Petros is a town of about 460 people in the Cumberland Mountains, and it has one of the most famous tourist draws in East Tennessee. If you're here, you're probably here for the prison. Stay for the mountains.
The reason most people find Petros. This maximum-security prison opened in 1896 and closed in 2009, and it's now one of Tennessee's most popular historic attractions at 9182 TN-116. Take a self-guided tour through the cell blocks and the museum, catch a concert or special event, or join one of the year-round paranormal tours. The prison once housed some of Tennessee's most notorious inmates, and former guards and inmates sometimes share their stories on site. The prison historically closes in the winter months, so check tourbrushy.com for current seasonal hours before you go.
The prison's on-site restaurant serves Southern BBQ cafeteria-style: pulled pork plates, loaded potatoes, BBQ nachos, burgers. Fast, filling, and the obvious lunch stop after a tour. Open with the prison's seasonal schedule.
Also at the prison complex, Parolee's does pizza and sandwiches with a gift shop attached. Another easy option when you're spending the day at Brushy.
The distillery on the prison grounds makes End of the Line Tennessee moonshine along with vodka and whiskey, distilled with mountain spring water. Tastings are available in the shop. It's the only distillery operating at a prison in the country, which is exactly the kind of thing Brushy does.
The state park sits in the mountains between Wartburg and Petros, minutes from town. 24,000 acres of wilderness, 50-plus miles of trails, waterfalls, and the 360-degree observation deck atop the 3,324-foot summit. Free admission, open 8 a.m. to sunset. Pair a morning hike with an afternoon at the prison for the perfect Petros day.
Petros is pure Cumberland Mountain country: forested ridges, winding roads, and quiet. Drive TN-116 through the valley for the scenery alone. This is the Tennessee the postcards skip, and the locals like it that way.
Petros is tiny. Grab groceries and gas in Wartburg, about 15 minutes south, before you head in. Brushy Mountain's hours are seasonal and the prison closes in winter, so always check tourbrushy.com before making the drive. Cell service is thin in the valley.
The prison operated from 1896 to 2009. It reopened as a historic attraction with tours, a museum, a distillery, restaurants, and events.
Yes. Self-guided tours run during the open season, and paranormal tours run year-round. The prison historically closes in the winter months, so check tourbrushy.com for current hours.
The Warden's Table serves Southern BBQ, and Parolee's Restaurant and Store does pizza and sandwiches. Both are on the prison grounds.
Tennessee moonshine distilled on the grounds of Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. The distillery also makes vodka and whiskey, and tastings are available in the gift shop.
The park sits in the mountains between Wartburg and Petros, so it's only minutes from town. The park entrance is on Flat Fork Road near Wartburg.
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