Former Amazon Manager Builds Profitable Nashville History Tour Business

Paul Whitten, a U.S. Army veteran and former Amazon automation program manager, founded Nashville Adventures in September 2023. He launched the history-focused walking tour company in Nashville, Tennessee, as a side venture with an initial investment of $3,600 before transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship in February 2024.

Whitten grew the business by using search engine optimization to target tourists seeking authentic history, intentionally avoiding the city's dominant bachelorette party market. This strategy led to triple-digit annual growth, with the company generating over six figures in revenue and gross profit in 2025. By the first eight months of 2026, revenue increased to the mid-six figures.

To maintain independence and avoid outside funding, Whitten took no salary for eight months. He attributes the company's success to a low-barrier-to-entry business model and a commitment to providing unscripted, personalized experiences for guests. The company also partnered with the walking tour network Tours by Foot to expand its reach.