Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 1 Chester Henderson Arts in the Alley. Forget yearly festivals: in Chester County, a passion for the local artists is celebrated publicly on a monthly basis. Arts in the Alley, ran by the Henderson Arts Commission, is held one Thursday night each month in the Henderson city park. Local vendors sell their personal work, Southern musical artists regularly perform and you’ll normally find the city mayor behind a massive grill cooking up food for the crowd. It’s a fun evening for all. 2 Chester Henderson Bell’s Drive-In. The family-owned diner has been in business for over 50 years and has become a hallmark of tourism and local dining in Chester County. Tennessee Magazine readers have voted their legendary hamburgers the best in the state for five years in a row. With an array of fried Southern offerings and a constantly crowded parking lot, this Henderson restaurant is must-visit for residents and travelers. 3 Chester Henderson White Ave. The historic White Ave. holds profound significance not for the buildings along it, but for the woman who inspired the name. Susan Shelton White was a major women’s rights activist born in Henderson who was the primary female advocate for the passing of women’s suffrage at a state level. Tennessee was the final state required for ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, to become the law of the land. White was the primary advocate who pushed for the legislation, and the amendment was ratified by a single vote. Women across the country hold a massive debt to this incredible woman who assisted in a major expansion of their rights. Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 4 Crockett Alamo Blue Creek Trail Ride. This annual event is held the last weekend in September and benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. The 16th annual event is scheduled for the weekend of September 26-28th. The ride starts at Weaver Farms, which is just off Highway 152 near Alamo. The trail ride is mapped over 40 acres; guided ride starting Saturday 9:00 a.m. and ends about noon. The weekend is packed with live entertainment, auction items, food, fun and family. Activities are planned for all ages. Both nights live music is available, corn hole games are set up, and vendors are selling delicious food. They plan activities for children on Saturday afternoon, which includes dress a goat, chicken chase, calf scramble, and a Little “Miss Buck Creek” contest for girls ages 2-12. Kathy Moore started the event 16 years ago and has maintained her role in planning and operating this event. The first year 68 horse riders participated and raised $2,800. Last year’s event saw 467 horse riders with 2,500 other attendees participating in concerts, vending, etc. and raised $73,500. Total donations to St. Jude over the 15 years have exceeded $500,000. 5 Crockett Alamo Bob’s Burgers Pasta & Pizza. 87 E. Main Street, Bells, TN 38006, (731) 345-3055, Open Monday- Thursday from 10:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Bob’s is closed each weekend. Bob has been in the food service business for 32 years. He left his job as a manager at Long Horn Steak House to marry an Alamo native, Jennie Hayes, and moved to Bells, TN. Bob’s Burgers has been open just over 6 years. Bob uses all fresh meat to create his hand-patted burgers, tops them how you like it and serves on a sweet, sourdough bun. The number one seller is the bacon cheese burger. When you decide to visit Bob’s be sure to join the 7-8-9 loyalty program (visit 7 times, spend $8 or more, and a $9 coupon)! 2 Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 6 Crockett Alamo Louise Pearson Memorial Arboretum. This arboretum is located at Green Frog Village on Highway 412 in Crockett County, TN. While the village itself is featured in the office vacation guide for Tennessee, only the retail opportunities in the village are highlighted. Planted by the local Bell's Garden Club the arboretum consists of just over varieties of trees indigenous to the area. Every tree species is labeled with a descriptive plaque (see the two photos below). Take a few minutes to stroll around the grounds and look at a few of the different trees. 7 Crockett Bells Little Free Library. This Little Free Library is located on the front lawn at Alamo City School. The little free library is a national movement to make books available to people in their neighborhoods. In the most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and puck up a book (or two or three) and brings back another book to share. The concept is “take a book, return a book”. Little Free Libraries can be placed anywhere including residences, businesses, or schools. Alamo City School dedicated their Little Free Library on March 10, 2014 and it has already been a huge success. 3 Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 9 Dyer Dyersburg Abe’s Rib Eye Barn. 1130 Henry St., Dyersburg, TN 38024. Try the bread pudding! 8 Dyer Dyersburg Boss Hoss Cycles, Inc. Mr. Monty Warren. Established in the early 1990’s, Boss Hoss offered the first V-8 powered motorcycle in the world and offers the traditional two wheeled bike and a three wheeled “trike” bike. As the only globally approved V-8 cycle in the world, motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world vie for the opportunity to experience the impressive sound, power, and performance of this machine on the open road. Pre-scheduled tours available. 790 South Main Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024. Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 731.286.0696 12 Dyer Dyersburg Fryne Lake. Fryne Lake (http://www.fyrnelake.com/) is 2500 acre wilderness property in northwest Dyer County with a mile-long private lake and a pavilion for weddings and other events. It is located 10 minutes from Dyersburg on the 4 Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 Chickasaw Bluff and is a top private fishing lake. They host a 10k race/trail run each year in November. (pic from their website) Address: 6875 Lenox Nauvoo Rd, Dyersburg, TN 38024 Contact: [email protected]; 731-676-5556 10 Dyer Dyersburg Lupo’s Italian Steak House. 2320 Amanda Ave., Dyersburg, TN 38024. Ask for the specials not on the menu. 13 Dyer Dyersburg Magnolia Marketplace. Mr. Joe Jennings. Located in historic downtown Dyersburg, Magnolia Marketplace offers eclectic gifts, unique fashion accessories, with all the southern charm you can possibly stand! Shoppers are guaranteed exclusive products and one-of-a-kind gift for yourself or that special person. 426 Troy Avenue, Dyersburg, TN 38024. Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 731.285.2525. 5 Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 11 Dyer Dyersburg Neill’s BBQ. 470 Mall Blvd., Dyersburg, TN 38024. The Diablo Sauce is delicious. 14 Dyer Dyersburg Prayer Walking is Good for Heart and Soul. Nestled on a beautiful farm in southeastern Dyer County, accessible from King Rd in just off Hwy 412 between Dyersburg and Friendship, is one of the most peaceful and spiritual places on earth. It is a one mile trail designed for Prayer Walking. “Prayer Walking is good for the heart and soul”, says Mr. Ken Webster, owner and tour guide of the 1 mile prayer walk journey. Visitors enjoy glimpses of nature’s creations through biblical perspectives. Trees with characteristics of familiar biblical stories, find the Ten Lepers, pause for rest at the Church in the Wildwood, climb a hill reminiscent of the fortitude used by those who climbed Mt Calvary, and finally end in peaceful seclusion in the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the cross. The Prayer Journey is open year-round (weather permitting) and can be visited by scheduled appointment only. Contact Mr. Ken Webster at 731-677-2919 to schedule a Prayer Walk Journey today. Groups are welcome and the cost is free, with love offering donations accepted to help maintain the trail. 15 Fayette Laconia Laconia Store and Post Office. Built in 1888 the Laconia Store and Post Office is continuing its role as the community-gathering place now that the Dowdy family has turned it into a popular restaurant. The 120-year old general store building serves country fare every weekday at a very reasonable price. In keeping the old store open, the Dowdy’s are preserving its more-than-a-century-old role as a central location where neighbors congregate to share the local news, talk politics, and catch up on the latest gossip as they lunch at a leisurely pace. 6 Hidden Treasures of West Tennessee WestStar Class - 2014 16 Fayette Somerville Farmer’s Hardware. Farmer’s Hardware, located on the town square, is one of Somerville’s oldest businesses. Established in the late 1840’s, the general hardware store catered to farmers and carried such goods as knives, tools, and horse drawn implements. Since being built, only three families have owned the business. The Sanders family purchased the store in 1954 and has since expanded the business to include furniture and clothing. 17 Gibson Rutherford Rutherford, TN. 38369, better known as Rutherford, Tennessee is a quaint little town in the northwest corner of the state.