Beyond Broadway: Discover Nashville’s Haunted History on a Ghost Tour
Nashville, Tennessee
*This blog contains affiliate links. I may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase something through my affiliate link or promo code.
If you’ve already made your way through my Ultimate Nashville Itinerary from honky-tonks on Broadway to hot chicken and historic landmarks, you might think you’ve seen everything Music City has to offer. But as I recently discovered, Nashville has a haunted side that’s just waiting to be explored after dark.
Even though I’ve walked the streets of downtown Nashville countless times, taking a ghost tour with U.S. Ghost Adventures gave me a completely new perspective. We pass in and out of buildings so quickly during the day, rarely stopping to consider the lives that played out behind those doors. But this tour, led by my tour guide Joseph, forced me to slow down and truly see the city through its shadows.
As we wandered through historic spots like Printer’s Alley and the Ryman Auditorium, Joseph shared stories that revealed the darker, more mysterious past of Nashville, including the seedy secrets of Printer’s Alley and the lingering spirits said to still haunt these iconic buildings.
If you're looking for something unexpected to add to your Nashville itinerary, something a little eerie, a little educational, and a whole lot memorable, then this ghost tour is absolutely worth your evening.
Know Before You Go
🕐 Tour Length: About 1 hour
📍 Meeting Point: All tours begin just outside Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printer’s Alley, an iconic (and haunted!) starting point that sets the tone for what’s to come.
🎟️ Booking: You can reserve your spot through any of the links below (they all lead to the same ghost tour):
💸 Discount: Use code KATIE10 at checkout to get 10% off your Nashville tour!
Skull’s Rainbow Room
Skull’s Rainbow Room
Our tour kicked off right outside Skull’s Rainbow Room, deep in the heart of Printer’s Alley, a place I’d passed through many times without thinking twice. But hearing the ghost stories gave the street a whole new energy.
Joseph shared the story of David “Skull” Schulman, the beloved bar owner who was tragically murdered in 1998. Some say his spirit never left. One detail I’ll never forget? The second-to-last bar stool at the end of the counter is said to be his regular seat and where his ghost still lingers. People have reported feeling watched or even brushed against while sitting there. Between the jazz, the neon, and the flickering streetlights, it felt like we were stepping into a noir ghost story brought to life.
Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
Next, we made our way to the Ryman Auditorium, a place most people know as the "Mother Church of Country Music." I’ve always admired the building for its rich musical history, but Joseph peeled back that layer to reveal something far more haunting.
According to legend, the spirit of Thomas Ryman, the venue’s original builder, still haunts the space, disapproving of acts he might find too risqué. And he’s not alone. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a Confederate soldier watching from the balcony and hearing disembodied singing when the stage is empty. One particularly eerie story involves the ghost of Hank Williams Sr., who’s said to pace backstage, shrouded in a gray mist. It makes you wonder, with that much history and that many performers, how many echoes are left behind?
Hermitage Hotel
Stepping into the Hermitage Hotel feels like walking back in time, but it's not just the décor that lingers.
This 110-year-old hotel has played host to presidents, politicians, and plenty of scandal. During our stop here, we learned about paranormal encounters that have left even skeptics spooked. The most talked-about spirit? A mysterious woman in white seen gliding through the halls and vanishing into thin air.
Guests and staff have reported phantom footsteps, cold spots, and even locked doors swinging open on their own. My favorite detail was the story of cigar smoke wafting through empty hallways, possibly the ghost of a long-gone political figure still pacing the floors.
Final Thoughts
This ghost tour gave me a whole new lens through which to experience Nashville. It reminded me that every building, every alley, and every doorway holds stories, some long forgotten, some still very much alive in whispers and shadows.
If you’re looking for something unique, immersive, and surprisingly moving to add to your Nashville trip, this tour is it. And with just an hour of your evening, it fits perfectly between dinner and drinks, especially if you want a little history with your haunts.
Check out Nashville Ghosts and be sure to use my code KATIE 10 for 10% off your tour.
