Nashville, Tennessee - Nashville Nightmare
By Michael Hopkins and Carroll Moore

TO FIND MORE HAUNTED HOUSES IN TENNESSEE CLICK HERE ... http://www.hauntworld.com/tennessee_haunted_houses

 

www.NashvilleNightmare.com

Nashville Nightmare: The Past, Present, and Future of Nashville's Haunt Scene

The year is 1984 on a crisp Fall day in the town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  A young boy, along with his family, walked up to the creepy façade of the Mysterious Mansion, an attraction that has stood the test of time and is still open to this day.  As the father of the family walked up to the ticket booth window, he looked down at his five-year-old son and asked a simple question, "Bradley, are you going in?” the young boy replied back with one simple statement. “Uh-uh, there's monsters in there." Little did the young boy know that day would set his life on a path that would be filled with the love for Halloween and monsters alike.  That little boy was Brad Webb, now owner of Nashville Nightmare, one of Tennessee’s best and scariest haunted houses ever created.
 

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We fast forward to the year 2010 when Brad was determined to create a haunted house attraction that would be a game changer in the city of Nashville.  Brad had owned and operated multiple haunted houses since 2004, but always in temporary locations.  Setting up and tearing down each year was eating into profits and holding back the quality of the show.  He wanted more and knew if his goals were to ever be reached, he would have to take a chance and leave the ‘satellite-style’ haunt behind.  So Brad took a year off and really studied the haunt industry. Knowing that the Nashville haunt market was a little behind the times, he traveled and toured many of the industry leaders throughout the southeast. “I knew in order to achieve the level I sought after, I would have to sign a long-term lease. The goal would be to become the # 1 attraction in Middle Tennessee,” recalls Brad. The days and nights of setting up and tearing down were over for Brad.  It was time to find the perfect setting for a NIGHTMARE.

In February of 2011, a lease was signed for a 25,000 sq ft space in the basement of an abandoned shopping center.  With thousands of cars daily driving past and quick access to the interstate, Brad was positive that he had found the perfect location.  “Being that it was in the basement, on the backside of the property, it didn't have a shopping center feel. It had a sense of abandonment and dread…the perfect setting for a haunted attraction,” says Brad. With an additional 50,000 square-foot available next to the property, Brad had found a location that his team could create an incredible attraction as well as grow and expand upon through the years.

 

 
The business plan was put together, and on May 2nd of 2011, the walls started going up. A team of skilled framers, artists and general laborers started working on a 17,000 square-foot haunt floor plan. “The goal was simple…build high-quality sets, rely heavily on great scare actors, and advertise, advertise, advertise!”

For Brad and his crew, it was a mad dash, but on September 16th, Nashville Nightmare opened its doors for the first time. The response from guests was incredibly positive.  Brad recalls, “Patrons were thanking us for the time and effort that had been put into the attraction.  It was unreal and extremely motivating.”  With over 4,000 more patrons than projected, the success of Nashville Nighmare’s first season provided the ability for even greater improvements for 2012, so they immediately expanded the haunt the very next year adding in a couple of big "show-stoppers", more impressive sets, and a few more scare-actor spots.

“Already by the end of that second year, I knew we could expand into the vacant buildings next to us, and even bigger things would be on the horizon for 2013,” recalls Brad. That next season, the main haunted house on property became known as Night Terrors and a brand-new second attraction called Dark Descent was created. Additionally, a brand-new ticket area, retail shop, and a 5000 square-foot actor, make up, FX, and costuming area was also added. Nashville Nightmare had a hunger, and the plan was to keep feeding it.

With rising attendance each year of operation, Brad decided for 2014 to bring back an old Nashville favorite, Horror High. “This is the first haunted house I worked at when I was 15 years old, and I wanted to bring back a bit of nostalgia with this attraction.”  Horror High took the place of Dark Descent and became an instant success with its horror themed school sets and its 14,000 sq ft layout.  In 2015 Horror High grew to 17,000 sq ft, while Night Terrors grew to an impressive 23,000 sq ft attraction.
 

For Brad and his crew, it was a mad dash, but on September 16th, Nashville Nightmare opened its doors for the first time. The response from guests was incredibly positive.  Brad recalls, “Patrons were thanking us for the time and effort that had been put into the attraction.  It was unreal and extremely motivating.”  With over 4,000 more patrons than projected, the success of Nashville Nighmare’s first season provided the ability for even greater improvements for 2012, so they immediately expanded the haunt the very next year adding in a couple of big "show-stoppers", more impressive sets, and a few more scare-actor spots.

“Already by the end of that second year, I knew we could expand into the vacant buildings next to us, and even bigger things would be on the horizon for 2013,” recalls Brad. That next season, the main haunted house on property became known as Night Terrors and a brand-new second attraction called Dark Descent was created. Additionally, a brand-new ticket area, retail shop, and a 5000 square-foot actor, make up, FX, and costuming area was also added. Nashville Nightmare had a hunger, and the plan was to keep feeding it.

With rising attendance each year of operation, Brad decided for 2014 to bring back an old Nashville favorite, Horror High. “This is the first haunted house I worked at when I was 15 years old, and I wanted to bring back a bit of nostalgia with this attraction.”  Horror High took the place of Dark Descent and became an instant success with its horror themed school sets and its 14,000 sq ft layout.  In 2015 Horror High grew to 17,000 sq ft, while Night Terrors grew to an impressive 23,000 sq ft attraction.

“Now entering our sixth year of fear, we have brought together the best talent in the area to take Nashville Nightmare even further to the next level. Some of the best creative minds, set designers, and make-up artists in the area are all collaborating on how to make 2016 Nightmare's best season yet,” says Brad.  Nashville Nightmare is raising the bar once again with their new attractions for 2016.  Dream Rippers and Fairytale Hell will be inside the massive 23,000 sq ft space that housed Night Terrors the previous season.  Plus, Horror High: The Final Exam and Grimm’s Circus of the Macabre will finish the slate for the other space on property. 

 

 

Enter Dream Rippers…As the Necro-Toxin is pumped into your brain you encounter nightmarish creatures and hellish settings that only dwell deep within the recesses of your mind. Dark subway stations and sewers start your trip until you bust into the remains of the old Antioch Asylum. Tour through the decaying mortuary before a moonlit walk through the graveyard. Evil priests have been busy summoning a demonic entity inside a mausoleum, and the possessed Graves Manor will leave you unnerved!

Journey through the twisted land of make believe inside Fairytale Hell. Remember your favorite stories as a child? Well those have been destroyed! Visit Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Little Red, and many more characters in a totally twisted take on the classic stories!

Your adventure doesn't stop there as you enroll in class at Horror High: The Final Exam. No more pencils, no more books, as you creep through the haunting halls one final time. The principal is very upset with your behavior in line and sends you straight to detention. The lunch lady is cooking up quite a feast while the smell of the locker room will leave your stomach in knots. Biology and the library are just a few of the stops you will make before a trip to the school nurse. On your way out, don't forget to swing by the chop shop and janitors quarters, where it isn't wood they've been cutting on!

Step right up, don't be shy! You might just live or you might just die! Witness Grimm’s Circus of the Macabre performing right in front of your very eyes. Stuck in a Purgatory, they must perform this hellish show for all eternity. But be careful not to become part of the act!
 

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Brad Webb might be the hardest working haunt operator in the nation.  Not only is he making Nashville Nightmare the Ultimate Haunted Destination in the Nashville area and beyond, but he also operates off-season events such as My Bloody Nightmare, A Nashville Nightmare Before Christmas, Dark Weddings, and more.  His secret to success is never being satisfied.  His twisted desire to push the limit of haunting has led to great success, but he never stops. Every time he creates the scariest haunted house ever, he finds ways to become even more horrific than before.  And with the 2016 Haunt season on the horizon and thousands of Nightmare Nation awaiting, it’s safe to say that Nashville Nightmare guests will continue to experience and love one of the top rated haunts in the nation.

 

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Tennessee Haunted Houses have grown over the years to feature some really amazing haunted houses some of which have been featured on Travel Channel. Several years ago when we visited haunted houses in the Nashville, Tennessee the haunted houses in Tennessee seemed to be around every corner especially in the Nashville, Tennessee area haunted houses are very popular form of entertainment and more haunted houses in Tennessee can be found at Hauntworld.com. On Hauntworld.com you will find every type of haunted houses in Tennessee from a haunted hayride, haunted house, Halloween Attractions, ghost tours, to paranormal ghost hunting. Read all about the best and scariest haunted houses in the state of Tennessee here at Hauntworld.com

When looking for a scary or the best haunted house in Tennessee look no further than the area of Nashville, Tennessee because this is an absolute hotbed for haunted houses in Tennessee. One of the biggest around is Devils Dungeon haunted house in Nashville, Tennessee.  Tennessee is a very thin state so many of the best haunted houses might reside just outside Tennessee whereby someone looking for a haunted house Tennessee could travel a short distance and find some of the biggest haunted houses in America. Tennessee has a lot of incredible cities to find haunted houses including Memphis and Nashville.

There are at least 10 haunted houses scattered all across the Nashville, Tennessee area including smaller towns like Hohenwald where you can find The Torture Factory, Chattanooga, Tennessee where you can find Ruby Falls Haunted House or Lebanon where Dead Land Haunted Woods is located. Other scary Tennessee Haunted Houses can be found in Springfield Tennessessee where Honeysuckle Hill Farm haunted houses is located. 

When trying to decide what haunted houses in Nashville Tennessee to visit make sure you choose the ones on the FIRST page of our directory as these are the best ones in the state.  Also make sure you vote on our poll to determine the best haunted house in Tennesseee and tweet this page or share with facebook to help others find the scariest haunted houses in Tennessee. 

Use the zip code finder here on Hauntworld.com to find the best and scariest haunted houses in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee is filled with other very haunted cities like Memphis, Tennessess and Nashville where you can find more than country music you can find screams coming from every corner of the city. Memphis Tennessee is one of the best cities in America to visit to get a taste of what life was like in America back in the 50's as many of the classic buildings are still up and running today. Memphis Tennessee includes the civil rights museum, see the hotel where Martin Luther King was shot and killed, to Elvis Presley home at Graceland to Sun Studios tour where all the greats recorded their first albums. Memphis is known for rock n roll but its also known for the scariest haunted houses in America.

Nashville Tennessee as everyone knows is known for country music but its also the home to the scariest haunted houses in Tennessee including Devils Dungeon, and Nashville Nightmare.

When visiting Tennessee in the Fall make sure to bring extra underwear because the state of Tennessee is known for a lot more than country music, college football and the birth place of rock n roll, its known for making people SCREAM!

Nashville is known for some of the best and scariest haunted house, Halloween atttractions and haunted hayrides.  Nashville is also known for some of the scariest haunted ghost stories.   Such places as the Tennessee State Capital, President's Polk Tomb, the Ryman auditorium and the Printer's Alley are just some of the historic landmarks in downtown Nashville where there have been many reports of ghoulish spirties and ghost lurking around. 

The Tennesse State Capitol was completed in 1859 and is located n downtown Nashville.  The Tennessee Capitol has been rumered to be haunted for good reason.  It is said that there are people buried underground and even withing the walls.  Today the reports of paranormal activity continue as the builing is still in full use.  It is home to the House of Representatives and the Senate.   The tomb of the 11th President James Knox  Polk can be seen in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.  This massive tomb can be seen on he grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol hill.  This beautiful piece of history is shaded and placed just under a tree with four large pillars and a beautifu lblakc fence surrounding it. 

A true, real haunted house just minutes from Nashville is The Hermitage.  This once home to President Andrew Jackson this This plantation is a huge area and described by many as glorious and a beautiful place to be.  What an amaxing piece of history.  This house has it all.  The large white buildings with the massive white pillars showing the power and beauty of its time. 

The plantation did very well over the next several years and was a great home for nearly two generations of the Jackson family.  In 1827 Rachel, Jackson's wife died and soon after in 1845 Andrew Jackson died.  They were both burried in the family cemetery in the Hermitage Mansion Garden.  Aftern the death of his father, Andrew Jackson Jr took over the plantaion.  He did his best, but it was clear he was not a farmer and was struggling.  Finally in 1856 the plantation was sold to the state of Tennnessee. 

Today the Hermitage Plantation is back to its original glory.  Many visitors come and see what was once the hme to the great, late Andrew Jackson.  There have been several reports by visitors and employess that the plantation is haunted.  They will hear strange noise or hear footsteps and nobody will be there. 

In additional there are many ghost tours, and other real haunted house places throughout Tennessee.  Find the best haunted houses and more here at www.Hauntworld.com

To find pumpkin patches in your area go to www.HalloweenAttractions.com. 

If you visit a haunted house in your area please come back and rate and review your experience.