Entry No. 7 — the Nashville file — filed under: haunted
Bell Witch Cave
A family-run cave and cabin-museum built around America's most documented 19th-century haunting: the Bell Witch, said to be the vengeful spirit of neighbor Kate Batts, who tormented the Bell family from 1817-1821. The small on-site museum holds artifacts pulled from the original Bell cabin — a chimney stone, an iron kettle — alongside period newspaper clippings, and Andrew Jackson reportedly said he'd rather face the British Army again than spend another night on the property.
The story
Between 1817 and 1821, something systematically unraveled the John Bell household in rural Robertson County. Whispers, unseen blows, disembodied voices, and physical torments plagued the family for four years, attributed by locals to the spirit of their neighbor, Kate Batts. The phenomena drew curious onlookers from across the state—including Andrew Jackson, who reportedly left the property declaring he would rather face the British Army again than spend another night on the Bell farm.
Today, the site operates as a family-run museum perched along the bluffs in Adams. While the original homestead was destroyed, the property features a reconstructed John Bell cabin holding authentic fragments salvaged from the original structure—including a soot-stained chimney stone, an iron kettle, and period newspaper clippings detailing America’s most thoroughly documented 19th-century haunting. Down the path, the mouth of the natural limestone cave sits tucked into the hillside, where local lore claims the spirit took refuge.
What it's like
A 40-minute drive north of Nashville brings you down Keysburg Road into a quiet, rural corner of Adams. Expect a low-frills, family-run operation where guides take you through damp, low-ceilinged limestone cave chambers before showing off the cabin relics. Wear sturdy shoes with traction for wet rock, and mind your head on the low ledges. If you come in October, standard daylight visits give way to nighttime lantern tours with period photographs and the outdoor Witch's Dell hayride. Always verify operating hours before making the trip out, as seasonal schedules change.
The move: Do the guided cave tour plus the John Bell cabin tour in daylight, or go all-in on a nighttime lantern tour with period photographs for a proper scare-date; the Witch's Dell haunted hayride runs in October.
- 📍 Adams, Tennessee (Robertson County)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 430 Keysburg Rd., Adams, TN 37010
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- King Murphy's Retreat & The Light Temple — Pair a 19th-century ghost hunt in Adams with a quiet walk through a forested pagan retreat and Medicine Wheel Garden in Goodlettsville on your way back south.
- Regions Beyond — Continue the supernatural thread from rural Robertson County down to East Nashville's Victorian spiritualist parlor for talking boards and spirit-world artifacts.
- Nashville Glassblowing — Break up the rural folklore trek with a hands-on glassblowing stop in Joelton along the northwest edge of the county.
Good to know
Where is the site located relative to Nashville?
It is located at 430 Keysburg Rd. in Adams, Tennessee (Robertson County), approximately a 40-minute drive north of downtown Nashville.
What artifacts are displayed in the John Bell cabin?
The reconstructed cabin holds genuine relics salvaged from the original Bell property, including a stone from the original chimney, an iron kettle, and historical newspaper clippings covering the events.
Are nighttime tours offered?
Yes, nighttime lantern tours using period photographs and the Witch's Dell haunted hayride run during the October Halloween season.
Do I need to check hours in advance?
Yes, hours can vary by season, so you should confirm current operating hours with the venue before driving out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20