The History of the property you are stepping foot on is REAL. Other Haunted Attractions create a fake environment within a strip mall or warehouse to create a scary environment – but in the end, you know it’s all fake. The Beast House is different, very different – it’s a step back in time within an actual Haunted House. You are walking amidst the horrific past and feeling it first-hand – seeing the original burnt-out fireplaces, smelling the must of this 125 year old home and sensing for yourself the one-of-a-kind evil that once-lived within. His name was Isaac Kechem and this is his House…

Construction began in 1892 on this sprawling mansion located on the outskirts of town, a few miles across the Cumberland River, North of Fort Nashborough – near present day Madison and Goodlettsville. Nashville Lawyer Isaac Kechem built this enormous Estate on his family’s farm North of Nashville. With much of the original plantation being pieced out and developed commercially beginning in 1951 (along present-day Dickerson Pike), a portion of the original home still exists today with slight restoration/enhancements performed over the years. The development of Dickerson Road between Downtown Nashville and Springfield almost claimed The Beast House by eminent domain in 1908 but community outcry altered the Dickerson Road layout allowing the historic Beast House to survive. Dickerson Road now runs directly through the once-plantation with the entrance of the original east-wing only feet from the Dickerson Road thoroughfare.

Many historical records and newspaper articles documenting the events here have been lost (some say intentionally by the city in the 1920’s for political reasons) but thankfully, there are some articles, property records and local, first-hand accounts that still exist in the State Archives. Isaac Kechem built and lived in this 24,000 + sq. ft. estate-home with his extended family. A seemingly upstanding member of society, Kechem served in local clubs and civic organizations alike, while being Senior member at his Nashville Law Firm. This Firm was begun by fellow Nashville native William Walker – and later bought out by Kechem upon Walker’s retirement. However, on July 2nd, 1899, Kechem committed suicide, within his massive barn, by setting it on fire, then hanging himself for the community to see. After a subsequent investigation of the property, Kechem was officially credited with the grisly murders of each of his family members that night – ranging from 3 to 56 – and all within this sprawling Mansion.

After Kechem’s death, out-of-town family members wanted nothing to do with the estate. It sat in ruins for years – culminating in the suspicious 1927 fire that reduced over 60% of the home to rubble. Thereon, the History of the property was mostly forgotten with those remembering the events passing on. Soon after, in 1952, an ambitious, Nashville entrepreneur bought and restored what was remaining of the original Beast House plantation and transformed the Beast House remnants and its surrounding pasture into “The Starlite Dinner Club” – an iconic, Country Music haven for celebrities and the public alike. Most employees of the Starlite Club over the years have witnessed firsthand the haunted history of this building – many leaving the building and never returning after their supernatural terrors. On any given night, people in victorian attire have been seen pacing the hallways, children’s cries echoing from the bedrooms and objects being shattered/destroyed without explanation. The Starlite Club employees and patrons learned to accept the paranormal activity and these occurrences only drew more people to this historic structure.

After operating as one of Nashville’s most iconic, country music venues for over 60 years, the highly-successful, Starlite Club suddenly closed its doors in 2014 – never to reopen. The property was sold in 2017 and the original, Beast House history was again brought to the forefront as it was transformed into arguably one of the most authentic Haunted Attractions in America – it is a terrifying walk into one of Nashville’s most intentionally-forgotten,  horrific events of the past.