Feature article
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Downtown Dandridge makes for one dandy of a day trip
By Kristen Buckles
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Editor’s Note: As part of our Hidden Treasures series, which runs each Thursday during the summer months, GoTriCities staff writers highlight places and events right here in our own back yard that many folks don’t know even exist. Got an idea or suggestion? We’d love to hear it. Write to the Kingsport Times-News, c/o Jessica Fischer, at 701 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport, Tenn. 37662 or e-mail jfischer@timesnews.net.
A quick phone call to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce was all it took to schedule a walking tour through downtown Dandridge, Tenn. After finding a friend to join me, I set off down I-81 to check into what the town had to offer.
Now, I have a confession to make. Despite the fact that I have been there before — several times in fact — I had no clue how much history is stored up in this little town.
With a history that dates back to the Revolutionary War and plenty of activities for those whose taste leans more toward the modern, a tour of Dandridge proved to be a fun way to spend the day.
Dandridge was settled in 1783 and claims to be the second oldest town in Tennessee, said Jim Hutchins, the town administrator.
Situated on the banks of the French Broad River, Dandridge began as a frontier settlement. Hutchins shared the local legend, which says that west-bound travelers enjoyed the way the water in the local stream tasted when they mixed it with their whiskey so much that they decided to settle there.
The town grew until it became the Jefferson County seat. Dandridge received its name in honor of America's first First Lady, Martha Dandridge Washington.
Robert Jarnagin, the Jefferson County historian, leads the walking tours through the historic downtown, providing visitors with a detailed account of the town from its early settlement and the Civil War Battle of Dandridge to the story behind the dike and more recent developments.
There are several stops that I believe are must-sees while you are there.
The Jefferson County Courthouse houses a museum that has a wide variety of historical articles, including a rusty, dismantled moonshine still, clothing and foreign currency. It’s small, like the town, but is full of intriguing little pieces of history. It has always been my personal preference to see history instead of just hearing about it, and there is something about this random assortment of items that managed to capture my imagination.
My friend, Nicole, also pointed out that there can’t be that many other courthouses with a moonshine still in the building.
In a previous visit to Dandridge, I had the privilege of picnicking on a friend’s pontoon boat out on Douglas Lake. Both the Cherokee and Douglas lakes have multiple access areas, campgrounds and marinas, according to the Jefferson County chamber. Whatever the activity, getting out on the water is a great way to spend a summer day.
Even though I didn’t get out on the lake during my last visit, I did get to do some shopping. There are several antique shops in the downtown area, as well as a clothing store, shoe store and more. Everyone was welcoming, and the shopkeepers didn’t hover, so you felt comfortable.
For lunch, we stopped by Tinsley-Bible Drugs, a small pharmacy that still has a fountain where you can get sodas, burgers, ice cream and more. The store itself is great because the walls are lined with antiques, and there is even a case full of old medicine bottles.
If you stop by, be sure to greet the almost-life-size Native American Indian statue that stands in the window. When friends first told me about Dandridge, the statue was the first thing they mentioned. (He does, after all, have an impressive physique.)
Also, if you are looking for a souvenir while you’re in town, there are polo shirts in every color of the rainbow that picture the Bible Burger, a house specialty.
Unfortunately for us, the fountain was crowded, so we didn’t get to try the burger. Just across Main Street, however, is one of my favorite spots to eat, Smoky’s Steak and BBQ. The food has been great every time I’ve eaten there, and the inside of the restaurant is charming.
After Smoky’s, the crowd had thinned out a bit so we headed back to Tinsley-Bible’s for a milkshake, then to a shady bench in one of the nearby historic cemeteries. The grounds are beautiful, the landscaping well-kept, and I decided that the sundial might have been correct if only daylight savings time did not exist.
Benches dotted the graveyard, and a pathway encouraged visitors to wander farther in. A monument stands in honor of the Revolutionary War soldiers who are buried there. The setting was peaceful and the care obvious in its upkeep.
After wandering around a bit more and exploring the Cherokee beach, we visited another location that was new to me, Cowboys on the Water.
Situated beside Douglas Lake, Cowboys on the Water is a seafood restaurant with an amazing view. Sitting on the deck, eating shrimp and enjoying the breeze proved to be the perfect way to end the day.
Dandridge is easy to reach: Just take I-81 S until it merges into I-40 W, then take exit 417 and turn left. Downtown Dandridge will be to your right a couple miles down TN-92.
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