Abandoned Tennessee State Penitentiary With Death Row

[@damionbeanstormchasing9892]

They had permission. They spent to much time just walking carelessly outside to be “worried”

[@yoncbwl2738]

You had me nervous for you dealing with the structural damage, but thank you for taking us along on your adventure.

[@abandonedcentral]

I was nervous myself. Stuff kept falling form the ceiling but I couldn't catch it on camera. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinclapton7835]

I've seen other videos about this prison but I always like the way that you guys tell a story as you're exploring it sounds like the same guy does all the narrations on of all the creators too Great job guys 👍

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks so much for the support Kevin! Yes we try to have Bob (@_detroitunseen) do all of the audio for our videos.

[@1018Video]

​@@abandonedcentralThe story with the exploration is exactly why I just subscribed. 😎

[@michaeltaylor4421]

​@@abandonedcentralDetroit baby 313 much respect to both of y'all

[@GLHS592]

I remember "Old Sparky" was auctioned off about 20-25 years ago. It was on Ebay if memory serves me correctly. I can't remember the final bid, but it went for way more than I expected. I work for TDOT on the other side of Briley Parkway from this old prison. I've asked around about getting in to see the prison and I"ve not found a way yet. A guy works for me now who used to work for TDOC (Corrections). He still knows people there and he can't get us in.

[@warrenscott9990]

I work where you do and I've been all around and through the place doing state work. Have to be on a list at the guard shac and be expected on said date and time. There are security measures in place there that I won't discuss here but don't be surprised if full tactical armed guards don't pop out anywhere on that property. The columns to the original state capitol are there on that property but are not to be touched.

[@askburlefot2645]

WOW this is good! What a creepy place. Thanks for uploading.

[@StunningHistory]

Honest question: if it is illegal to trespass, won’t you still get in trouble for posting footage of yourself trespassing?

[@davidledford3522]

They had permission 😂 they're just creating tension to make the video more entertaining

[@claymack1109]

Not really if they had permission....which would be smart

[@dadraby7580]

U can tour the place lol its not shut down or off limits. No prisoners sadly that wld make it a lot more entertaining 😅

[@gabefox2872]

@@dadraby7580it is off limits dawg

[@stevewilkins6562]

Nothing is illegal till you get caught

[@C4Explore]

Awesome video, thank you for sharing! I love how informative you are during these explores. Everything I've heard about TSP, and you confirmed it, is it's a difficult one to take on; you handled it nicely. On an unrelated note, I found one of your BWord stickers at a location a few weeks ago. Thanks again, stay safe out there! 👍😁

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks so much for the support! I continue to put her stickers all around the world. Miss her so much 😢

[@C4Explore]

@@abandonedcentral My pleasure! I think that's the 2nd one I've seen. My condolences man, I'm so sorry for your loss...😔🙏🌹I know there's never a "right" thing to say, and unfortunately that kind of pain and sadness never heals, but you honor her memory with all you do. She does indeed live on, so long as she and her passions are not forgotten. In my video, I gave you and her a mention after finding the sticker. Be safe and take care, and thank you again for sharing your adventures with us!

[@Judy-oe8ug]

Judy Ruszel from Eastern Kentucky. First time watching your video. Y’all are awesome!!

[@deniseshephard3347]

I was born in 1992 I would like to thank you all for telling us this story and its history

[@carlavision6143]

Really enjoyed your video! I had to pause it before you got to the water fountain and went to Google to ask if it was haunted. Love abandoned places like this!

[@abandonedcentral]

We greatly appreciate the support!

[@carlavision6143]

@@abandonedcentral you're welcome!

[@TFGFENCE]

15:47 mark 2nd balcony someone is watching you

[@jeanaesamuel47]

Wow this is crazy.... good video guys❤

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks so much for the support! Glad you enjoyed this one!

[@jeanaesamuel47]

@@abandonedcentral no problemo guys!!!!! My pleasure indeed!!!! I've seen all your videos!!!! Great job!!!! ☺

[@ALL4RWB]

I live in the Nashville area, and used to work off Cenntennial Blvd. Passing this evey day for work was always intriguing to me, I have gotten as close as the guard shack in the front with my bright orange and very noisy motorcycle, the guard of course met me, and I explained how I only wanted to photograph the beautiful monstrosity. He was okay with it, but did explain I needed to be quick as the building still had a heavy security force assigned there. I visited before the May 3rd, 2020 tornado and there was a newer building to the right that current prisoners would be assigned to cook for the "new" prison down the street. The tornado did damage the right side of the prison. Since the tornado, I have photographed the old prison just one time. To this day, one of the jobs of this facility for current prisoners at the TN state prison is grounds work, maintaining the gardens surrounding the guard shack and beyond, thus being the reason this is still heavily guarded even after closing in 1992.

[@Biobrb-Gaming]

They used to make the meals for inmates there on site but i dont think they do anymore, I left TDOC in 2015 and had to visit it twice for work purposes since i worked at women's prison down the road.

[@playhooky]

I was wondering why on earth TN was spending taxpayer money to guard this abandoned & partially destroyed property.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

@@playhooky The state has to guard it the liability if some one is injured and no security then the state would be on the hook for negligence.

[@2ndarmoredhellonwheels106]

Isnt there a pilot right dwn street from this prison?

[@customscreenprinting]

Abandoned central thanks for sharing this awesome video with me and God Bless.

[@takingthebackroadhome]

Stunning and haunting location. Looks like amazing location to explore. If walls could talk! Enjoyed watching as always!

[@Juju75663]

Huh, I didn’t know how insanely accurate movies are until seeing that electric chair room, truly unsettling

[@Nozzle_Ninja]

Fun fact. The “green mile” was also partially filmed here.

[@terrymeyer7084]

So was The Last Castle

[@Lunchbxvideos]

So was Shawshank redemption

[@hollyleann2.0]

And earnest goes to jail and Shawshank Redemption

[@Aawsomeguy]

Thank you for the info. Wasn't exactly sure the prisons where parts of the movies were filmed.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

The prison exterior was filmed there nothing else.

[@golf-n-guns]

Incredible! Would have loved to have seen it when it was perfect. Thanks for doing this.

[@abandonedcentral]

Thank you for watching!

[@charleschoat5917]

TN State Penitentiary was the official title, but "The Walls" was the name given by the inmates. Overcrowding was a huge issue. Those gen pop cells only had 1 bunk, but you better believe there were at least 4 inmates to a cell. Video and pictures don't do this place justice, although you all have done a great job capturing it in its current state. Before the tornado knocked down part of it, It was a menacing site driving onto the property. Once you passed the main gate and the whole front of it came into view, it was pretty haunting. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" kind of vibe. The Green Mile, Ernest Goes to Jail, and some other films were shot here after it closed down and before it started falling apart due to lack of maintenance.

[@ashleywhitefield6076]

My dad had worked in the prison system before I was born and I recall driving past it with him on the interstate as a kid and him saying it was abandoned now but used to be the prison and how they called it The Walls, which always sort of gave me the creeps. I remember that smokestack sticking up among the buildings as we'd drive past. Never seen inside it until now despite always driving past that smoke stack over the years and thinking "They call it The Walls".

[@thestars386]

1:33 Abandoned since *1992?* I was either 1 or 2 years old then. You guys really do a wonderful job. This place looks awesome to explore.

[@cosmokramer5055]

You made me feel old 😂 I was 10

[@3422dave]

@@cosmokramer5055 yall both made me feel old I was a sophomore in high school 😳😳😂😂🤣

[@TOMBSTONEWHISPERZ]

Great video!

[@leipersgreen6763]

The "Walls". My Dad was there in the 80's. I remember going to visit with my Mom.

[@williambayliff4262]

I grew up in Nashville and have always wondered what this place looks like. The storytelling and cinematography is top notch fellas 🤝

[@abandonedcentral]

We greatly appreciate the feedback. Thanks for watching!

[@mikescarlett3186]

Alot of good ole boys spent time there.

[@VicDavila]

My wife is a former TDOC guard, now with sheriff's office in Rutherford county. I'm a former TDOC inmate, did five years in Bledsoe/Mark Lutrell. So know a bit. TDOC gets money for this site, and they protect it because the wardens of DJRC, Riverbend and Deberry prisons live next to it in addition to the permitted tourism it brings. You can get permission to see the site from the warden of Deberry, Riverbend, DJRC (women's prison) etc etc...and no I didn't meet my wife as an inmate I met her post release 😂 im also a former Florida deputy just had circumstances that required me to do five years in prison with Tennessee but trust me I know my facts and can say you can be shot for even just trespassing the walls without permission so bravo guys. Side not : the modern buildings house TDOC guards but police use the grounds for swat training and what not. I personally know a TDOC guard is who used to have this post, they dont go in just do perimeter patrols.

[@historyiwitness5915]

Our archive possesses the former State of Tennessee's electric chair, which was used at this location 125 times between 1916 and 1960.

[@lennut03]

Local we called that place the Walls!! I am sorry to see the damage that has taken place. I was there last during the filming of the Last Castle. I was also there during the Green Mile...

[@Biobrb-Gaming]

Closing was due to court system taking over because of prison riots in 80s.. over crowding and needed newer facility. Riverbend replaced this prison

[@davidhague3270]

Why on earth would the Police spend resources guarding this property of broken down crumbling crappy looking wrecked buildings. I mean what the hell difference does it make.

[@abelflores1593]

To waste taxpayers money

[@JonathanRobles-c9b]

People would strip the buildings of all the metal so they could scrap it, also the brick and other materials can still be salvaged and sold. They likely patrol the prison to prevent people from doing that as it poses a safety risk. City and other entities could be sued n stuff like that

[@VicDavila]

See my post. State collects money as long as it stands and police use it for breach/enter training. My wife was with TDOC in 2020 as a guard and I know one of the guards who held this post recently. They protect it because it's a historic site also and they're afraid someone will burn it down due to current anti police corrections sentiments.

[@abelflores1593]

@@VicDavila that is not a historic building there is nothing historic about it

[@nancybrinegar9980]

Safety

[@duaneayers6117]

Who or what made that off in the distance a very loud bang ? Just curious 👍

[@T_The_Asogian]

AbandonedCentral posting the 10/10 content. T

[@abandonedcentral]

We greatly appreciate the support!

[@TFGFENCE]

15.47 mark on the second walk way..... there's a guest...

[@bereamikebassmaster]

❤ great video... thanks for sharing your exploration....

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks for watching! Good luck out there on the lake! I love bass fishing also haha.

[@bereamikebassmaster]

@@abandonedcentral much appreciated....now it's on to steelhead fishing

[@rachelpiche7134]

Goodness gracious a huge prison😮

[@abandonedcentral]

Def in the top 3 of the largest abandoned prisons I ever explored. Thanks for watching Rachel!

[@darrellparks2677]

Why in these videos do they always focus on the cells? You see one you pretty much seen em all. Go to the gym, cafeteria, offices, officer locker rooms. Stuff like that. Love these kind of videos though. Would just like to see more instead of the same old things.

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks for the feedback Darrell. If you watch any of our other prison videos we always explore the entire property. The gym was destroyed in the tornado and the building is now gone. All offices in admin were destroyed and the floors collapsed. The basement down to officer locker rooms were all collapsed into the stairways as well. We explored what we could here. Also, with state police on site, we didn't want to get arrested checking buildings that just weren't worth it to us.

[@playhooky]

@@abandonedcentral Thanks for explaining so clearly what was destroyed. But why is the state of TN wasting (imho) taxpayer money to have state police guard the place? If you said why in the video, I must have missed it.

[@thestars386]

My *second* comment. That story with the deer, that's pretty awesome.

[@abandonedcentral]

We greatly appreciate the support!

[@KennyB905]

On the other side on the 2nd floor is the administrative area and the wardens office. The wardens giant safe might still be there. It was so huge and heavy, they didn’t move it out. Also, the maximum security cells are scary as hell. Those weaved steel doors are the minimum security wing. The max security are solid steel doors with an eyehole and a tray slot for food. It must have been dark and miserable in those 23 hours a day.

[@sofiakerringtontheauthorch2300]

Cool video, I liked it❤

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks for the visit Sofia!

[@seancomerford5724]

Is this off centennial Blvd.

[@kareng9081]

Great information about this prison. 💝🤗 Thanks. 😊

[@abandonedcentral]

Thanks for the support Karen. Glad you liked this video!

[@gonefishing4604]

Building could be used to house homeless and get them help. No way no money in it. Let the building and land just go to waste. Stupid

[@Michael-pp8lz]

First time seeing someone sneak into prison

[@milestonersrblx2851]

How did you check whether surfaces up higher are stable?

[@abandonedcentral]

Only one way to find out.

[@sutherlandbrook3205]

They’re literally not allowed to keep your equipment you know. And Supreme Court just made this point recently and now you’ll def get ur stuff back.

[@deidreborriello2328]

The last castle is an amazing movie. Must watch if you've never seen it

[@catfeline1530]

Execution room at 16:00 note the overhead duct to suck out the smoke and smell from charred prisoners executed in the electric chair. You can also see the viewing room to the right, where people would witness executions.

[@nodnarb101]

Years ago I went to a haunted house that ran through part of here. We snuck off the path and explored other parts and it was awesome. This was back in the 90s.

[@abandonedcentral]

Thats awesome! Would've love to see it back then before all of the decay.

[@Moe_Preme]

In the 90’s they still used this as a haunted attraction during Halloween. Shit was scary then, shit looks even scarier now 😮

[@jonathanchalk2507]

Thanks guys.

[@margarita8442]

looks like an air vent above the chair-- incase it smoked up would say

[@TeresaIdlett]

What's the name of the Prison?

[@timothyhill9146]

If the guards are the same as US SS you are fine!

[@Michael-qv5qo]

was this brushy mountain ?

[@jrs8709]

Best documented videos of urban exploring. Others can’t even read or speak properly…like that kid from Long Island NY with the dyed blond hair. That kid needs to go back to school.

[@abandonedcentral]

Lol thank you for that feedback! We greatly appreciate it.

[@grouchosays]

They should make condos out of it. Lol

[@nifty3000]

Remember kids, do as we say not as we do

[@oterrinice6803]

These abandoned buildings need to be torn down. Encourages drug use and crime.

[@kevinbushracing58]

How does an old building encourage drug use??

[@oterrinice6803]

@@kevinbushracing58 a place to hide

[@mikescarlett3186]

Now as i hear tell homosexuality was just running wild there. Hell even some of the guard's were like that to. WTF? Man.🙀🙀🙀😸😁😸🤢

[@flawedexistence]

Why the State didn't remove the Folger Adam locks from the cell doors is a mystery to me. They are still in use in older prisons today. They're expensive and highly annoying to lock and unlock over and over all day. The keys are huge and weigh a ton to carry around.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

the keys not the locks are the most important items she the Bird Man of Alcatraz many prisons have a number of the keys it was never just one key.

[@flawedexistence]

@@kennethmaynard5046 I freaking both love and hate thise keys. Carrying 30 pounds of them all day leaves bruises on my hips. And every day lock has its own weird wiggly, up, dpwn, turn a little this way, then that way, bullshit before it opens. Usually the Individual can tell you how to make it work while he holds the door in the just right position. Ugh. When I retire, I will likely buy an authentic Folger Adam key on ebay. Just to remind me why my hands have permanent bruises and hurt all the time.

[@Biobrb-Gaming]

knew a few people who i worked with who used to work there when i worked for TDOC, i got to visit for work purposes outside twice. The area is still active with TDOC personal with houses still being lived in so, i would not advise to exploring there; they dont open it due to asbestos.

[@dennismcinerney3376]

Does the CHAIR still work??.

[@keithreiffenstein9909]

Is this a re-upload?

[@abandonedcentral]

Hey Keith, yes there was a few issues with the upload last week so I pulled it down to fix them.

[@Fit_By_Gods_Grace_Alone]

When I was a child my mom took my brother and I there to see an inmate that was a family friend. The movie “Green Mile” may have been filmed there.

[@andrewhoward4523]

The Green Mile was filmed here

[@KennyB905]

It appears the tornado wiped the Jesus Door away. It was the main door to the Yard. If you got into a tangle with other inmates, you would run to the Jesus Door. The guards held it open if you could make it before you got shanked. A lot of guys did not make it and got killed on the ground out back.

[@LiamS777]

How far is that from Fort Campbell ? Did the military train there 10+ years ago ? Was that where a portion of the green mile was filmed ? If so, I was there 16 years ago for nighttime military training. It was a spooky ass place !

[@FugginCoyote]

Yeah same place.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

The prison is in Nashville Tn it's about two hours away to Fort Campbell

[@vetvietnam]

this is awesome dude I aspire to be like you

[@rcnitrodude999]

Did you get to explore what looks the be the boiler room/ power house?

[@abandonedcentral]

No we didn't. Towards the end when I mention all the cars in the parking lot, they were all parked in front of the power house. They had inmates out in the yard cutting the grass so we avoided that area. We missed out on the hospital also but theres not much left to see after the tornado damaged it.

[@robertmailhos8159]

A prison with the Tennessee state patrol 🚓 there 24 hours a day 7 day's a week 😮😮 that tornado did a lot of damage of the prison

[@abandonedcentral]

Been wanting to explore this one for the past 7 years. It was great to finally get it done! Thanks for the support Robert!

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@abandonedcentral you are welcome abandoned central glad you got that video on this place without getting caught in this place

[@stevenpatellis8389]

Factorio background music??

[@JeffreyGrant-u2r]

Why is a ruined prison still so heavily guarded its ok im a brit and love watching these american prison films

[@annebell7274]

Excellent 🙏🙏👍💯💯💯👍🙏🙏

[@abandonedcentral]

Thank you very much 🙌

[@Thelonetrainseeker]

The building in the thumbnail was supposed the ER hospital there according to a former employee. I was hoping to see inside it in the video.

[@abandonedcentral]

It was all locked up. No way to access we tried.

[@Thelonetrainseeker]

@@abandonedcentral damn that's unfortunate, I've always wanted to see inside that section of the prison. Great video though none the less!

[@adape0884frank]

Wow very interesting and historical there might of been other famous prisoners there to not just James Earl Ray.

[@Stephen1234-co8cj]

My dad spent a little time there in the early 70's for car theft

[@adventuresofdave3324]

Aye there it is good times 👊🏼

[@abandonedcentral]

Def was bro! Gotta plan another trip soon.

[@jonathontodd90]

Been in there before. Just outside downtown Nashville. Used to be easy to get into. I sure wouldn’t attempt it now.

[@playhooky]

What changed - why is it even guarded since it's already partially destroyed?

[@jonathontodd90]

@@playhooky not sure. Maybe just tired of folks sneaking in since it’s falling apart. Dangerous place.

[@KeepingUpWithTheJoneses1]

Surely the most interesting part of the prison would be the death row buildings and the actual spit qhere the electric chair would have been situated and yiu just skipped over it, didnt even show us the room to the side. Come on guys!!

[@abandonedcentral]

Its literally a empty room with a hole in the ceiling and a 3 inch concrete pad on the floor. There is nothing to see there besides horrible graffiti.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

Well done

[@paulwaddell2854]

Why is such an eye sore still standing why hasn't it been tore down and use the property in a better way. I am sure they could sell it off and make money versus paying money to keep it standing. In that condition it is not of any historic value.

[@marquiswilliams2869]

I stay literally 5 minutes away from this place born and raised in the same area ,it’s used for movies & TDOC posting site where they use to train and else things as well been there for 100 years it’s Orginal called in the city the WALLS

[@EAZYMONEYSNIPER7]

It's proven that if every human disappeared on earth it would only take around 1000 year's for nature to reclaim all that we've created. 1000 years sounds like a long time but human civilizations date back 10's of thousands of years. The fact that if we all disappeared today around 1000 years later there'd be no sign that humans ever lived on earth is astonishing.

[@cwp2580]

What about all the plastic

[@EAZYMONEYSNIPER7]

@@cwp2580 throw a 24 oz plastic bottle in a wooded area and come back to it in a year or 2

[@kennethmaynard5046]

That may be true but there will always a person now that will complane on how it will be man's fault. Go figure

[@cwp2580]

@EAZYMONEYSNIPER7 pretty sure there will be 1200 year old Jenkem bottles so old they won't even smell no more. Like stashed away in a basement.

[@steelmill]

The taxpayers should be disgusted.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

the state would have to pay for the medical bills and the lawsuits for any body that get injured, so what is cheaper security or many hundreds of thousands for injury and lawsuits against the state? Then some where the state would have to pass an income tax to cover that as of now TN is one of the states that don't have income taxes.

[@warneckefarm6812]

I do belive they filmed the green mile there,, its right off Briley Park way next to the truck stop i do believe in Nashville

[@joeythetruckguy]

Centennial Blvd exit A at Cockrill bend rd in Nashville.

[@kennethmaynard5046]

Only exterior shots the rest was on a sound stage or at other locations se IMDB

[@AltDavidMiscavige]

Are you aware of the asbestos in those buildings?

[@fayelawson5053]

As much crime there is now you might want to open it back up!!!

[@CrownroyalBlack-c1p]

This looks like nashville that place is called the "walls" its in nashville Tennessee i knew some dudes came from there when i done time

[@SleggarLawlz]

If anyone goes to this location, be sure to wear proper protection. This location has known asbestos and lead paint.

[@piper68927]

Did I miss the part about this was the filming location for the movie green mile

[@gabriella7746]

Well done guys....🙂🙂

[@timothyhill9146]

Why do they whisper when no one is there? I immediately delete!

[@jsmith198095]

I don’t see any reason why people shouldn’t be able to explore if they aren’t causing issues

[@abandonedcentral]

Its most likely an insurance thing if you get hurt you can sue whoever owns the property.

[@jsmith198095]

@@abandonedcentral don’t get hurt has always been my saying 🤣

[@kennethmaynard5046]

@@jsmith198095 that goes with out saying but any thing out of your control will still get you injured like the other driver who hits your car or if you are just walking.

[@kindly4real]

I'm having a disconnect. You said you might get arrested for being in there, but then you make the evidence of being there public. Is this video worth going to jail for to you? I guess the risk is part of the game? No need to answer. Just voicing my confusion.

[@abandonedcentral]

If you get caught in the moment, you'll most likely spend the night in jail at this location. Its not really worth their time to come after me 1-2 years after I explored the location. When people get caught here, its usually a few hours of community service and a small fine. I know 7-10 different people who've been caught here since 2014. They were way more strict before the Tornado damage.

[@DrYeddy]

You should take a medal detector and walk the yard. Thats a wild place

[@KHe-p9u]

You should have locked 🔐 your friend in one of the cells 😮😮😮😅

[@mattgross542]

What’s the prison called and city

[@limegreen4090]

Tn state pen. it's in Nashville tn and it's where they filmed the green mile movie

[@kennethmaynard5046]

@@limegreen4090 only exterior shots

[@JohnC-pt1iw]

Move it to New York, Manhattan next to United Nation Building

[@Wilders53]

My best friend did 5 years inside there

[@solidgroundministries6469]

Missouri has this place beat by a long shot

[@615bandup2]

Missouri lame

[@billylittleton3395]

Over 100 years old

[@Jorgen87]

Why dont they demo the spot and build something new.. ?

[@darksideofthetube3027]

I went there at night way back Snuck in through the tracks by Casey’s gas station with a few buddies smoked some dope on the roof of those shop building’s first place you went in too I’m pretty sure looked like it at least . Probably wasn’t smart looking back but something I’ll never forget. My buddy’s did some of the graffiti in the death row I didn’t exactly approve but place will be gone anyways.