Top 5 Creepiest Tunnels Beneath Nashville

Underground and unexplained. These tunnels have stories to tell.

Beneath the honky tonks and hot chicken lies a side of Nashville that most tourists—and plenty of locals—have no clue exists. Hidden just under our boots is a maze of secret passageways, bootlegger routes, burial tunnels, and sealed-off spaces that whisper the darker history of Music City.

Here are the Top 5 creepiest tunnels beneath Nashville—where the past isn’t just remembered, it’s still down there.

1. Downtown Presbyterian Church Tunnels

📍154 Rep. John Lewis Way N, Nashville, TN 37219

Keywords: Nashville church tunnels, Civil War tunnels Nashville, First Presbyterian Church

Legend has it that the First Presbyterian Church Downtown had tunnels built during the Civil War to secretly move the bodies of fallen soldiers. These underground passages were used to transport corpses from the battlefield to temporary storage below the church before burial—making this not just a spiritual center, but a literal dead-end for many souls. Some say the original tunnels still lie beneath modern downtown construction… and occasionally, you can still feel their presence.

Creepy factor: These tunnels once served as a morgue. Yeah—let that sink in.

2. Tennessee State Capitol Tunnels

📍600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN
Keywords: Tennessee State Capitol tunnels, secret government tunnels Nashville

Running beneath the Tennessee State Capitol, a series of tunnels connects the historic building to various government offices and (supposedly) former escape routes. Some say they were designed for VIP movement during emergencies; others believe they were used for far sneakier activities—think bribes, bootlegging, and late-night dealings when nobody was supposed to be watching.

Creepy factor: There are reports of shadow figures and unexplained sounds echoing in the tunnels after hours. Even the security guards don’t like going down there alone.

3. Printer’s Alley Tunnel System

📍Between 3rd and 4th Avenue N
Keywords: Nashville speakeasy tunnels, Printer’s Alley history, bootlegger tunnels Nashville

Under the lively Printer’s Alley lies an even livelier legacy—at least back in the day. During Prohibition, this was the heart of Nashville’s speakeasy scene, and it’s rumored that a network of tunnels connected the hidden clubs, saloons, and gambling halls. Though many are now sealed or lost to time, some basements in the area still lead to bricked-up archways and decaying passageways… that once helped Nashville party illegally in peace.

Creepy factor: Old-timers claim you can still hear jazz music faintly drifting through the walls.

4. Old Distillery Ruins Beneath the Gulch

📍Exact locations… let’s just say you need to know someone
Keywords: abandoned distilleries Nashville, Prohibition ruins Tennessee, whiskey tunnels

Long before The Gulch was all boutique hotels and rooftop brunch, it was home to rail lines, warehouses, and… some sketchy booze-making operations. Beneath parts of the modern Gulch area are remains of old distilleries and illegal stills used during Prohibition. These subterranean ruins were once key in keeping whiskey flowing when the law said otherwise. Now, they’re decaying relics of rebellion—full of rusted equipment, collapsing walls, and eerie stillness.

Creepy factor: The perfect place to hide moonshine—or bodies. No one knows how many were buried and forgotten when deals went wrong.

5. Tunnel Beneath the Hermitage Hotel (The “Men’s Restroom Tunnel”)

📍231 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
Keywords: Hermitage Hotel Nashville, haunted hotel tunnels, Prohibition Nashville

The Hermitage Hotel is one of the most elegant buildings in the city—but it hides some dirty secrets underneath. There’s long been talk of a hidden tunnel that once connected the hotel to the nearby Capitol and was allegedly used by politicians to enter and exit without public scrutiny. Add in the infamous “men’s restroom” in the basement—lavishly restored but full of sinister vibes—and you’ve got a tunnel story soaked in scandal and secrecy.

Creepy factor: When you mix power, secrecy, and old Southern architecture, the ghosts tend to linger.

Final Descent: Dare You Go Down There?

Nashville’s charm isn’t just skin deep. Beneath the music and neon is a city built on secrets, with tunnels that carried more than just foot traffic—they moved bodies, booze, and buried history. If you ever feel a cold draft while walking downtown… maybe it’s not just the AC.

Want to go deeper? Some of these tunnel stories are featured in our Haunted True Crime & History Tours—but fair warning: what’s underground doesn’t always stay quiet.