The Haunted Neighborhood Guide: Where to Get Spooked Near Our Homes

Haunted Nashville by neighborhood: ghost tours, haunted history and Halloween 2026 events, plus vacation homes near the scares.

You can get properly spooked in Nashville this Halloween without leaving the neighborhood you're sleeping in. Ghost walks start a few blocks from Broadway every night, the Ryman opens the space beneath its stage on October 31, and the city's biggest haunted houses are 10 to 25 minutes away. Here's haunted Nashville one neighborhood at a time: what's real history, what's campfire legend, and which of our homes put you closest to the screams.

In short: your Nashville Halloween 2026 cheat sheet

  • Halloween is a Saturday (October 31), so October 30 to November 1 is the big weekend. Book tours and haunted houses early.

  • Easiest walkable scare: a downtown ghost walk. Ghosts of Nashville ($24.99 for adults) and Ghost City Tours ($29.99 for ages 12 and up) both start at 8 pm and welcome kids.

  • Halloween night only: the Ryman Haunted History Tour, Saturday, October 31 at 6 pm.

  • This Saturday, October 24: After Sundown lantern tours at the Nashville City Cemetery, plus Hauntings at The Hermitage and Sleepy Hollow at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

  • Biggest haunted house: Nashville Nightmare in Madison, tickets from $32.99, online only. The venue says it may be too intense for kids 12 and under.

  • Best for history lovers: after dark Ghost Tours at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Thursday to Sunday through November 7, $60.

  • Where to stay: every home we feature has a current short term rental permit and was open for Halloween weekend when we checked on October 19.

How we checked: every date, time and price in this guide comes from the venue's or organizer's own website or ticketing page, rechecked on October 19, 2026. Where a venue hasn't posted something, we say so instead of guessing. Plans change, so check the link before you go. Drive and walk times are approximate.

Downtown and Printers Alley: where Nashville's ghost tours begin

If you only do one spooky thing, do it here. Three of the best Nashville ghost tours start within a few blocks of each other, and every stop is real Nashville history.

The Ryman: what's documented and what's legend

The documented part is a great story on its own. Riverboat captain Thomas Ryman went to evangelist Sam Jones's tent revival on May 10, 1885, and left promising to build a tabernacle. The Union Gospel Tabernacle opened in 1892, and when Ryman died in 1904, Jones asked the mourners at his funeral to rename it Ryman Auditorium.

The legend: tour guides say the captain still keeps an eye on the place and isn't shy about showing disapproval of a show he wouldn't have liked.

Ryman Haunted History Tour. One night only: Saturday, October 31 at 6 pm. It's a 45 minute guided tour with access beneath the stage and a commemorative photo. Some areas may not be accessible for guests with limited mobility. The event page doesn't list a price, so check when you book at ryman.com.

Printers Alley: printing presses, speakeasies and one real tragedy

Printers Alley really was where the printers were. It was laid out by 1831, and by 1915 the area held 13 publishers and 10 printers, including predecessors of the Tennessean and the Nashville Banner. After Tennessee's 1909 prohibition law, speakeasies kept pouring in the saloon district next door. The alley is now a National Register historic district.

It also carries a real loss. In January 1998, David "Skull" Schulman, the longtime owner of Skull's Rainbow Room, was killed during a robbery at his club, and the case is still in the news today.

The legend: guides tell stories of former owners who never quite left the club.

The Hermitage Hotel: suffrage history and Room 912

The Hermitage Hotel opened on September 17, 1910 as Nashville's first "million dollar hotel." In the summer of 1920, it was headquarters for both sides of the fight over Tennessee's vote on the 19th Amendment.

The legend: guests have reported a baby crying in Room 912, said to have been Room 910 before a remodel. The story is that a baby died there, though there's no official record behind it.

Ghost tours that start downtown

Ghosts of Nashville: Haunted Downtown walking tour

  • Meets: corner of 6th Ave N and Union St, across from The Hermitage Hotel

  • Stops: the State Capitol, President Polk's tomb, the Ryman and Printers Alley

  • When: 8 pm Sunday to Friday, plus 8 and 9 pm on Saturdays

  • Price: adults $24.99, kids 12 and under $19.99, kids 6 and under free

  • Length: about 90 minutes and half a mile

  • Scare level: low; it's lantern lit storytelling with a costumed guide

  • Kid friendly: yes, with kids' pricing

  • Book: ghostsofnashville.com

Nashville Ghosts: Nightmare Notes and Hauntings of Music City

  • Meets: outside Skull's Rainbow Room, 222 Printers Alley

  • When: nightly at 8 pm, rain or shine, about 1 hour

  • Price: the operator lists tours "starting at $25"

  • Kid friendly: not adults only, and pets are welcome

  • Book: nashvilleghosts.com

Grown ups only: Ghosts of Nashville's haunted tavern tour (6 pm, $22.99), Ghost City Tours' Haunted Pub Crawl (8 pm from the Hard Rock Cafe guitar at Broadway and 1st Ave N, $34.99) and Nashville Ghosts' Boos and Booze pub crawl (5 pm, from $30) are all for guests 21 and up.

Best night to go: none of the walking tour operators names a quiet night. For Halloween weekend, book ahead.

Stay nearby: our closest homes to the downtown ghost walks are the North Nashville and Gulch picks below. Browse more homes near Germantown.

The Capitol and Germantown: the architect in the wall

The Tennessee State Capitol: documented history

This one sounds like a legend, but it's true. Architect William Strickland died on April 7, 1854, while the Capitol was still under construction. By an act of the legislature, his remains were placed in a vault in the building's north wall, and the plaque is still there. His son Francis finished the building, which was completed in 1859.

During the Civil War, the Union Army used the Capitol as a fortress called Fort Andrew Johnson. President James K. Polk and Sarah Polk are buried on the grounds.

The legend: the story goes that Strickland still argues at night with Samuel Morgan, the building commissioner he famously clashed with.

Visit by day: the Capitol is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and admission is free. Free 45 minute guided tours start at 9, 10 and 11 am and 1, 2 and 3 pm, first come, first served.

The family ghost tour that meets on the Capitol grounds

Ghost City Tours: The Ghosts of Nashville Tour

  • Meets: 553 Charlotte Ave, at Charlotte and 6th, by the Alvin York statue

  • When: nightly at 8 pm (the operator says times can vary by night)

  • Price: ages 0 to 5 free, ages 6 to 11 $14.99, ages 12 and up $29.99

  • Length: about 90 minutes and 1 mile

  • Scare level: low; the operator describes it as 60% history, 30% paranormal and 10% entertainment

  • Kid friendly: yes, all ages, pet friendly, and stroller and wheelchair accessible

  • Book: ghostcitytours.com

Insider tip: Germantown is a short drive from here and has plenty of places for dinner before an 8 pm tour.

Stay nearby Game room home a few minutes from downtown · North Nashville · about a 7 to 8 minute drive to the Capitol See the home · More North Nashville homes

The Gulch and Union Station: Room 711

Union Station: documented history

Union Station opened on October 9, 1900 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and quickly became one of the city's great gateways. Passenger service ended in 1979, and after years sitting empty, the building reopened as a hotel in 1986.

The legend of Abigail

The hotel tells this one itself, and it starts with "the story goes." A young woman named Abigail saw her sweetheart off to fight in World War II. When she learned he had been killed, the legend says, she took her own life on the tracks.

Staff and guests have reported flickering lights, cold spots and strange sounds in Room 711, which overlooks the old rail yard. The hotel describes her as a gentle presence, and USA Today 10Best readers voted it the best haunted hotel in America.

Ride the hearse

Ghosts of Nashville: Haunted Hearse Tour

  • Meets: Union Station Hotel, 1001 Broadway

  • Stops: Union Station, the "Murder on Music Row" story, Nashville's oldest cemetery and more

  • When: nightly at 7, 8:30 and 10 pm

  • Price: adults $36.99

  • Length: about 60 minutes

  • Kid friendly: the operator doesn't post an age policy, so ask when you book

  • Book: ghostsofnashville.com

Stay nearby Spacious Gulch home with big skyline views · The Gulch · about a 10 to 15 minute walk to Union Station See the home · More Gulch homes

Wedgewood Houston and the City Cemetery: lanterns after dark

Nashville City Cemetery: documented history

Nashville City Cemetery opened on January 1, 1822, and it's the city's oldest continuously operated public cemetery, with about 20,000 burials. Founders James and Charlotte Robertson are here, along with Captain William Driver, the man who named the American flag "Old Glory," Governor William Carroll, 15 mayors and two of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers.

It's open daily from dawn to dusk and free to visit.

After Sundown: one night a year

After Sundown: Stories from the Nashville City Cemetery is on Saturday, October 24. The Nashville City Cemetery Association leads hour long, lantern lit tours, each with its own theme:

  • 6 pm: Nashville's antebellum leaders buried in the cemetery

  • 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm: Medical Maladies

  • 7 pm: Dark Stories of Nashville

  • 7:30 pm: Andrew Jackson, Friends and Foes

  • 8 pm: Symbols of the Dead, cemetery art and customs

At least one tour time was already marked sold out when we checked on October 19, so book soon. The organizer says this is one of the only times in 2026 guests can be in the cemetery after dark. Leave pets at home that night, and use rideshare because parking is limited. Scare level: low; it's history by lantern light. Tickets: on Eventbrite (the event page text doesn't list a price).

Also nearby: Fort Negley, built in 1862 by more than 2,700 conscripted laborers, most of them people who had escaped slavery and free Black Nashvillians. It's a powerful history stop rather than a ghost story. The park is free and open during daylight hours, and the free visitors center is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Stay nearby Three story home with a private garage near Geodis Park · Wedgewood Houston area · about a 5 minute drive (or a 20 to 25 minute walk) to the City Cemetery See the home · More Wedgewood Houston homes

Belmont and Midtown: a Victorian mansion and a ghost story that isn't true

Belmont Mansion: documented history

Adelicia and Joseph Acklen built Belmont as their summer estate between about 1850 and 1853. It later became a women's school and the start of Belmont University. Adelicia sold the property and died in Washington in 1887.

The legend, and why we call it a legend

You'll hear that Adelicia still walks the halls. Belmont's own historians have looked at that claim and call it false, so enjoy it as a ghost story, not history.

Visit by day: the mansion opens at 10 am Monday to Saturday and 11 am on Sunday, with the last guests admitted at 3:30 pm. A general admission tour runs about 45 minutes to an hour. Check belmontmansion.com for tickets.

Want music after the mansion? Our guide to live music beyond Broadway has spots locals love.

Stay nearby Belmont home with a game table, walkable to the Gulch · Belmont · about a 10 to 15 minute walk to Belmont Mansion See the home · More Midtown and Music Row homes

East Nashville and the haunted houses north and east

East Nashville is our favorite base for haunted house night. You're across the river from downtown and 10 to 25 minutes from the city's biggest scares. Grab dinner first with our East Nashville dining guide.

Nashville Nightmare, Madison (about 15 minutes from downtown)

  • Where: 1016 Madison Square, Madison

  • Nights still to come: October 21 to 25 and 27 to 31, plus November 1, 6, 7 and 13. Hours vary by date and show at checkout.

  • Price: tickets start at $32.99, online only

  • Scare level: high; multiple themed haunted houses

  • Kids: the venue says it may be too intense for kids 12 and under, and anyone 15 or younger needs an adult on the property

  • Good to know: groups of more than 10 are split up, only small clear bags are allowed, and no costumes, face paint or props are allowed inside

  • Tickets: nashvillenightmare.com

Beast House, Dickerson Pike (about 15 minutes north of downtown)

  • Where: 3976 Dickerson Pike

  • Nights: check the venue's online calendar for exact nights and hours

  • Price: general admission from $29.99 for both houses (Beast House and Chaos), shorter wait VIP from $38.99, Platinum from $93.99. Parking is $5 in the field lot or $15 for premium.

  • Best night to go: the venue doesn't name one, but warns its lots fill on busy nights, so carpool

  • Scare level: high; a self guided walk with live actors

  • Kids: the venue says there's no minimum age

  • The backstory: the haunt's storyline is set in an old mansion that later became the Starlite Club. Treat the murder tale as the attraction's story, not documented history.

  • Tickets: beasthouse.com

Rigor Mortis, Thompson Lane (about 10 to 15 minutes south of downtown)

  • Where: 502 Thompson Lane, its new Nashville home for 2026

  • 2026 nights: October 22 to 25 and 28 to 31, November 1, 6 and 7, plus November 13 and 14. Halloween runs from 7 pm to midnight, and other nights end between 9 and 11:30 pm.

  • Price: $19.99 to $78.96 depending on night and ticket type

  • Scare level: high; it bills itself as Tennessee's scariest, with two haunted houses for one ticket

  • Kids: no age policy is posted, so check before bringing kids

  • Tickets: tickets.rigormortishauntedhouse.com

Slaughterhouse, Hermitage (about 20 minutes east of downtown)

  • Where: 3445 Lebanon Pike, inside a former movie theater

  • Hours: Fridays 8 to 11:30 pm, Saturdays 7 to 11:30 pm and Sundays 7 to 10 pm. The venue doesn't post a closing date, so check before you go.

  • Price: general admission $30; a movie plus the haunt is $38; dinner, a movie and the haunt is $58

  • Scare level: high; a walk of about 40 minutes through five old theaters. It's Nashville's longest running haunt, now in its 40th season.

  • Kids: recommended for ages 12 and up, and ages 12 to 15 need an adult

  • Tickets: fullmoonslaughterhouse.com

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage after dark (about 25 minutes east)

The documented part: Andrew Jackson died at The Hermitage on June 8, 1845, and was buried in the garden tomb beside his wife, Rachel, who died in 1828.

The site's own Ghost Tours blend true mourning customs with stories passed down for generations about the mansion, the family cemetery and Jackson himself.

  • When: Thursday to Sunday through November 7, at 6:30 and 8:30 pm

  • Price: $60, or $55 for members

  • Length: about 90 minutes on foot, rain or shine

  • Good to know: each tour is capped at 42 tickets and they sell out quickly. Tickets are nonrefundable.

  • Book: thehermitage.com

Saturday, October 24 is a big night here. Hauntings at The Hermitage, postponed from October 10 because of weather, now runs that night, with trick or treating and family activities early, then haunted hayrides, ghost stories and lantern lit walks after dark. The site is also staging an outdoor Sleepy Hollow production the same day. Details at thehermitage.com. Browse homes near Hermitage.

Across the river: Devil's Dungeon is a longtime local haunt that first opened in 2000. We couldn't confirm its 2026 nights, hours or prices from the venue directly, so check slashvillehaunts.com.

Stay nearby East side oasis with a private pool and putting green · East Nashville · about 10 to 15 minutes to Beast House and about 15 to 20 minutes to Madison See the home

East side home with a rooftop and backyard · East Nashville · about 10 to 15 minutes to Beast House See the home

More East Nashville homes

The standout day trip: Bell Witch Cave, Adams (about 50 minutes north)

Tennessee's most famous ghost story comes from the Bell family farm in the early 1800s. The legend of the "Bell Witch" tormenting the family has been retold for two centuries. The site's guided tour goes through a replica of the Bell family cabin and into the historic cave.

Remaining October hours:

  • Fridays (October 23 and 30): 3 pm to midnight

  • Saturdays (October 24 and 31): noon to midnight

  • Sundays (October 25 and November 1): noon to 5 pm

What to do:

  • Witch's Dell Haunted Hayride: Friday and Saturday nights in October from 7 pm, $22 with tax included. It's a 30 to 40 minute ride on a new, longer route for 2026, and live actors climb onto the wagon. Scare level: medium to high.

  • Cave and cabin tours: Friday to Sunday in October. Prices are on the site's pricing page.

  • Forgotten History hayride tours: Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 pm, $10, kids 5 and under free. This is the family friendly pick.

Tickets are bought on location, and cash makes the lines move faster. Details: bellwitchcave.com

Plan your scare

  • Ghosts of Nashville walking tour (Downtown): 8 pm Sun to Fri; 8 and 9 pm Sat. Price: $19.99 to $24.99; 6 and under free. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Yes.

  • Ghost City Tours, Ghosts of Nashville (Capitol): Nightly, 8 pm. Price: $14.99 to $29.99; 5 and under free. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Yes, all ages.

  • Nashville Ghosts, Hauntings of Music City (Printers Alley): Nightly, 8 pm. Price: From $25. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Yes, not adults only.

  • Haunted pub crawls (three operators) (Downtown): 5, 6 or 8 pm. Price: $22.99 to $34.99. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: No, 21 and up.

  • Ryman Haunted History Tour (Downtown): Sat Oct 31, 6 pm. Price: See ryman.com. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Not stated.

  • Ghosts of Nashville Haunted Hearse Tour (The Gulch): Nightly, 7, 8:30 and 10 pm. Price: $36.99 adults. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Ask when booking.

  • After Sundown at City Cemetery (Wedgewood Houston): Sat Oct 24, tours 6 to 8:30 pm. Price: See Eventbrite. Scare level: Low. Kid friendly: Not stated.

  • Nashville Nightmare (Madison): Select nights through Nov 13. Price: From $32.99. Scare level: High. Kid friendly: Too intense for 12 and under, per venue.

  • Beast House (Dickerson Pike): See venue calendar. Price: From $29.99. Scare level: High. Kid friendly: No minimum age, per venue.

  • Rigor Mortis (Thompson Lane): Oct 22 to Nov 14, select nights. Price: $19.99 to $78.96. Scare level: High. Kid friendly: Not stated.

  • Slaughterhouse (Hermitage): Fri to Sun nights. Price: $30 to $58. Scare level: High. Kid friendly: 12 and up recommended.

  • Hermitage Ghost Tours (Hermitage): Thu to Sun through Nov 7, 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Price: $55 to $60. Scare level: Low to medium. Kid friendly: Not stated.

  • Hauntings at The Hermitage (Hermitage): Sat Oct 24. Price: See thehermitage.com. Scare level: Low early, spookier late. Kid friendly: Yes, early evening.

  • Bell Witch Cave Haunted Hayride (Adams, day trip): Fri and Sat in October, from 7 pm. Price: $22. Scare level: Medium to high. Kid friendly: Not stated; daytime history hayride is family friendly.

Looking for more to do while you're in town? See Nashville events this week for concerts and shows by date.

Where to stay: Nashville vacation homes near the scares

Pick your base by the scares you want, then browse all our Nashville vacation homes:

Or compare areas on our neighborhoods page.

Halloween in Nashville: your questions

What are the best ghost tours in Nashville?

For families, Ghosts of Nashville's Haunted Downtown walk and Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of Nashville Tour both start at 8 pm and offer kids' pricing. Nashville Ghosts meets in Printers Alley nightly at 8 pm. For something different, take the Haunted Hearse Tour from Union Station, or book the Ghost Tours at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Thursday to Sunday through November 7.

What is there to do in Nashville on Halloween 2026?

Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31. Take the Ryman Haunted History Tour at 6 pm, join a downtown ghost walk, or pick a haunted house: Nashville Nightmare and Rigor Mortis (7 pm to midnight) are both open that night. The Hermitage runs Ghost Tours at 6:30 and 8:30 pm, and Bell Witch Cave is open from noon to midnight.

Which Nashville Halloween activities are good for kids?

The downtown walking tours from Ghosts of Nashville and Ghost City Tours both offer kids' pricing and welcome all ages. Hauntings at The Hermitage on October 24 starts with trick or treating and family activities, and Bell Witch Cave's daytime Forgotten History hayride is the gentle pick. Nashville Nightmare says it may be too intense for kids 12 and under.

Is Nashville's Union Station Hotel really haunted?

The building's history is real: it opened as a train station in 1900 and became a hotel in 1986. The ghost of Abigail in Room 711 is a legend the hotel happily shares, and staff and guests have reported odd happenings there. Whether you believe it is up to you.

Do I need tickets in advance for Nashville haunted houses?

Usually, yes. Nashville Nightmare sells tickets online only, and the Hermitage caps each ghost tour at 42 tickets. Bell Witch Cave is the exception: tickets are bought on location.

Your haunted weekend starts with the right home

Every home in this guide has a current short term rental permit, is managed by our local Nashville team and puts you minutes from the spooky stuff. Halloween weekend fills fast.

See available homes for your dates

About the author

Alex Self founded Host Extraordinaires and runs nearly 200 homes across Nashville.