Post by Graveyardbride on Sept 13, 2016 15:07:29 GMT -5
Ghost Tours/Hunts at Brown’s Ferry Tavern
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Chattanooga Ghost Tours is offering spooky paranormal investigations of Chattanooga’s oldest home. It is believed that Brown’s Tavern, or Brown’s Ferry Tavern (above) – located in Lookout Valley – was constructed in 1803, years before the founding of Chattanooga. The house was originally occupied by John Brown, half-Caucasian-half-Cherokee Indian, and one of the first settlers in the area. Brown played an important role in history as a captain in the War of 1812. He was brother-in-law to Chief John Ross, who founded Ross’s Landing, which became Chattanooga in 1838. Brown was a part of the Trail of Tears, but later returned to Chattanooga, where he died.
However, according to legend, there was a dark side to the seemingly genial Brown. During his life, Brown earned his living by transporting many tavern guests across the Tennessee River via his ferryboat and it is widely believed he robbed and murdered many of the more well-to-do patrons.
Amy Petulla, owner of Chattanooga Ghost Tours and author of Haunted Chattanooga, said visiting Brown’s Ferry Tavern is a significant boost for both historians and paranormal investigators. “We’re super-excited to be able to let people into a place they haven’t been able to be in for over a half a century,” she said. “We do hunts every weekend, but we’ve never been able to have one inside a building.”
According to Petulla, the remaining spirits are most likely some of Brown’s victims. He showed special attention to the richest travelers. “He wound up killing many of those people and would dump their bodies and wagons in the river,” she explained. “And he would tell people they had run out on him in the middle of the night. ... He is also reported to have dumped some of the bodies on Raccoon Mountain in a cave and possibly some down wells.”
There is also the Trail of Tears connection. The tavern is located on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, adding to the already-curious legend. “A lot of people stayed at or near the tavern before the march against their will,” Petulla continued. “It’s also believed that Brown himself is buried on the property, sometime in the 1840s. They’ve lost the exact location of his grave, but the previous owners were opposed to a softball field being built near the cabin, possibly for that reason.”
During the two-hour hunts, guests will explore the home and grounds using paranormal investigation equipment, such as the Ovilus X (a sort of radio for spirits) and EMF detectors.
Previous visitors and owners have reported hauntings for decades. According to Petulla, there are bloodstains on the floor that a number of people have tried to remove without success. In the north bedroom – where Brown supposedly murdered his victims – visitors have reported hearing chains dragging and thumping sounds on the stairs. Petulla said she recently asked the Ovilus X how many bodies were buried on the original 347-acre property surrounding the tavern and it responded with “38” on two occasions.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic places.
Admission for the ghost tour is $39.95 per person, and groups are limited to 10. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Chattanooga Ghost Tours at 423-718-3509 or via its website: chattanoogaghosttours.com/tours/
The next Brown’s Tavern Inside Hunt will take place Saturday, Sept. 17.
Source: Sean Phipps, Nooga.com, August 17, 2016.