An American Haunting

No supernatural story in American history is more documented than that of the Bell Witch of Adams, TN. In fact, tales of this spirit were so widespread in the early 1800s they caught the attention of a general and future President, Andrew Jackson, who was from Nashville.

What was the Bell Witch? Like most supernatural stories, certain details vary from version to version. The prevailing account is the Bell Witch claimed to be the spirit of Kate Batts, an otherwise unfriendly neighbor of John Bell who believed she was cheated by him in a land purchase. However, no one really knows for sure.

This “Queen of the Haunted Dell” image is the very famous picture of Betsy Bell, John Bell’s youngest daughter. Betsy was tortured by the Witch for several years of her childhood.

There are many “ghost” or “haunting” tales in American History, but none of them are more documented and evident as The Bell Witch. The human interactions with the spirit date back to 1817.

The Historic Bell Witch Cave, Inc. has preserved some of the artifacts from the original Bell cabin such as a chimney stone and an iron kettle. You can see these items along with news articles, photos and other artifacts from the time period in which John Bell and his family resided here, when touring the re-constructed John Bell cabin.

A 40-minute drive from Nashville, The Historic Bell Witch Cave Inc. is located in a secluded area in Adams, Tennessee and is a very beautiful representation of our state with its rolling green hills and farm land. If you are interested in the paranormal, enjoy hearing famous documented folklore, or simply love our history, The Historic Bell Witch Cave and John Bell Cabin are a must in your travel plans.