Former guards and inmates are your tour
guides giving first hand accounts of life at the
infamous prison. George, a former inmate,
(picture on the left) gives tours sharing the
picture above of himself, (Right) during
incarceration at Brushy Mountain.
Today, after nearly ten years as just the
historical relic carved out of the mountain,
Brushy Mountain is back to life. The legendary
facility no longer houses the hard-timers
but welcomes you to tour the prison, listen
to the stories, enjoy great food and taste
some moonshine. The prison tour is selfguided
with former prison guards around to
answer questions. You will see all significant
components of the prison from the cell block
to the cafeteria and other buildings like the
laundry room, gymnasium, museum, movie
theatre, exercise yard, and the all-important
“HOLE.” There are markers throughout the
tour showcasing the story of what happened
in that particular spot. It’s a glimpse inside
the troubled minds of the hardened criminals
that served time, the workers tasked with
maintaining the safety and the families
of both who lives revolved around the
prison. The movie theater plays a 18 minute
documentary every half hour that shares the
stories of Brushy Mountain life.
The stories live on at Brushy Mountain, the
voices echo down “3 Walk” and they are yours
to experience. As you depart, the anxious
feeling in your tummy no longer includes
wondering what it felt like to arrive, but what
it would have been like to be locked up for life
at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.
32 solitary cells weren’t nearly enough to serve a prison full of first-degree murderers who were as
violent on the inside as they had been on the outside. When D-Block maxed out, the most serious
offenders were sent to a sectioned overflow space in B-Block. Life in solitary on B was similar to D,
with one exception: a shared exercise cage. The entire prison went on lockdown as B’ Block’s solitary
population walked out to exercise. Considering these were essentially D-Block status inmates, heading
out for a few sit-ups was a death wish. Once, an inmate “spotting” a guy lifting weights pushed the bar
into the man’s chest - just as his friend shoved a shank into his side. Killers weren’t the only convicts in
solitary B; there were also “protective custody” inmates isolated for safety. Dubbed as “check-in” some
were forced into protective isolation if death threats were made against them. Others, like convicted
pedophiles, often requested it out of fear. Either way, “check-in” wasn’t something to brag about.
SUMMER 2019 FARRAGUT LIFE 45