There's a constant and substantial fascination with the paranormal around the globe. This is especially true for the United States, which has a number of haunted tours across the country including the famous Salem, Massachusetts. Fans of the macabre know this as the place of the Salem Witch Trials. But Salem is far from the only place in the country where one can experience the downright creepy and unsettling history of "witches." Another truly eerie location is in Adams, Tennessee, which is home to the Bell Witch Cave.
Fans of witches can visit spooky locations in places like New Orleans, Scotland, and even Bolivia. But The Bell Witch Cave and home in Adams, Tennessee may be an underrated experience, or simply not worth your time. Without further ado, here's what to expect when visiting the haunted Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennesse.
10 The Privately Owned Cave Is A Major Tourist Attraction For More Than Just Paranormal Lovers
People are obsessed with haunted houses, and even more so, the creepiest haunted towns around the United States. But Adams, Tennesse, is totally underappreciated. According to the Bell Witch Cave website, the privately-owned destination is a favorite among paranormal lovers as well as has become a major attraction for anyone in the area. This is partly because of the historical relevance of the legend of the Bell Witch and the terrible things that happened on the property that the cave is located on.
9 The Importance Of The Cave Is Based Around The Legend of The Bell Witch
To understand why one would want to tour the cave, one has to understand the Legend of the Bell Witch which consists of the haunting of the Bell family on their farm. The Bell family moved onto their farm, which sits on the Red River, in 1804. It wasn't until 1817 that family members started seeing strange animals on their property and hearing unnerving sounds around their house. After a while, people from all over the county came to witness the hauntings which got more severe over time. As the legend evolved, townsfolk started calling the spirit "the Bell Witch" after a deceased neighbor named "Kate" who had a personal vendetta against the patriarch of the family, John Bell. Eventually, John passed under mysterious circumstances connected to the spirit who is said to have vanished into the cave on their property.
8 The Cave Doesn't Need The Creepy Folklore To Be Scary
The Bell Witch Cave is said to be home to the evil spirit within southern folklore which makes the attraction pretty unnerving, but the cave itself is scary enough. The cave is approximately 490 feet long and rests on the old Bell farm property not too far away from the cabin in which the family lived. The Bell Witch Cave is a karst cave, meaning that it was formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone and gypsum. This gives it a totally unnerving look as well as makes it challenging to traverse. Some reviewers on TripAdvisor claim that walking through it is too dangerous for them.
7 The Cave Is Worth The Visit But The Cabin Is Not
The Bell Witch tours focus around both the cave and the cabin on the former Bell farm property. While most reviews on both Yelp and TripAdvisor are very positive regarding the cave and the property itself, the same can't be said for the cabin. After all, the cabin is merely a replica of the one that is said to have been haunted by "Kate," the angry and violent Bell Witch. Therefore, it doesn't give visitors the same eerie feeling that the cave almost certainly does.
6 The Quality Of The Tour Varies Due To The Guides
One look through Yelp and TripAdvisor and you quickly discover that the tours of the Bell Witch Cave and Cabin truly vary. While the same can be said for almost every attraction on Earth, previous visitors to this Adams, Tennessee attraction seem to be adamant about it. In one case, a visitor was toured around by the 10-year-old granddaughter of the owner and seemed totally disinterested in the folklore. But in another case, visitors had such a great tour guide that was well-informed on both the fact and fiction of the mysterious property.
5 The Long Drive To The Location May Pay Off IF They're Open
Due to the possibility of rain or other factors, the owners of the Bell Witch Cave and Cabin may randomly decide to shut down their tours even on the days that they're open. This has proven to be an issue for some visitors to the property who have chosen to share their experiences on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Due to the rural location of the property, it can take a while to get out there, so inconveniences can be had if the site isn't open. So, make sure to call ahead of time. Just keep in mind that there's little to no Wi-Fi or cell service out there.
4 Tubing Down The Red River Can Be Part Of The Spooky Experience... But Only Three Days A Week In The Summer
According to the BellWitchCave website, tubing adventures are available through the privately-owned company three days a week. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays families can traverse the scenic Red River alongside the Bell Witch property. Tubing on the Red River is by appointment only and adds another level of adventure to your haunted tour. Of course, tubing is weather permitting. The Bell Witch Cave Company picks visitors up at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and takes guests out on the river for 2-3 hours.
3 Visiting The Cave And Cabin Is A Fun Halloween Alternative (Or Addition) To A Haunted House
Previous visitors to the Bell Witch Cave and the old Bell family property have taken to TripAdvisor and Yelp to say that this is a great alternative or addition to haunted houses during Halloween. While the cave, cabin, and river tours are almost exclusively held during the summer months, they are also available during Halloween. This is due to both the desire to visit scary locations and the popularity of the Bell Witch story, especially in the South.
2 Tour Pricing Decently Cheap And Not By Appointment
According to the Bell Witch Cave website, you can stop by the site at any time during their hours of operation to receive a tour. Of course, this doesn't include the tubing tours, which are by appointment and have to be organized ahead of time. However, if you arrive at the site anytime between 10 AM - 5 PM during the months that they are open, you will get a tour. Costs are $12.00 for the cave, $8.00 for the cabin, and $18.00 for both.
1 The Witch Is Said To Still Haunt The Cave
While hauntings and folklore legends are endlessly fascinating, they should be taken with a grain of salt as science has yet to prove most of them. However, according to The Bell Witch Cave website, hauntings are still said to take place within the cave. Although the majority of the spooky folklore centers around the horrid hauntings of the Bell family, visitors to the cave have claimed to have seen or felt the presence of the witch. This means that you could very well feel the same if you visit.