Nestled in the quiet hills of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, the Thomas House Hotel is far more than just a charming Southern inn. Listed by CNN as the #2 “Most Haunted Location in the United States,” it’s a destination for history lovers and paranormal investigators alike. With its roots dating back to 1890, this hotel has seen it all—booms and busts, tragedy and healing, and stories that have echoed through generations. Whether you’re drawn to it by the promise of historic architecture or the whispers of spirits still residing within its walls, the Thomas House Hotel is a must-visit for anyone fascinated by the past and the unknown. Buckle up, because the history here is deep—and the hauntings even deeper.
The History
Healing Waters and a Town Born of Mineral Springs
Red Boiling Springs first found fame in the 19th century thanks to its mineral-rich waters. The springs were attracting tourists as early as the 1840s, with visitors believing the waters had curative powers for ailments ranging from arthritis to digestive disorders. A nationwide boom in the popularity of spa resorts in the 1880s, inspired by the success of Saratoga Springs, New York, brought still more visitors. By the early 1900s, the area had blossomed into a bustling resort town, with multiple hotels, bathhouses, and entertainment venues dotting the rolling Tennessee hills.
The Cloyd Brothers and the Original Hotel
The building we now know as the Thomas House Hotel was originally constructed in 1890 by brothers Zachariah Wheat Cloyd and William Clay Cloyd, local hardware store owners who saw an opportunity in the growing tourist trade. The hotel operated under several names, including “Cloyd Place Hotel” and “Hotel Cloyd,” and quickly gained a reputation as one of Red Boiling Springs’ finest establishments. The original structure was an 18-room, two-story white weatherboard building with long two-story verandas.
The Cloyd family operated the hotel until 1916, when financial difficulties forced them to sell to new owners. Tragically, in 1924, the original wooden structure was destroyed by fire. The hotel was reconstructed in 1927 as a two-story red brick building, boasting over fifty guest rooms. Amenities expanded to include a bathhouse, a two-lane bowling alley, a swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, croquet courts, and even a house orchestra.
Over the following decades, the hotel changed hands numerous times. It operated as the Mossy Creek Summer Camp for children in the 1980s and was even briefly home to a religious cult called the Anzara in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1993, the Cole family purchased and reopened the property, renaming it “The Thomas House Hotel”—a nod to Thomas Tyler Cloyd, one of the original brothers who had managed the hotel.
The Thomas House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, along with two other surviving hotels from Red Boiling Springs’ resort era.
Architecture That Echoes the Past
The current building stands as a distinctive example of 1920s hotel architecture, with its red brick facade and period details. A stroll through the halls is like walking into the pages of a Tennessee history book. Much of the interior retains its historic character, including antique furniture and photographs lining the walls, giving visitors the uncanny sense that they are being watched by the past itself.
The Haunt
One of America’s Most Haunted Hotels
The Thomas House Hotel isn’t just a historic treasure—it’s legendary in the world of paranormal investigation. The hotel has been featured on multiple paranormal television programs, including A&E’s Paranormal State, Syfy’s Ghost Hunters, and Travel Channel’s Portals to Hell with Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman. These investigations have documented a variety of unexplained phenomena, cementing the hotel’s reputation as a hotspot for supernatural activity.
Today, the hotel hosts regular ghost hunting weekends for guests who wish to experience the hauntings firsthand with professional paranormal investigators.
Documented Paranormal Activity
Guests and investigators alike have reported a wide range of supernatural phenomena over the years, including:
- Disembodied voices and whispers in empty rooms
- The distinct sound of whistling echoing through the hallways, attributed to the spirit of one of the original Cloyd brothers
- Full-body apparitions dressed in period clothing
- Objects that move on their own or vanish entirely
- Sudden cold spots and unexplained knocking sounds
- Shadow figures seen darting through hallways
- Beds that shake or move during the night
- Doors that open and close on their own
- Room keys that disappear and reappear in unusual locations
The Spirits of the Thomas House
Several distinct spirits are believed to inhabit the hotel. The most famous is Sarah, said to be the daughter of one of the Cloyd brothers who died young. Guests staying in Room 37—considered the most haunted room in the hotel—have reported waking to find a young girl standing beside their bed, watching them silently before vanishing. She is also frequently encountered in the area known as the White Hallway, where the sound of children’s laughter has been heard on quiet nights.
Another spirit is believed to be that of Edwin Ward Rush, a seven-year-old boy whose body was discovered in the hotel’s swimming pool on July 29, 1961. His death was documented in local newspapers at the time. In the decades since, guests and investigators have reported seeing a young boy near the pool area and have captured EVP recordings of a child’s voice with a Southern accent. The pool was demolished in November 2024, though it remains to be seen whether Edwin’s spirit will continue to be encountered on the property.
A tall, dark shadow figure is frequently reported near the old staircase and throughout the hotel’s hallways. Many believe this to be the ghost of Mr. Cloyd, one of the original owners, still making his rounds through the building he helped create.
A Convergence of Energies
The Thomas House sits at the intersection of two creeks and along the path of an ancient Native American trail—the Cumberland Trace, which was used primarily by the Cherokee and occasionally by the Shawnee. Some paranormal researchers speculate that the property’s location atop underground springs and limestone, combined with its position on this historic trail, may contribute to the intensity of supernatural activity reported there. While there is no documented evidence that the site was ever a Native American burial ground, the layered history of the land adds to its mystique.
Firsthand Accounts
Staff members have shared numerous personal experiences over the years. Housekeepers have reported seeing a woman in a long white dress glide silently through walls. Others describe strange technical glitches—lights flickering without cause, phones ringing with no one on the line, and electronic equipment behaving erratically.
Guest accounts are equally compelling. Visitors have reported doors locking by themselves, whispered voices close to their ears at night, covers being yanked off beds, lights being switched on and off, and the unmistakable sensation of being watched or followed in certain areas of the hotel. Each experience adds to the Thomas House Hotel’s reputation as a living museum of supernatural history.
A Paranormal Bucket List Destination
If you’re a ghost hunter, history buff, or just someone looking for an unforgettable weekend escape, the Thomas House Hotel should be at the top of your list. Where else can you sleep in a historic hotel that’s been standing since the 1920s, sip your coffee on a front porch overlooking the Tennessee hills, and maybe—just maybe—have a ghostly encounter before bed?
The Thomas House Hotel stands as a testament to Red Boiling Springs’ golden era as a mineral springs resort destination, and its place on the National Register of Historic Places ensures that its story will be preserved for generations to come. But beyond the history books and architectural details, there’s something else that lingers here—something that guests have been experiencing for decades.
So pack your bags, charge your camera, and bring a brave spirit. At the Thomas House Hotel in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, history and hauntings are waiting for you to uncover them.