Doing Time in Brushy Mountain State Prison



Brushy Mountain State Prison is a former state penitentiary turned tourist attraction in Petros, Tennessee. We’ve been wanting to pull time here for a long time and finally got our chance to go to the clink.

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50 thoughts on “Doing Time in Brushy Mountain State Prison”

  1. I knew it was leading here all along with you two.Set the tone with Hannibel Lector and it's down hill from there!Talk about making lemonade out of lemons.I sat up straight when you mentioned Simmons as I presume Shane did.This was a sign Shane!What a dose!Those display cases and picture frames were not bought at the shopping mall kids!This was a great change of pace!

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  2. Being from WV, as a little girl, seen and not heard was the rule. My cousin and I (aka partner in crime) are the same age. We tried to hear everything that Grannie and her church ladies were saying. They would never gossip, lol. They would say he’s up the river, her husband is in pen. When I saw Moundsville State Penitentiary I knew that as just awful. It gave me nightmares as a child. Thanks for what you do❤️

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  3. This prison plays a pivotal role in the book by Darcy O'Brien called "A Dark and Bloody Ground", its a true story of a robbery and murder in Fleming_Neon, Ky. A doctor had in a safe in his home 1.9 million dollars, he was robbed and left for dead and his daughter murdered. I grew up near Hazard, Ky and I remember it well.

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  4. WOW! Fantastic video Shane and Melody. There are some stories shared by people who have visited Brushy Mountain Prison that the prison is haunted. You know how stories go! At any rate, the architecture is beautiful. Very interesting placer to visit. God Bless you both. Stay safe on the road.

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  5. Dang, I don't know what to say about this video, lol. I'm speechless and that is a first for me, lol. I'd like to see a video on the Bland County, VA Prison and another video on that prison above Grundy, VA. A guard that worked at the prison above Grundy once told me that they bring the prisoners into that prison later at night. And when they get off the bus some of the inmates drop to their knees and cry like babies. ( I don't know how true that is.) But it does look like a scary place. You guys are the best. Be careful driving home. Stay well & safe. Thumbs up.

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  6. Enjoyed this! That is a very beautiful area! Very lush and green mountains! The prison had a long and sometimes not so great history ….I have watched several YouTube videos about this place , some visited , but I have to say, you guys have the best video about this prison that I have seen….well done……on another note , I am a fan of Johnny Horton too! Growing up ,my dad had the 8 track tape of his greatest hits ….not a bad song on that tape! Thanks you 2 …stay safe , God bless y'all….🙏❤

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  7. This is so cool, we were just here. Your channel got me into coal history, and now im seeing things ive recently visited. So cool. We were in the area for Windrock offroad park, right around the corner, which is probably why you see all the orv.

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  8. These old prisons are creepy. I live about hour from Mansfield Reformatory where the made the movie " Shaw Shank Redemption" and people from all over the world go there to visit. That place really scares me when I go there. Another good show from you both. Shane always chimes in at the right time when you talk Melody.

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  9. Had a uncle that spent alot of his life in places like this. He told me about watching a person get killed over a 5 cent candy bar. So sad. My uncle did finally get out and stay for the later years of his life and did do better in those later years.

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  10. “the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” Enter America's prisons and it becomes clear that we are nowhere near as just a society as we claim to be.

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  11. I went to the VFW in 'Coal City' Monday with my friend where they paid tribute to soldiers and about 30 minutes of speeches from several people right in front of the monument.

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  12. The Bluegrass Band "Blue Highway" Wrote A Song About It Called "Don't Come Out Of The Hole" Its a Great Song. Also That Was A Great Video. Thanks, I May Have To Go By There And Pick Me Up A Bottle Of That "Copperhead" Stuff, Sounds Good.

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  13. My son did the paintings on the wall. He was an inmate there for a few years. After he was released he came back and did a few paintings at the Blountville jail. Also the train mural in Bluff City.

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  14. As l watched this kept thinking of the John Hiatt song Tennessee Plates . "Well this ain't no hotel lm writing you from , It's the Tennessee Prison up at Brushy Mountain

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  15. When you talk about "bad energy" in these places, you are truly not kidding. We and our daughter and son-in-law visited a prison in WV from about the same era a few years back. One area contained about 6 cells in a row and the sliding gate entry system could be used to open/close the doors to all 6 at the same time. The tour guide invited 6 people to step into the empty cells to have that experience of feeling/hearing the "door slamming shut" on you. (It was loud.) Well, you can imagine who volunteered to be one of the 6. Naturally, me. I was laughing, but then when I gripped the cell bars after they were shut, knowing that they weren't going to budge, I had just a little moment of panic. I was only in there for about 5 minutes, but it was more than enough for me!
    Sad that the prisoner's mining uniform looks so much like the clothing that was issued to prisoners at Auschwitz during WWII. The things we humans can do to one another… Like Melody, I also have "a few qualms with the prison system." Hoping we can do better in the future. Thanks so much for taking us along on a tragic (but true) part of Appalachian history. The range of your videos is remarkable. ❤

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  16. While you were touring the prison, I was humming the song written by John Hiatt called Tennessee Plates😀. I just love your road trips, I feel like I’m along for the ride!
    Safe travels!

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  17. My best friend and I were granted entry into Brushy Mountain while it was still in operation while we were employees for TDOC. Brushy Mountain is an amazing sight both inside and out. I would strongly recommend anyone tour the facility. Most definitely a different kind of activity than your weekend golfing game.

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