Rippavilla Plantation

This 1851 Greek Revival plantation was Confederate General Hood's headquarters before one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles. The house saw a lot — and reportedly still carries it.

Rippavilla Plantation served as Confederate General John Bell Hood's headquarters the night before the devastating Battle of Franklin, and the energy from that fateful evening seems permanently imprinted on the property. Hood made the decision to launch his ill-fated assault from this very house, a decision that would result in nearly 7,000 Confederate casualties.

Visitors have reported seeing Confederate officers in the house, still planning the attack that would claim so many lives. The sounds of horses and men preparing for battle have been heard on the grounds at night. The temperature drops sharply in rooms where Hood met with his generals, particularly in the evening. Some visitors have reported feeling overwhelming dread or sadness in certain areas of the house, as if the weight of Hood's decision still hangs in the air. Staff members have seen figures in period military dress moving through the house, and the sounds of distant cannon fire have been reported. The plantation hosts ghost tours sharing the stories of those who passed through during the war.