Looking for a scary thrill for Halloween? The Bell Witch Cave in Tennessee should do the ‘trick’

One thing that fascinates people, especially around Halloween, is the occult. People looking for a scare flock to ‘haunted houses’ set up around the nation specifically for the spooky holiday.

However, there are some that come with an actual story of a haunting. One of those is the Bell Witch Cave in Tennessee, which has one of the most documented supernatural tales in American history. The story of the events that transpired there was so widespread that it attracted the attention of people far and wide.

Including the future US president, Andrew Jackson, who lived over 40 miles away in Nashville, who reportedly said after the experience, “I had rather face the entire British Army than to spend another night with the Bell Witch.”

Land dispute turns into persistent torment by a witch

The story of Bell Witch Cave dates back to 1817 when to the best of people’s knowledge, the spirit of Kate Batts began haunting her neighbor John Bell and his family after she believed he cheated her in a land purchase.

According to the Tennessee State Museum, strange occurrences began at the Bell family’s farm when John came across a “dog-like” creature. He took a shot at the animal, but it disappeared and soon thereafter the haunting of their house began.

The family heard noises like loud knocking, gnawing, and chains being dragged across the floors. Then the spirit started physically attacking the family but she had it in particularly for John and his youngest daughter Betsy, whom the witch would beat unconscious.

The Bell witch would hold conversations with the members of the family and hurl insults at John. The family’s slaves, friends and neighbors also had encounters with the apparition.

The nonstop haunting took a physical toll on John Bell and after three years of torment he passed away, supposedly the witch poisoned him. According to legend the witch even came to his funeral and danced on his grave while singing drinking songs. A fun side note for trivia night, his death is the only one recognized by a state as being due to the supernatural.

The paranormal activity waned after John Bell was buried and eventually stopped. However, she did vow to his children that she would return in the future.

While there are no stories of the spirit coming back, the legend of the paranormal events between 1817 and 1821 have lived on to this day.

Every year thousands make the pilgrimage to the Bell family farm located along the Red River just outside Adams, near the border with Kentucky. Visitors to the site can tour the cave on the property and house, which has been re-constructed, and view artifacts from the time of the haunting.

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