Across the country, people are finding that a good scare can be surprisingly good for the soul. In a world of constant stress and screen overload, many are forgetting what it feels like to truly be alive. Between news cycles, government shutdowns, social media algorithms, and daily pressures, people are moving through life like zombies. America Haunts — the association of the nation’s premier haunted attractions — says its members are reviving the human spirit, moving thrillseekers from stress and screentime to screams that heal.

From high-tech animatronics to interactive queue-line experiences and immersive sensory design, these mega-haunts are spearheading a new wave in Halloween entertainment—and America Haunts is recognizing them for their industry leadership.

Voices echo from the past, stories and figures roam the hallways and things go bump in the night. When you come to Tennessee, ghostly encounters are tied to history, connected to hotels, theaters, historic homes, hospitals, battlefields, infamous prisons, caves, bars and even claimed to be spotted by lantern light during walking tours. Discover some of Tennessee’s historically haunted destinations.