Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Maximum security prison in Petros, United States
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary is a former maximum security prison in Petros, Tennessee, carved into the slope of the Cumberland Mountains and now open as a historic site. The stone buildings with their multi-story cell blocks, administrative rooms and workshops form a self-contained compound whose walls still show the original construction.
The facility opened in 1896 after the Coal Creek War, when miners protested the use of convicts in mines, and closed permanently in 2009. During its 113 years it held some of the state's most dangerous convicts and became a symbol of Tennessee's harsh sentencing practices.
The name refers to the forested slopes surrounding the stone structure deep in Morgan County's mountains, which still frame the view today. Visitors walking through the converted complex see original cells, work areas and watchtowers that show the harsh daily routine inmates followed.
The site offers guided tours through cell blocks, guard rooms and work areas, with most paths accessible for visitors with limited mobility. The location on a hillside requires sturdy shoes, especially in wet weather when some sections can become slippery.
Some of Tennessee's most notorious criminals served sentences here, such as James Earl Ray, who attempted a spectacular escape through the woods in 1977 but was caught after three days. The isolation in the mountains made breakouts difficult, yet attempts continued and tested the guard staff.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
