Adams, Tennessee may just seem like a small town with a handful of kind locals, but this is the kind of place that gets national attention. Adams is where the famed Bell Witch haunted the Bell Family Farm, (find the backstory here!), eventually leading to the death of the family patriarch. Whether or not the ghost was malevolent was no question – she was a wicked poltergeist that inflicted heartache and pain on the Bell Family until they were forced to bend to her will. The story is pretty insane, but here are 10 things you may not know about the place she haunted.
- The town of Adams is still pretty darn small.
Brent Moore - Flickr Only 657 folks called the small town home as of 2016, so it seems that the legend of the witch is more prominent than the rolling hills and gorgeous greenery of the space.
- There’s no historical proof of the Bell Witch.
The Historic Bell Witch Cave - Facebook Despite the fear she brought to the hearts of the Bell Family, there’s no actual proof that there was a Bell Witch, murderous or no. The legend has simply stood the test of time.
- The Bell Witch wasn’t always considered “bad”.
Official Bell Witch Site There’s a facet of her dark legend that gives her a kinder side. When young Betsy Bell was wandering the cave with friends, one of the boys fell down a hole and got stuck. He was lifted out by an invisible helper, one who cried, “I’ll get him out!”. It is commonly thought that the witch decided to save his life that day.
- The Bell Family Farm no longer exists.
Official Bell Witch Site Although there is now a replica of the farmhouse, the home has long since been gone.
- The cave isn’t as big as you would first assume.
Cameron Daigle - Flickr The cave itself is roughly 490 feet long, which is a lot shorter than most folks would first assume. It’s not a complex labyrinth of passages and holes, but rather a fairly straightforward - and incredibly haunted - part of the farm.
- You’re now able to tour the farm.
Cameron Daigle - Flickr You can book a tour at the privately owned historic site during the summertime through October if you’re looking for a bit of a scare.
- The cave is actually a “karst” formation.
Cameron Daigle - Flickr A karst cave is characterized by being made of rock like limestone or gypsum, soluble rock that has underground drainage systems.
- The cave has earned national attention.
Wikipedia The haunted Tennessee cave and the farmland around it has actually inducted into the National Registrar of Historic Places. President Andrew Jackson is rumored to have been terrified of the place, so it definitely has made its mark over the course of history.
- The terrorized Bell family wasn’t even from Tennessee…
Brent Moore - Flickr That’s a rough fact, isn’t it? The Bell’s moved from North Carolina to northern Robertson County in 1804, and it wasn’t until 1817 that their world was turned upside down.
- The witch had a name…
Michael - Flickr “Kate” terrorized members of the Bell family for years, until John Bell finally died in 1820. That’s three whole years of terrorizing the same family. She returned in 1828 as well, but only for a few weeks.
If you’re looking for a view that’s more beautiful than terrifying, this gorgeous garden may be the place to go.
Brent Moore - Flickr
Only 657 folks called the small town home as of 2016, so it seems that the legend of the witch is more prominent than the rolling hills and gorgeous greenery of the space.
The Historic Bell Witch Cave - Facebook
Despite the fear she brought to the hearts of the Bell Family, there’s no actual proof that there was a Bell Witch, murderous or no. The legend has simply stood the test of time.
Official Bell Witch Site
There’s a facet of her dark legend that gives her a kinder side. When young Betsy Bell was wandering the cave with friends, one of the boys fell down a hole and got stuck. He was lifted out by an invisible helper, one who cried, “I’ll get him out!”. It is commonly thought that the witch decided to save his life that day.
Although there is now a replica of the farmhouse, the home has long since been gone.
Cameron Daigle - Flickr
The cave itself is roughly 490 feet long, which is a lot shorter than most folks would first assume. It’s not a complex labyrinth of passages and holes, but rather a fairly straightforward - and incredibly haunted - part of the farm.
You can book a tour at the privately owned historic site during the summertime through October if you’re looking for a bit of a scare.
A karst cave is characterized by being made of rock like limestone or gypsum, soluble rock that has underground drainage systems.
Wikipedia
The haunted Tennessee cave and the farmland around it has actually inducted into the National Registrar of Historic Places. President Andrew Jackson is rumored to have been terrified of the place, so it definitely has made its mark over the course of history.
That’s a rough fact, isn’t it? The Bell’s moved from North Carolina to northern Robertson County in 1804, and it wasn’t until 1817 that their world was turned upside down.
Michael - Flickr
“Kate” terrorized members of the Bell family for years, until John Bell finally died in 1820. That’s three whole years of terrorizing the same family. She returned in 1828 as well, but only for a few weeks.
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