The journey started and ended in Nashville. The first location that I visited was Cornelia Fort Airport. I made every mistake. I went alone, I ran into an electric fence, I did not shoot with the right camera setting, and I developed the negatives incorrectly. I had to go back and shoot a new roll of 400TX film once I discovered what went wrong. Over half a year later, I gained access to the abandoned Tennessee Prison. Unlike the airport, whose runway is now a public greenway, the prison was a one-time chance.

The number one question I get asked about this project is how I got inside this prison. It is under guarded patrol 24 hours a day and is used for military training. My honest advice is to just keep calling. I know, it sounds a bit like the definition of insanity, but after half a year, I found someone who wanted to grounds to be photographed and felt that the prison did not receive enough attention for its architecture. I was given a tour of the remaining safe facilities with a security escort. I got so lucky.

Unfortunately, the prison was hit by tornados recently and is incredibly damaged. John C Tune, the airport nearby, lost some airplanes as they were hurdled all the way from the runway into the prison. As seen in the first picture below, at the end of the cell block is an airplane-sized hole in the wall.

Damage aside, I did get to see the intact remains. Walk with me through the abandoned cell blocks, guard towers, execution block, and prison yard.