An Unusual Trip
- Jenny Lynn Keller
- Oct 22, 2021
- 1 min read
I went to prison yesterday. No joke. Walked inside the buildings, including solitary confinement. Ate lunch and escaped without anyone chasing me. You can do the same by visiting Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee. Operated from 1896 until 2009, the prison sets at the base of the Cumberland Mountains’ rocky cliffs. Infamously nicknamed the End of the Line, the isolated area and menacing facilities live up to its reputation. Yesterday’s gray clouds hovering over the ridge tops and covering the hollow with a heavy mist added to the gloomy feeling experienced by everyone in my group. Brushy Mountain is an educational place to visit, but nowhere I want to reside.
Prison tours are available Thursday through Sunday from April through November. Eat a delicious lunch at Warden’s Table Restaurant and sample products from the Brushy Mountain Distillery if you’re super thirsty and legal age. Leaf color in the area is gorgeous this time of year, so checkout their website tourbrushy.com and go to prison for a day.
We ate pork BBQ, baked beans, and fantastic vinegar cole slaw during our prison visit. What’s your preferred BBQ sauce—spicy, sweet, mustard, brown sugar vinegar, your own concoction?
Smiled as I was scrolling down your blog when I saw the picture. Didn't have to read the caption to know that you were at Brushy Mountain! We visited in October '21. I agree, wouldn't want to live there!! The Warden's Table was too crowded; so, we were unable to catch a meal there. That was kind of disappointing. Had a great time overall!
I’ve seen billboards for prison tours here in Missouri. When I was in highschool, I took two trips to visit Stateville , Joliet, Illinois with my social problems class. My teacher was a state cop.