History of The Beast House
With construction beginning in 1892 on this sprawling structure, Nashville Lawyer Isaac Kechem built this massive home on his family’s farm in present-day North Nashville. With much of the original plantation being pieced out and developed commercially since 1952 (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 but community outcry in 1908 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 Home only feet from the Dickerson Road thoroughfare.
Hidden for many years and nearly stricken from the majority of historical records, Isaac Keshem built and lived in this enormous home with his extended family in present-day North-East Nashville. 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 was the same Firm began by fellow Nashville native William Walker – later bought out by Kechem. However, on July 2, 1899, Kechem committed suicide, within his enormous 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 immediate family members.
After Kechem’s death, distant relatives wanted nothing to do with the estate. It sat in ruins for years – culminating in the 1951 raze of over 60% of the Home. 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. 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 truly an authentic look into one of Nashville’s earliest mass-murderer. Much of the original home remains the same inside today, the Beast House is open seasonally for tours as an authentic Haunted Attraction experience. For more information on this Attraction, visit BeastHouse.com.