Quirky Things to Do in Tennessee That Make Great Stories Later
Tennessee is famous for country music and barbecue, but hidden across the state are some truly bizarre attractions that will give you amazing stories to tell your friends. From underground concerts to museums dedicated to salt and pepper shakers, this state knows how to do weird in the best way possible.
These unusual adventures are perfect for anyone who wants to experience something totally different and create memories that nobody else will have.
1. See a live concert inside an underground cave at The Caverns (Pelham)
Imagine rocking out to your favorite band while standing 333 feet below the earth’s surface, surrounded by ancient limestone formations that create natural acoustics. The Caverns in Pelham offers exactly this experience, turning a massive underground cave system into one of the most unique concert venues on the planet.
The temperature stays around 58 degrees year-round, so bring a jacket even in summer. Before or after shows, you can take guided tours to explore the stunning geological features that took millions of years to form. Stalactites hang from the ceiling like nature’s chandeliers, creating an otherworldly backdrop for performances.
Past performers have included everyone from bluegrass bands to rock groups, and the venue hosts festivals throughout the year. Getting to tell people you saw a concert in an actual cave is guaranteed to make you the most interesting person at any party.
2. Sleep inside a giant Pyramid at Big Cypress Lodge (Memphis)
Most hotels have boring rectangular rooms, but Big Cypress Lodge decided to set up shop inside a massive steel pyramid that towers over downtown Memphis. This isn’t just any pyramid either—it’s one of the largest in the world, and inside you’ll find a full-scale cypress swamp complete with real trees, fish, and even alligators.
Originally built as a sports arena, the pyramid sat empty for years until Bass Pro Shops transformed it into an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. You can take an elevator to the top for incredible views of the Mississippi River and the city skyline.
Staying overnight means you can explore the attached mega-store, go bowling, or shoot arrows at the archery range.
3. Take a boat ride on America’s largest underground lake at The Lost Sea (Sweetwater)
Hidden beneath the Tennessee mountains lies a 4.5-acre underground lake that holds the title of America’s largest. The Lost Sea in Sweetwater takes you on a glass-bottom boat ride across water so clear you can see massive rainbow trout swimming below. Cherokee Indians knew about these caverns centuries ago, and during the Civil War, soldiers mined the cave for saltpeter to make gunpowder.
Your adventure starts with a three-quarter-mile walk through cavern rooms with names like The Council Room and The Big Room, where temperatures remain a constant 58 degrees. Once you reach the lake, guides share fascinating stories about the cave’s history while pointing out interesting rock formations.
Scientists have explored over 13 acres of the lake so far, but nobody knows exactly how far it extends. Some passages are too narrow or deep for divers to safely explore, meaning parts of this underground world remain mysterious even today.
4. Tour a historic prison at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
Once home to Tennessee’s most dangerous criminals, Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary now welcomes tourists to explore its dark history. This maximum-security prison operated from 1896 to 2009 and held notorious inmates, including James Earl Ray, who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. Walking through the cell blocks and exercise yards gives you chills as guides share stories about riots, escape attempts, and daily life behind bars.
The prison sits in a remote mountain location that was deliberately chosen to make escapes nearly impossible. Thick stone walls and guard towers still stand as reminders of the harsh conditions prisoners endured. You can peek inside tiny cells, visit the cafeteria where inmates ate, and even see the hole where troublemakers were sent for punishment.
The facility now includes a restaurant and distillery on the grounds, which seems fitting since many inmates were locked up for making illegal moonshine. Ghost tours are available for brave visitors who want to explore after dark.
5. Do a haunted cave tour at the Bell Witch Cave (Adams)
According to legend, America’s greatest ghost story happened right here in Adams, Tennessee, where the Bell Witch terrorized a family in the early 1800s. The cave on the property became central to the haunting, and today you can take tours to hear the full spine-tingling tale. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the combination of creepy history and natural cave formations makes this attraction unforgettable.
John Bell and his family experienced unexplained phenomena, including strange noises, physical attacks, and a disembodied voice that spoke to them. The spirit, which called itself Kate, supposedly followed the family everywhere, even into this cave.
Many visitors report strange experiences like sudden temperature drops, mysterious sounds, and feelings of being watched. Whether these are actual paranormal events or just your imagination running wild in a dark cave is up to you to decide.
6. Visit the world’s only Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum (Gatlinburg)
Archaeologist Andrea Ludden turned her personal collection into the world’s only museum dedicated entirely to salt and pepper shakers, and it’s exactly as wonderfully weird as it sounds. Over 20,000 shaker sets fill the shelves, ranging from elegant antiques to bizarre novelty designs shaped like everything from Elvis to aliens.
The collection spans decades and includes shakers from around the globe, telling the story of changing tastes and cultural trends. Some sets are worth thousands of dollars, while others are just hilariously ridiculous. Ludden’s passion for these tiny objects is contagious, and you’ll find yourself genuinely fascinated by the history and artistry involved.
After touring the museum, you can browse the gift shop to start your own collection. This attraction proves that literally anything can become interesting when someone cares enough to study and share it.
7. Go to a tow-truck museum in Chattanooga
Chattanooga proudly claims to be the birthplace of the tow truck, invented here in 1916 by Ernest Holmes Sr. The International Tow Truck Museum celebrates this surprisingly important invention with displays of antique wreckers, towing equipment, and photographs documenting the industry’s evolution. Before Holmes created his tow truck, moving broken-down vehicles required teams of men with ropes and blocks, making his invention a legitimate game-changer for transportation.
The museum houses restored tow trucks from different eras, showing how technology improved from simple hook-and-chain systems to modern hydraulic lifts. You’ll see Holmes’s original 1913 Cadillac that inspired his invention after he spent eight hours trying to pull a car out of a creek.
This might sound like the most random museum ever, but it’s actually fascinating to learn about an industry most people never think about. Plus, telling people you visited a tow truck museum is guaranteed to get interesting reactions and start memorable conversations.
