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Tour Brushy

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Exterior wall of a weathered building with barred windows seen through black vertical prison bars.

Museum & Tour Hours

The stories that live on at Brushy. The voices that echo down “3 Walk.” They’re all yours to witness.

Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary is located in the Eastern Time Zone.
All operating hours and event times listed are ET.

This will be an experience like no other. It will surprise you, terrify you, and make you wonder what it would’ve been like to be locked up in here for the rest of your God-given life.

Tours are self-guided and former prison guards will be nearby to answer any questions or share a brief story. You’ll be provided with a map of the prison grounds as well. There are more than 30 stations, each containing the story of what happened in that particular spot. Some will talk of violent acts, killings. Others about the moments family members came to visit. And still others will give you a glimpse inside the troubled minds of the hardened criminals that served time at Brushy.

As you move from one station to another, you'll be able to imagine what life would have been like behind these walls. These men had committed unforgivable crimes, but they still had souls. But somewhere, somehow, their lives took a wrong turn.

We look forward to seeing you when you come to visit us at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. It will be an experience you carry with you for the rest of your life.

April/May Hours

June/July/August Hours

September/OCtober Hours

November Hours

December-March Hours

Concert Day Hours

April/May Hours

Opens April 2, 2026
Thursday - Sunday: 10:30 am - 7:00 pm ET
Last Tour Starts at 5:00 pm ET (Prison Closes at 6:30 pm)
Open Good Friday, Easter, and Memorial Day

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June/July/August Hours

Open Daily
10:30 am - 7:00 pm ET
Last Tour Starts at 5:00 pm (Prison Closes at 6:30 pm)
Open July 4th

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September/october Hours

Open Thursday - Sunday
10:30 am - 6:30 pm ET
Last Tour Starts at 5:00 pm (Prison Closes at 6:30 pm)
Open Labor Day

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November Hours

Open Saturday - Sunday
10:30 am - 5:30 pm ET
Last Tour Starts at 4:00 pm (Prison Closes at 5:30 pm)
Wareden's Table & Gift Shop Closes at 6:30 pm
Last Day of the Season November 30, 2025

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December-March Hours

Closed for the Winter
Paranormal Tours Still Available

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Concert Day Hours

Day of Concerts Only
Last Tour Starts at 4:00 pm ET
Prison Closes at 5:30 pm ET
Gates for Show Open at 6:00 pm ET
Warden’s Table & Gift Shop Closes at 7:00 pm ET
Parolee’s Restaurant & Store Closes at 8:00 pm ET

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Accessibility & Service Animals

The majority of the tour is handicap accessible. However, because the prison has no elevators, there are areas in the tour such as The Hole and the prison’s cafeteria that are not accessible due to their locations within the prison.

There is handicap parking available, with 4 spaces at the Gift Shop/Warden's Table parking lot and 6 spaces up at the prison.

Service animals are allowed, but pets are not permitted.

Stone monument with a white sign reading 'Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Established 1896' under a clear blue sky with trees in the background.
Dimly lit corridor in an old prison with rusted metal cell doors on the right and string lights along the ceiling on the left.
Upward view between tall, weathered concrete and stone buildings with a cloudy sky and barbed wire on the right.
Sunlight streaming through dirty, multi-pane windows in a prison building with exposed pipes and ventilation ducts.

Self-Guided Tours

$31/Person + Tax
$25/Child + Tax

More Info

This tour is self-guided, and there are former prison guards around to answer questions about the history and life at Brushy.

Following the tour arrows (on the floor) you’ll be able to see all significant components of the prison from the cell block to the cafeteria and other buildings like the laundry room, gymnasium, museum, movie theatre (where an 18 min. documentary plays every half hour), the exercise yard, and the all-important "HOLE," where the most troublesome inmates were sent for up to 30 days in complete darkness with no human contact as administrative punishment.

You're welcome to take your time and walk as much or as little of the prison grounds as you want. Just remember if you linger too long you might be locked in for the night.

‍Military & Senior (starts at 65) Self-Guided Tours - $27.90 + Tax.
Children’s ticket pricing applies to children 7 - 12 years of age.
Admission for children 6 and under is FREE.

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Purchase Tickets
Tours must be purchased in person at the Gift Shop.
Interior of a dimly lit room with wooden display cases containing tools, stone wall with small windows on the left, and paintings hung on dark walls.

Private Guided Group Tours

$34/Person + Tax
$24/Child + Tax

Private guide-led group tours are available during our regular operating season at 9 or 9:30 am prior to opening of the prison for groups of a minimum of 15 people. Guided tours will be led by either a former prison guard. One week's notice is required to book a private guide-led tour; however, capacity is limited and tours are subject to availability.

The guided portion of your tour lasts roughly 60-90 minutes, but you are welcome to spend as much time behind the wall as you like once your guided tour is complete.

Due to the size of the hallways and rooms at Brushy, it would be disruptive to the groups to have to pass through narrow corridors and stairwells during regular visiting hours with other guests. The private morning tours offers your group a unique opportunity to visit and experience Brushy without any distractions.

‍Military & Senior (starts at 65) Guided Tours - $30.60 + Tax.
Children’s ticket pricing applies to children 7 - 12 years of age.
Admission for children 6 and under is FREE.
‍
Email for pricing on Educational Tours, which includes flexible start times and special rates for tours and lunch.

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Bearded tour guide in a tank top and cap gesturing while talking to a group of elderly people outdoors near a prison structure.

Public Guided Tours

$32/Person + Tax
$22/Child + Tax

Public Guided Tours are available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the months of April, May, September, and October.

June - August - Public Guided Tours are available Wednesday – Sunday each week.

Special July 4th Dates - Friday, June 30th - Wednesday, July 5th

In November - Public Guided Tours are available Saturday and Sunday each week.

Guided tours will be led by a former prison guard. Up to 12 hours notice is required to book a guide-led tour. Maximum 50 people.

The guided portion of your tour lasts roughly 60-90 minutes, but you are welcome to spend as much time behind the wall as you like once your guided tour is complete.

Due to the size of the hallways and rooms at Brushy, it would be disruptive to the groups to have to pass through narrow corridors and stairwells during regular visiting hours with other guests. The morning tours offers your group a unique opportunity to visit and experience Brushy without any distractions.

‍Military & Senior (starts at 65) Guided Tours - $28.80 + Tax.
Children’s ticket pricing applies to children 7 - 12 years of age.
Admission for children 6 and under is FREE.

Book Now
Interior of a small, empty prison cell with a rust-colored metal door and a single metal-framed bed.

Public Overnight paranormal investigation

$150/Person + Tax
8-12 Persons
Ages 16+

Evil men who did evil things were imprisoned here, with many locked away for the rest of their lives. And while the death penalty was never carried out at Brushy, more than a few died of natural causes or in the mines. Others met their end with the blade of a meat cleaver or a shiv, the final blow delivered by the violent hands of fellow non-violent inmate.

These are the souls that haunt this stone-cold fortress, whose spirits refuse to cross over. Who remain here because they have unfinished business.

A short guided tour of the prison starts at 9 PM to help familiarize you with the site. After the tour, you are free to investigate on your own or with the guide until 4 AM.

Overnight Investigations are available seven days a week. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours to schedule an investigation.

‍Please note there is a minimum of 8 people required for this tour to run otherwise this tour will be rescheduled to the next available date.

More Info
Book Now
Rusty and peeling old metal mailbox labeled 'GRIEVANCE' mounted on a wall in a dimly lit, decayed setting.

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This tour is self-guided, and there are former prison guards around to answer questions about the history and life at Brushy.

Following the tour arrows (on the floor) you’ll be able to see all significant components of the prison from the cell block to the cafeteria and other buildings like the laundry room, gymnasium, museum, movie theatre (where an 18 min. documentary plays every half hour), the exercise yard, and the all-important "HOLE," where the most troublesome inmates were sent for up to 30 days in complete darkness with no human contact as administrative punishment.

You're welcome to take your time and walk as much or as little of the prison grounds as you want. Just remember if you linger too long you might be locked in for the night.

‍Military & Senior (starts at 65) Self-Guided Tours - $27.90 + Tax.
Children’s ticket pricing applies to children 7 - 12 years of age.
Admission for children 6 and under is FREE.

Interior of a dimly lit room with wooden display cases containing tools, stone wall with small windows on the left, and paintings hung on dark walls.Bearded tour guide in a tank top and cap gesturing while talking to a group of elderly people outdoors near a prison structure.Interior of a small, empty prison cell with a rust-colored metal door and a single metal-framed bed.Rusty and peeling old metal mailbox labeled 'GRIEVANCE' mounted on a wall in a dimly lit, decayed setting.

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Sign outside a stone building reading 'Gift Shop, Restaurant, & Tickets' with greenery and a mountain in the background.

Purchase Tickets

Self-Guided tickets can be purchased at the Gift Shop during business hours.

‍Senior Discount (starts at 65) - 10% off cost of admission

Military Discount - 10% off cost of admission

‍Available to active duty members of the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. Valid military ID is required to purchase discounted tickets.

‍Please Note: Pets are not permitted on tours at this time. Only service animals will be permitted.

Visit after your Tour

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Interior of distillery featuring large stainless steel fermenters, pipes, and a clock on the wall under a rustic sign reading 'End of the Line Brushy Mtn.'

Distillery

Brushy Mountain Distillery is home to Frozen Head Vodka, Double Barrel Whiskey, Brimstone, Copperhead, and End of the Line Moonshine, the only spirits distilled (legally) at a prison, as well as Struggle Bus Bloody Mary Mix. End of the Line Moonshine is available in 9 flavors. From farm to still, we use water from the mountains’ natural springs to make this one-of-a-kind moonshine and vodka.

The distillery is free to visit and not part of the prison tour. A tasting bar is located in the gift shop (Must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid state ID to sample.)

Learn More
Interior of Wardens Table restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, stone walls, and metal bars resembling a prison setting.

Warden's Table

The Warden’s Table restaurant offers a variety of southern food, serving up everything from classic BBQ plates and loaded potatoes to BBQ nachos and cheeseburgers. It’s Southern cooking with a twist and hospitality at its best.

With plenty of room for families and large groups, food is served cafeteria style so you’ll be in and out before you know it, giving you time to browse in our gift shop or spend time touring the prison.

Learn more
Map of Historic Brushy Mountain State Pen showing numbered building locations, parking lots, restrooms, and road access with a vintage badge logo.

Prison

  1. Main Prison
    A. Cafeteria (2nd Floor)
    B. A-Block & B-Block
  2. “The Wall”
  3. D Block
  4. Laundry Room
    A. “The Hole” (Basement)
  5. 5. Lower Yard
    A. Whipping Post
    B. Basketball Court
  6. Gymnasium
  7. Former Maximum Security Unit (1990s)
  8. Former Guard Housing (No Tour Access)
  9. Former Minimum Security (No Tour Access)

Museum

  1. Museum
  2. Movie Theater

Brushy Mountain Distillery

  1. Moonshine Distillery
  2. Bottling Center (No Tour Access)
  3. Moonshine Tasting Booth

General

  1. Gift Shop (Purchase Tour Tickets Here)
  2. The Warden’s Table Restaurant
  3. Fireworks Stand
  4. Concert Stage
  5. Coal House Private Event Space Pavilion
  6. Camping Sites
  7. Playground/Picnic Table Area
  8. Artists’ Green Room
Download Map of Brushy
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