The Bell Witch Cave is a popular tourist attraction located in Adams, Tennessee. However, despite its popularity, the cave has been closed to the public for many years. There are several reasons why the cave is closed. Firstly, the Bell Witch Cave is considered to be a site of historical significance. It is believed to be the place where the infamous Bell Witch haunting took place in the early 19th century. The haunting, which involved a spirit that tormented the Bell family, has become a well-known legend in American folklore.
Signs at the entrance to the Bell Witch cave promote tourism in Adams, Tennessee. BRad06 [CC BY-SA 3.0]/Wikimedia Commons
The story begins in 1817, when a farmer named John Bell moved from North Carolina to a 230-acre farm in Robertson County, Tennessee, a rural area not far from the Kentucky border. I had heard the Bell Witch stories growing up in rural western Kentucky, living only a little more than an hour from the haunted Adams farm, where Old Jack Bell had been murdered by the ghostly presence.
The haunting, which involved a spirit that tormented the Bell family, has become a well-known legend in American folklore. Due to the historical and cultural importance of the site, authorities have decided to preserve it and prevent any damage or disturbances that could occur from unrestricted public access. Secondly, the cave is located in an ecologically sensitive area.
Adams, Tennessee and the Bell Witch
Adams, TN is best known for its historic Bell Witch haunting, where an evil spirit tormented the Bell family, and finally killed the family patriarch, John Bell, in 1820. I had heard the Bell Witch stories growing up in rural western Kentucky, living only a little more than an hour from the haunted Adams farm, where “Old Jack” Bell had been murdered by the ghostly presence.
A historic marker in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).
Bell Witch Cave, on the old Bell farm, was closed for the winter. (Click on image for larger photo).In a scene right out of a horror movie, I received a warning! As I walked around shooting photos in the old downtown area of Adams, an older man and a young boy pulled up and parked in front of an old dilapidated business, that had been rusting and rotting for years. They got out of the car and started walking toward me. The boy carried a large stuffed snowman in his arms. As we exchanged greetings, the little boy ran up to me, and gave a stern rebuke, “You shouldn’t be here.” I asked him why, and he said, “Ghosts.” About that time, the older man had caught up, and said that he and his grandson came there to walk. He added that he sees a lot of people shooting pictures of the old buildings.
The boy duly warned me about the haints. He said I shouldn’t be there, and that the buildings were full of ghosts. (Click on image for larger photo).
We talked for a few minutes, and he suggested a few places in the area that would offer some great photo opportunites, including an old church in Guthrie, KY, just a few miles up the road, that I could hit on the way back home. I thanked the man, and asked if I could snap their photo. He moved out of the way, and asked his grandson to lift up his stuffed snowman, and I snapped an image. He took the boy’s hand and they started walking away. The boy turned back at me and warned “Don’t go in there. Those buildings are full of ghosts.”
The north side of the old downtown area, Adams, TN. (Click on image for larger photo). I snapped a shot as the boy ans his grandfather walked away. (Click on image for larger photo). Robertson and CO., in the old downtown area, Adams, TN. (Click on image for larger photo).
I had been duly warned, and stayed out of the dilapidated, abandoned buildings, which had boards over the windows and graffiti spray painted all about. The warning, however, didn’t stop me from shooting some great exteriors in the old downtown area. I wondered how much longer the old church will be there before becoming a pile of rubble and a memory. The old brick businesses, with rusty tin awnings over the sidewalks, across the road from it weren’t faring much better. In the not too distant future, photos and memories will be all that is left.
The old church in the old Adams downtown area. (Click on image for larger photo).
Bob and Daisy in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).My wife got the dogs out of the truck and let them walk about for a few minutes. I got behind the driver’s seat, and Daisy, our pug, jumped in and sat in my lap looking out, as my wife snapped a photo of us together.
We moved on to the old Bell School, where some historic buildings from the area had been moved and restored, including an old barber shop and a doctor’s office. But, the main attraction for us was the old cabin that had been located on the haunted Bell farm. It’s not the main Bell family house that was haunted by the evil spirit, but one that was used by members of the Bell family on the farm at that time, and the only one that has survived.
A cabin from the haunted Bell farm. A preserved barber shop and doctor’s office are in the background. (Click on image for larger photo).
Old Electrical equipment on display at the town park in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).I’m not going into a long history of The Bell Witch, as space doesn’t permit, and many others have written about the events that occurred between 1817 and 1821. However, the story goes that the Bell family was visited by an invisible and very vocal spirit, claiming to be “Old Kate Batt’s Witch.” The haunting started with various family members seeing strange animals, which weren’t quite as they should be. That was followed by sounds in the house, such as knockings and chains dragging. As time went by, these progressed into voices and singing, and things became physical with hair pulling, hitting, scratching and other violence. The spirit, however showed kindness to John’s wife, Lucy, and referred to her as “the most perfect woman to walk the earth.” The apparition, now fully articulate and intelligent, objected strongly to a relationship of daughter, Betsy, and her boyfriend, Joshua Gardner, so much that their engagement was called off. There are numerous other stories, which include such historic figures as General Andrew Jackson. How much of these tales are true may never be known. However, the legend of the Bell Witch remains strong in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky.
As suggested by the old man, we headed back home through Gurthie, KY, right on the Kentucky-Tennessee line. I spied an old ghost sign advertising Coca-Cola, adjacent to the now defunct Longhurst General Store. Visually, the town probably looks much as it did 50 years ago, and is a back road photographer’s dream location
Longhurst General Store, Guthrie, KY. (Click on image for larger photo).
At the far end of town, we found Lane Chapel CME Church. I pulled in and we walked around. I was glad for the photo suggestions from the old man. Otherwise, I might have missed some wonderful historic destinations.
Lane Chapel CME, Guthrie, KY. (Click on image for larger photo).
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It is surrounded by a diverse range of plant and animal species, some of which are rare and endangered. Opening up the cave to the public could lead to habitat destruction, pollution, and disturbance to the delicate ecosystem. In order to protect the natural environment and preserve the biodiversity of the area, authorities have made the decision to keep the cave closed. Lastly, there have been concerns about visitor safety at the Bell Witch Cave. The cave is a natural underground formation, and there are potential dangers associated with exploring such environments. The cave is likely to have unstable terrain, low visibility, and the risk of falling rocks. Without proper safety measures in place, allowing visitors to enter the cave could result in accidents or injuries. In order to avoid any such incidents, the decision has been made to keep the cave closed to the public. In conclusion, the closure of the Bell Witch Cave can be attributed to its historical significance, ecological sensitivity, and concerns about visitor safety. While it may be disappointing for those who wish to explore the site, these measures are necessary to ensure the preservation and protection of this important landmark..
Reviews for "Revealing the Eerie Events That Led to the Bell Witch Cave's Closure"
1. Alex - 1 star - I was really excited to visit the Bell Witch Cave, but to my disappointment, it was closed. I had made plans, traveled all the way there, and it was just a total letdown. The website didn't mention anything about it being closed, so it was a waste of time and money. It's frustrating when you make an effort to visit a place and it doesn't live up to your expectations. Definitely not recommended.
2. Emily - 2 stars - The fact that the Bell Witch Cave was closed was incredibly annoying. I had heard so much about its history and paranormal activities, and I was looking forward to experiencing it firsthand. However, when I arrived, I found out that it was closed for maintenance. It was disappointing that there was no prior notification or an update on the website. It would have saved me the trouble of making the trip. I hope they improve their communication and keep visitors informed about any closures in the future.
3. Jonathan - 1 star - I can't believe I wasted my time driving all the way to the Bell Witch Cave just to find it closed. There was no indication on their website or social media to inform potential visitors about the closure. It's incredibly frustrating and unprofessional. I had heard great things about this attraction, but my experience was a complete letdown. If they can't even manage to keep their visitors informed, I doubt the quality of their service and experiences would be any better.
4. Samantha - 2 stars - As a fan of paranormal activities and ghost stories, I was excited to visit the Bell Witch Cave. However, it was a huge disappointment to find it closed when I got there. It seemed like the management was not concerned about keeping their website or social media updated with accurate information. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to exploring the cave and learning more about its haunted history. I would advise others to call ahead and check for any potential closures before making the trip.