The Spirits of the General Morgan Inn

Posted: 03.10.2025 | Updated: 03.12.2025

There’s a strange inn in an even stranger part of Tennessee that has become a deep part of their local folklore. The town in question is Gatlinburg, which is a stunningly beautiful slice of Blue Mountain heaven. 

Driving alongside the roads near the White Forks River will yield nature photographs worthy of National Geographic. However, steeped in the lush growth of Gatlinburg’s natural beauty are a number of Civil War sites.

One of the most curious is the General Morgan Inn. However, that name may very well change because this place has almost as many names as it has years of existence—it’s been around since the 1790s! 

Keep reading on to learn more about this place, which ghosts haunt it, and why it has the name it does today. After you’re done, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about haunted Tennessee. The best way to do that is by booking an in-person ghost tour with Gatlinburg Haunts.

Who haunts the General Morgan Inn?

One would assume that, from the name alone, that General Morgan is the one who haunts the General Morgan Inn. However, this only scratches the surface of this strange and ever-changing inn that lies nestled in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

History of the Inn

The General Morgan Inn, like Gatlinburg itself, has a long and storied history. The place was originally known as the DeWoody Tavern (probably a misspelling of the last name of its founder, a man named Dunwoody) when it was built in the 1790s. It was designed to serve as a kind of stopover – a rest station for pioneers heading out west on their wagons. 

It would continue to serve this function for decades, even through a few different wars, economic downturns and even some name changes. In the 1820s, its name changed to the “Bell Tavern” due to its proximity to “the sign of the Bell in Greeneville.”

This local fixture didn’t just change names often; it also changed hands. During the years leading up to and during the Civil War, Joshua Lane was the owner and operator of the inn when it was the site of a historically significant event. At the time, it was known as the Lane House and it served as a welcoming site for Union and Confederate supporters alike. However, that friendliness went unrewarded on September 4, 1864 when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan showed up in town. 

Union forces, whether due to a spy or superior scouting, somehow discovered that Morgan was in town and decided to capture the “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy” (Morgan’s nickname) for the glory of the nation. Troops massed, gunfire was exchanged and Morgan ended up getting shot and killed while attempting to escape. 

The hotel, as was typical, would go through a few different iterations and owners over the next century and a half, eventually being renamed the General Morgan Inn in 1996 after a major revitalization effort. This new name was chosen to reflect the historic significance of the site of this inn. 

Hauntings at the General Morgan Inn

However, General John Hunt Morgan doesn’t just live on at the inn because his name happens to be above the door. His ghost is said to wander the site named in his honor. 

He’s usually seen by longtime staffers – perhaps he’s a shy ghost or, maybe that ambush taught him a little something about trusting strangers – but occasionally a guest will see him as well. 

Reports of General Morgan’s ghosts usually have similar details that are consistent across tellings. For one, the man remains in full military dress uniform, albeit with a few bullet holes scattered across his jacket. 

Secondly, an eerie feeling of dread usually accompanies his presence, though whether that’s the witnesses being fearful or something more ominous and otherworldly is anyone’s guess. While he does tend to be quiet when spotted – albeit with the occasional grimace or snarl at onlookers who stare too long – he makes more noise when he can’t be seen. 

The inn is known to be beset by various strange noises. These noises range from loud clanging to things that sound like gunfire. Most people point their fingers to the general as their source, but his reasoning for doing it is still unknown today. 

But, as with most Civil War sites, he’s far from the only ghost to haunt the walls of this historic tavern. 

Front Desk Bill  

Not all the ghost guests of the hotel are quite as dour as the general himself. 

The first of his ghostly roommates is the creatively named Front Desk Bill. As you might imagine, he normally posts up in the front desk of the modern-day hotel. A former employee – though under which owner or name has been lost to history – Front Desk Bill is one of the more endearing ghosts of the place. 

He has never lost his love for his work, and he still acts as though he’s working there. Some guests admitted to speaking to someone they thought was a hotel worker, only to realize none of the other front desk workers knew anyone else was on shift that day!

Green Room Grace

There’s also another creatively named ghost, Green Room Grace. If Front Desk Bill is the dutiful employee, Green Room Grace is the perpetual prankster. She’s known for stealing spoons from the kitchen staff and the restaurant. Some say, she’s been at it for over 75 years. 

Her name is thought to come from one of the banquet rooms in the hotel restaurant because that’s where she worked for many years as a waitress. Where her love for spoons came from or, where the actual spoons end up disappearing is anyone’s guess, but no matter how well they’re hidden, Grace still manages to find a way to add more to her odd collection!

Some say those aren’t the only two ghosts that lurk around these corridors either. Former battle sites like this Civil War haunt are breeding grounds for ghost activity as the spirits of slain soldiers and mourning family members often find themselves drawn there. And, of course, it’s hard to believe that in a place with centuries of history that those two are the only employees or guests that decided to stick around!

Haunted Gatlinburg 

If you go to visit this quirky Tennessee haunt, be sure to keep your spoons close to you and always check your shoulder to make sure no front desk clerk or general is following you around, and you should have a pleasant stay! 

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in Tennessee!

If you want to explore Tennessee ghosts up close, a ghost tour with Gatlinburg Haunts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://generalmorganinn.com/history/
• https://www.wjhl.com/haunted-tri-cities/haunted-tri-cities-ghosts-and-glamour-at-general-morgan-inn/
• https://www.tennesseehauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/general-morgan-inn.html