Why Are Ghosts Always in Old Buildings? A Ghostly Tour of Nashville’s Haunted Architecture.
- Cody Witten
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever been on a Nashville ghost tour, or just found yourself walking downtown after dark with a weird chill creeping up your spine, you’ve probably noticed something: ghosts love old buildings. Like, really love them.
Whether it’s a grand hotel, a crumbling train station, or a government building with a dark past, the spookiest places in Nashville all seem to have one thing in common—they’ve been around a while.
But why do spirits always seem to settle in with the antiques and cobwebs? Let’s dig into it.
Old Places, Old Souls
There’s a theory that buildings can soak up energy—the kind that lingers long after people have gone. Think about it: in a place that’s over a century old, how many births, deaths, fights, heartbreaks, celebrations, and tragedies have happened inside those walls?
That’s a whole lot of emotional baggage.
And sometimes, especially when trauma or loss is involved, it’s said that energy can stick around like a bad roommate who just won’t move out. The result? Cold spots. Disembodied voices. Apparitions walking the halls. Basically, your classic Nashville ghost tour material.
What Makes a Building Haunted?
Not every old house has a ghost problem (lucky for the real estate market), but the haunted ones tend to have a few things in common:
Lots of history – The more time has passed, the more stories have stacked up.
Tragic events – Death, war, or sorrowful goodbyes leave emotional fingerprints.
Repurposed spaces – Former hospitals, brothels, and jails? Yeah, they’re usually crawling with activity.
Abandonment or renovation – Ghosts do not like change, and they really don’t like being disturbed.
And in Nashville, we’ve got all that and more. Let’s take a look at a few buildings that keep our ghost tours busy year-round.
The Hermitage Hotel: Haunted High Society
Let’s start with the grand dame of haunted Nashville: the Hermitage Hotel.
Built in 1910, it’s all class and Southern charm on the outside—but step inside, and you might get more than you bargained for. Guests and staff have reported doors opening on their own, footsteps in empty hallways, and the lingering presence of a red-haired woman in Edwardian clothing who appears out of nowhere and vanishes just as quickly.
She’s elegant, mysterious, and apparently not ready to check out. Can’t say I blame her—the rooms are nice.
Union Station Hotel: Ghosts on the Platform
Once a major train terminal, Union Station opened in 1900 and saw thousands of passengers come and go—including soldiers headed off to war. Some never made it back.
Today, the building is a stunning hotel with high ceilings, stained glass, and stories to spare. Guests have reported phantom footsteps, train whistles with no source, and a woman in white pacing the halls—said to be eternally waiting for her lost love to return.
Tennessee State Capitol: Spirits in Session
The Tennessee State Capitol is currently undergoing renovations—and if ghost stories have taught us anything, that’s like poking a beehive with a stick.
Built in 1859 and designed by William Strickland (who conveniently died before it was completed and is now literally buried in the walls), the Capitol is loaded with history—and possibly a few ghosts who don’t appreciate the construction noise.
Strickland’s apprentice is buried there too, and rumor has it the two didn’t get along… even in death. Visitors and night staff have heard strange sounds and seen unexplained figures wandering the halls in old-fashioned clothes. It’s government business as unusual.
So Why Do We Love These Haunted Buildings?
We’re drawn to haunted places for the same reason we’re drawn to ghost stories—they give us a sense of connection. A peek into lives lived before ours. A whisper from the past.
On a Nashville ghost tour, these buildings don’t just serve as backdrops—they’re characters in their own right. Cracked plaster and creaky staircases become storytellers. Each groan of the floorboards feels like a step closer to something… not quite gone.
And let’s be real: it’s way more fun to explore an old hotel that might be haunted than one that just smells like new carpet.
Ready to Walk Through Nashville History (and Maybe a Ghost)? Join our ghost tour!
Whether you’re a diehard believer, a skeptical history buff, or just someone who loves a good spooky story, Nashville has no shortage of haunted hotspots to explore.
Join us on a Nashville ghost tour and step into the shadows of the past. You might leave with goosebumps… or a ghost story of your own.
