramsey House
• First Presbyterian Church Graveyard
• Old Gray Cemetery
• Baker-Peters House
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Gay Street Bridge

Bijou Theater

The Bijou Theater has quite a history, operating as a hotel, bar, ballroom, dining room, and adult entertainment center throughout its 200-year history. It also served as a makeshift hospital during the Civil War, with many men losing their lives inside the decadent rooms. This included General William P. Sanders, who actually died inside the bridal suite in 1863. 

The general is one of several ghosts said to still hang around the theater. Many musicians performing at the venue have remarked about a man in a uniform with brass buttons watching them from the third-floor balcony.

While Sanders is often identified, there are phantoms who aren’t seen but heard — their voices drifting around the sound stage, turning lights on and off, and opening locked doors when no one has a key.

Craighead-Jackson House

The large Craighead-Jackson House, built in 1818, was the home for many prominent Knoxville families over the years. Yet, it seems that someone from a lower class is the face who continues to haunt the home to this day. 

The year the home was completed, a servant was tending to the fire when she tripped and fell onto the blaze. Before anyone could get to her, she had been overtaken by flames and died shortly after. 

As her job was to open windows and doors to let the cool breeze into the house, the servant continues to do this in death; staff will often return from a lunch break or walk up to open up the house, only for it to already have its doors and windows open. 

Knoxville County Courthouse and Jail

The Knoxville County Courthouse had an iron fist back in the day. If someone broke the law, they were sentenced harshly — sometimes with a noose. 

This was the case for two murderers in 1829. After they were hanged, however, one of the bodies disappeared. Many believe that Dr. Stephen Foster collected the body to perform “unholy” experiments on it, including hooking live wires up to the still-warm body and shocking it. 

The man’s chest was said to have risen on its own before falling still once more. Many believe this man can still be spotted around the courthouse and jail, doomed to forever be tied to the place from the freak experiment.

The Ramsey House

The staff at the historic Ramsey House, the first stone home in Knox County built in 1797, will openly tell you about all the ghosts they encounter on a daily basis at the Ramsey House. 

There’s Billy, an eight-year-old boy ghost who will tap the employees on the arm to let them know he’s walking by. Seth, a crotchety old man, will swear at the workers if they move something he doesn’t want them to. Sometimes, he’ll also slam a door that goes up to an old bedroom. 

Finally, Ann Ramsey, who used to live in the home in the early 19th century, is often seen standing in a window after hours by people driving by. She’s unmistakable, with her thin look, long dress, and tight bun on her head.

First Presbyterian Church Graveyard

Generations of children have avoided the First Presbyterian Church Graveyard after dark. There’s just something that feels off for them, other than the typical creepy graveyard vibes. 

This may have to do with the wandering spirit of Abner Baker, who is said to lurk among the headstones. Baker, a young Confederate soldier, murdered a young Union soldier, Will Hall, in September 1865 — a few months after the Civil War ended. Outraged locals dragged Baker to a tree and lynched him, leaving his body hanging for a day before someone cut it down. 

Old Gray Cemetery

The famous spirit in Old Gray Cemetery is known only as Old Aggie. He’s a shadowy figure, covered in a dark robe. He’s said to watch anyone who comes into the cemetery, and anyone who walks by it. 

While some say Old Aggie simply wanders around the cemetery minding his own business, others have reported being chased out of the graveyard by the mysterious phantom.

Baker-Peters House

Before it was Finn’s Tavern, a restaurant that operates today, the large Baker-Peters House was constructed in 1830 by Dr. James Baker. By the time the Civil War rolled around, James and his son both joined the Confederate side. 

One night, in 1863, James was home alone when a group of Union soldiers targeted his house during a raid. Shooting through a barricaded door, the soldiers struck James and killed him. 

A few years later, James’s son came back to town and caught word that one of the men responsible for his father’s death was nearby. The son immediately found the Union soldier and shot him. If this sounds familiar, it’s because this is the story of the spirit who haunts First Presbyterian Church Graveyard — Abner Baker. 

Abner was carried to his death a few hours later. James is said to remain in his home, haunting the staff and diners of the now-restaurant. 

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The UT campus is crawling with ghosts connected to specific buildings. There are the Union soldiers, whose bodies were uncovered as the foundation was laid for Blount Hall. Despite being moved to a nearby cemetery, the soldiers have been seen looking at maps outside the hall at night.

Another popular area, known as “The Hill,” has a phantom walking around in a bowler hat. It’s said that if he lifts his head, the onlooker can see a hole through his face. It’s believed this is a student from the 1930s who killed himself when his love married someone else. 

Gay Street Bridge

In 1815, a ghastly scene was unfolding on the Gay Street Bridge. A man was desperately running from a murderous mob that wanted to lynch him. In his haste, the man plunged from the bridge to the water below — falling to his death. 

The spirit refused to be forgotten, however. For more than a hundred years, the ghost has continually made the third light on the bridge go out. 

The town has tried to fix the issue countless times, even rewiring the entire bridge in the early 2000s. No matter what they try, the light continues to flicker and go out, showing the determination of the spirit. 

Haunted Knoxville

Knoxville has all kinds of unique and terrifying ghost stories, from all eras of Knoxville’s rich history. If you want to see some of the most haunted spots up close and personal, book a ghost tour with Knoxville Ghosts. 

To learn about other top haunted locations around the U.S., follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. For more posts about haunted sites, be sure to check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://new2knox.com/7-most-haunted-spots-in-knoxville/
• https://usghostadventures.com/knoxville-ghost-tour/
• https://insideofknoxville.com/2023/10/inside-the-haunted-200-year-old-bijou-theatre-do-you-believe/
• https://tomitronics.com/old_buildings/craighead-jackson/index.html
• https://new2knox.com/7-most-haunted-spots-in-knoxville/
• https://www.knoxnews.com/story/life/2019/10/23/halloween-2019-knoxville-ghost-stories-include-frankenstein-tale/3978966002/
• https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/learn-about-the-spirits-within-the-historic-ramsey-house/
• https://www.wate.com/video/haunted-tennessee-the-ramsey-house/4062651/
• https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/library-news/adolph-ochs-and-first-presbyterian-haunting
• https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/tennessee/beautiful-and-haunted-cemetery-tn
• https://www.wate.com/haunted-tennessee/baker-peters-house-is-haunted-theyre-all-good-spirits/
• https://www.finnstavern.com/bakerspetershouse
• https://news.utk.edu/2016/10/31/haunted-spots-ut/