Chattanooga is located around 133 miles southeast of Nashville and has a population of roughly 200,000. The city has the feeling of being a small town, yet it offers an endless list of unique things to do. Chattanooga, situated along the Tennessee River, offers scenic mountain views and is becoming a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Three major Civil War battles took place in or near Chattanooga, so it would not be a surprise to hear of soldier ghost sightings around the city. What may be surprising is that the hauntings and ghost stories are not limited to Civil War soldiers.
The best part of the US Ghost Adventures ghost tour was knowing all the stories told were actually true. This is important because each stop along the tour route is associated with a significant historical event in Chattanooga. The tour is strategically mapped out based on proximity to related historical events.
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Hunter Museum of American Art
The tour began at the Hunter Museum of American Art. Built in the early 1900s, it is the highest point along the Tennessee River. The museum is known to be haunted by five ghosts. The most well-known ghost is Augusta Hoffman. Augusta went missing in 1915. Her sister said she married a man and moved to Knoxville. In 1924, her skeleton was found underneath the basement floor. It turns out, Augusta did not move to Knoxville; she died, and her ghost continues to live on the property. Visitors have seen her from outside the museum, looking out the corner of a top-floor window. Augusta has been photographed and seen many times. This is one of the main reasons why the guide encourages you to take pictures.
Hales Bar Dam
After leaving the museum, the tour walked down a long, winding path of steps. This portion of the tour is a slower-paced guided walk toward the river. The tour guide explained the vital role the Tennessee River played in Chattanooga’s history. The river was the dividing line between the Native Americans and settlers. The Cherokee land was south, and the settlers’ land was located north of the river.
Part of this land included an especially hazardous section of the Tennessee River. Drownings, disease, flooding, and conflicts with Native Americans who inhabited the region all led to loss of lives. This led some people to believe the river was cursed by the Native Americans for decades.
Hales Bar Dam was built close to 20 miles west of Chattanooga, to provide hydroelectricity and manage the river’s frequent flooding. Although the dam was operational for several years, it could not overcome the consistent problems related to the foundation and leaks. It was demolished in 1968 and replaced with a new dam, named Nickajack, built 6.5 miles downstream.
Today, the area around the old Hales Bar Dam is considered haunted. It is listed on nearly all the haunted places in Tennessee. Visitors to the dam have reported a variety of paranormal experiences, like hearing footsteps and feeling as if they are touched when they don’t see anyone.
Ross’s Landing
Once that portion of the tour ends, the walk along the river continues up a hill until it reaches Ross’s Landing. This area is not considered to be haunted. However, its connection to the Trail of Tears has led visitors to experience sombre and spiritual emotions. This stop on the tour marks the starting point of the Trail of Tears.
Ross’s Landing is situated between the Tennessee Aquarium and the Tennessee River, in downtown Chattanooga. The guide discussed the significance of water to the Cherokee people. Then we were taken to an art installation named The Passage, a weeping wall water feature.
Bonus: The Read House Hotel
This Chattanooga ghost tour lasts around an hour. Unfortunately, with all the hauntings in the city, there is no way they can all be covered in an hour-long tour. There was one place our guide told us about that we couldn’t walk to: The Read House.
The Read House’s haunted history spans over 160 years. This beautiful hotel is one of the most famous haunted places in Chattanooga. During the Civil War, the property was turned into a hospital for Union soldiers. Many think this is when the hotel became haunted.
Ghosts are often found on the third and fourth floors. The Civil War soldiers are usually seen in the halls on the fourth floor. But there is one room that is feared by most guests. Room 311 is where the spirit of Annalisa Netherly has been known to haunt the hotel’s guests. In 1927, Annalisa was found murdered in the bathtub of room 311. Paranormal reports from the hotel include experiences of cold breezes and strange noises throughout all hours of the night.
Note: If you want to stay in Room 311, you must contact The Read Hotel to request it in advance and book ahead.
To book a tour, go to: Chattanooga Ghost Tour | Scares with a Southern Drawl
Use code PATH10 to receive 10% off on this tour.
About the author: Tomeka Allgood
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Tomeka Allgood is a freelance travel writer and blogger in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes on a broad range of topics that include but are not limited to the outdoors, history, music, food, and wine. Tomeka focuses on food, girls’ weekend getaways, family travel, luxury resorts, and spas. She specialises in places and attractions that relate to history, sports and African American culture.
Tomeka is a contributor to Parle Magazine and Experience Tennessee. She has also published articles for Confetti Travel Cafe, Dave’s Travel Corner, Pink Pangea, Matador Network, and MapQuest Travel.
