Wish You Were Here! Adventures in Tennessee's Upper Cumberland | Season 1 | Wish You Were Here!: Epi

(light music) - [Announcer] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

Wish You Were Here, produced under an agreement with the Upper Cumberland Development District and made possible in part through support from the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

(light music) (water trickles) - [Narrator] In the heart of Tennessee there's a little slice of heaven you just gotta see.

(light music) Oh man, Wish You Were Here.

- Hi, I'm Katelyn Steakley.

Welcome to Wish You Were Here.

Are you ready to explore more of Tennessee's Upper Cumberland?

Before we meet up with our Wish You Were Here field correspondent, let's have a little adventure of our own right here at the lodge at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, Tennessee.

(upbeat music) I'm here today at the Fall Creek Falls State Park at the Fall Creek Lodge with Director of Operations Robert Walling.

Thank you Robert, for having us today.

- It's a pleasure to have you.

Thank you for coming.

- [Katelyn] The lodge is located here on the lake, inside the park.

It's a beautiful place to make a weekend stay.

- Yes it is.

We're located in Spencer, Tennessee, probably about an hour north of Chattanooga, hour and a half from Nashville and Knoxville.

And we're on the Cumberland Plateau.

We've got the beautiful Fall Creek Falls Lake sitting right outside from every view of our balconies, of all the rooms.

- [Katelyn] Well that leads me to the question, what accommodations do you offer here at the park?

- Our 85 rooms are an assortment of rooms from kings to double queens.

We have bunk beds for the children, 'cause after a long day of hiking and seeing all the vistas and waterfalls, all you want to do is get a good meal and hit the hay in a comfortable bed.

- That's absolutely true.

Tell me about some of the activities that we can do inside the park while we're visiting the lodge.

- We have six waterfalls located here at the park.

Fall Creek Falls being the namesake is actually the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

- [Katelyn] Oh wow.

- [Robert] We've got beautiful Cascades, Cane Creek Falls.

We've got a golf course.

It's got beautiful dog leg hole 15.

It's a par 72 course.

We have the Arbor Trick Canopy Challenge.

If you like zip lining and climbing through the trees we've got that here on premises.

We've got over 50 miles of trails for biking and hiking.

We've got majestic bald eagles here.

If you like birding you can can come here and see the birds, especially the migrant birds that come in between the spring and the fall before they head north and south.

- All those activities sound like so much fun and they're not only something that you can do with friends and family, but also maybe your coworkers or maybe if you're having a large event.

- Absolutely.

Katelyn, the lodge has a conference space which we will host events such as your corporate events, business meetings, weddings, family reunions.

We provide onsite catering for those events.

We also have many rentable spaces throughout the park for day use.

We have a recreation hall, we have pavilions, shelters, anything great for you and the family, loved ones to get together and enjoy a meal.

- One of the great experiences that you offer your guests here at the lodge is a free complimentary breakfast.

- That's right Katelyn.

We have a complimentary continental breakfast for all of our lodge guests.

They can fill up on pastries, hot cereals, cold cereals, fruit, and after that take their cup of coffee and walk on our beautiful paved trail from here to Fall Creek Falls and walk all them carbs and calories off.

We also have all trails leading to the lodge now.

So like I said, we have over 50 miles of trails for hiking and biking and you can now get to the lodge from either one of those trails.

- Well, Robert, thank you so much for telling us all the things that Fall Creek Lodge has to offer.

I'm really excited to see the resort.

- Thank you.

I would love to give you a tour.

(upbeat music) - In the 1780s, Revolutionary War Captain, William Walton would begin to build a steamboat town on the banks of the Cumberland River.

Those historic structures from the Walton days still remain today.

And with the vision and dedication of one couple, one structure has been given a second life.

Field correspondent, Matt Beal, visited Ebel's Tavern in Carthage, Tennessee.

(Jazzy music) - Hello and welcome to picturesque downtown Carthage, Tennessee.

We're here just steps from the Cumberland River at Ebel's Tavern and joined today by owners of Ebel's Tavern, Cole and Erika Ebel.

Cole and Erika, thanks so much for having us.

- Thanks for coming.

- Thank you.

So tell us about the food and the chef and - Absolutely.

So we've got an amazing staff.

The staff is what makes this place.

They do everything and I mean everything.

They'll come up with the idea I had that I told 'em and they'll make it like 10 times better.

And so there's several dishes that they do.

We focus primarily on like local grass fed beef.

We buy that locally but we also have a nice seafood twinge too.

There's other dishes he's been coming up with some like the chicken florentine's a newer dish.

- Oh yeah, that's a good one.

Sometimes when they're back there, if they have some downtime they start kind of creating with what we have back there.

And that was one of those dishes that came about 'cause we already had the spinach dip and he had some chicken he was making one day.

I was just kinda like, what are you eating?

And he goes, oh it's a chicken Florentine.

That's good.

- [Cole] Sounds like we could make something out of that.

- [Erika] We need to put that on the menu.

- [Matt] The atmosphere here seems fantastic.

And in addition to great food and beverage there's also live entertainment.

Tell us about how that works.

- We do live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night.

We get two different artists.

A lot of times they're local either from Smith County or we get people that come out Carthage.

You get people that come outta Cookeville, just great local artists that come out here and play.

We are a restaurant, but people sometimes will be like well is it a bar?

Is it a restaurant?

Is it, and you guys have all this music.

And it's just like, it's really honestly just turned into just a big family.

- [Matt] That sounds fantastic.

- [Erika] The community aspects really important to us.

We have other events go on throughout the week as well.

On Monday nights we do like cornhole.

We've got Tuesday nights trivia, we have that pretty packed out for people that wanna play trivia.

And then Thursday night darts.

- [{Matt] And darts on Thursday.

I saw the well crafted, - [Erika] We got a pretty big dart league.

- [Matt] dartboard covers back there.

So are there a signature cocktails that you serve here at Ebel's speaking of.

Yeah, tell us about that.

Our signature cocktail, what we're known for is the River City Rum Runner.

- [Cole] It's got seven parts rum and a little bit of pineapple and orange juice in it, but yeah, seven parts rum.

So it's a pretty strong drink, but it's like being on the beach, being on the Caribbean.

People love it.

Everybody gets it.

- It's a cruise in the glass.

- [Cole] Yeah, it's basically cruise in a glass.

- River City Rum Runner.

That's a bit of a tongue twister.

And I think you said sometimes almost a measuring stick.

Is that right?

If you can, if you can order it coherently, you're still good to go.

- But if I can't say River City Rum Runner, I may get cut off?

Get a glass of water, you're good.

- You gotta say it five times real fast.

So, Yeah.

(jazzy music) - So watcha think?

- Real reaction.

- (chuckles) (jazzy music) - In a word, wow.

That is delicious.

I feel like I've been transported from River City to the ocean.

- Yeah.

There you go.

- Cheers.

River City Rum Runner.

(jazzy music) Wow - There you go.

- Thank you so much.

- You need salt and pepper or anything?

- No, I think this is gonna taste just perfect like it is.

Thank you so much.

Tell me about what this wonderful thing is.

- Oh, you got the chicken Florentine there.

That is like a creamy spinach dip.

Mushrooms, Parmesan on chicken breast.

It's melt in your mouth good.

And then you also have our seared buttered broccoli which strangely enough we're pretty famous for around here.

People love it.

(jazzy music) - Erika Cole, thanks again for having us today.

We really enjoyed our time.

- Thank you so much for coming out.

- Thanks for coming out.

- And let me encourage all of you to come do the same and visit Ebel's Tavern and become part of the Ebel's Tavern community.

(jazzy music) - Traditions new or old will always hold a special place in our hearts.

They connect us to our roots and allow us to celebrate generations of family and friends.

Field correspondent Shan Stout recently visited the Wildwood Christmas Tree Farm in Woodbury, Tennessee to celebrate one of the most timeless holiday traditions of all, picking out a Christmas tree.

(holiday music) - We are in one of the most Christmasy places on earth.

Welcome to Wildwood Christmas Tree Farm in the hills of Woodbury, Tennessee.

And I am here with David and Dawn Gray.

Thank you so much for having us today.

- We're so glad you're here.

- Well, thank you for coming.

We're looking forward to today and all the things Christmas.

Now, this is a wonderful place and we want you to experience it from start to finish.

Now you guys have been in business for 15 years?

- We started planting trees about 15 years ago but this is our 11th season to be open.

- There are so many Christmas tree farms across the state of Tennessee.

But what I find fascinating about Wildwood is the variety of trees that you have to offer.

Can you tell us a little bit about that and maybe how that got started?

- [David] When we first started looking at starting a Christmas tree farm, all the other farms that we visited planted primarily white pines.

That was the tree of choice around here.

But we thought we might be able to grow some other varieties.

We were told we could not grow fir trees.

It was too hot here.

So we tried, we planted a bunch of varieties that they were right, you cannot grow here.

We failed on a bunch of them.

- Live and learn.

Live and learn.

- That's right, but we also found many varieties that we could.

There are spruces that do really well here and we've got four different kinds of fir trees growing here, which you're not supposed to do.

We've got about 10,000 growing that you can choose from and cut your own.

We also bring in taller trees from other farms until hours get up that high.

So we bring trees in from other farms that are already cut and they can just pick from.

- So it's just a cash and carry situation.

So you can pick your tree.

- Pick your tree and go.

- [Shan] And take it on your way.

All right.

And then you have a third way.

- The third option is what we call a ball and burlap.

It's a live tree.

So rather than cutting it down, we actually dig it up and you can can take it home, put it in your house for Christmas, and then after Christmas take it out in your yard and plant it, so it's a live tree in your yard.

And will grow for the next 80, 90 years.

- Now Dawn, you are in charge of the sales part of things and David is the grower.

So tell us a little bit about all the wonderful things you have that people can purchase.

They can do some shopping, but you have some unique items that maybe some other farms don't have.

- Yes ma'am, so we bring all of the items in our gift shop in on consignment and we find local people who hand make things.

We have a gentleman who makes wooden bowls.

They are gorgeous.

His name is Dean Northcutt and we've had his bowls displayed.

We also have a lady who does clay earrings and ornaments.

Her name's Hannah Dunn with I am the Clay.

And we actually commissioned her this year.

She did our first Wildwood ornament.

It's our 2022 ornament.

We're hoping to do more of that in the years to come.

(holiday music) - All right, now this is a 15 year business and I know that, that means you probably have families that come back year after year as a holiday tradition, but it doesn't stop there because you guys are a family run business and that goes beyond just your immediate family.

Tell us the whole dynamic there.

- David's parents live right here on the farm with us.

They're Orville and Esther Gray and they pitch in whatever we need, they are willing and able to help and they're amazing.

Poppy is Orville, everybody on the farm knows him as Poppy.

When families come back, they're like, where's Poppy?

They all wanna see Poppy.

So, but he does our mowing all through the summertime.

Esther helps me with whatever I need.

Our kids call her nanny boo boo.

- And speaking of kids.

- Oh yes ma'am - They're out there working right now.

- That's right.

So we have five total children.

We have two boys that are grown and gone.

And then our daughter Hannah is 20 and she helps me with everything here in the gift shop.

The family as a whole, we plant and fertilize all together throughout the year.

We work the farm together.

But when it's season time, Hannah and I do most of the gift shop items and the guys all do the outside.

- So this truly is a family tradition for everyone involved.

- That's right.

- And Dawn, you're gonna let me pick out the perfect Christmas tree?

- Yes ma'am.

- Because I'm a picky customer.

I'm looking for the perfect tree.

- It's important.

- Let's go find that tree.

- Let's go.

(light music) (glorious music) - Merry Christmas!

- This Upper Cumberland institution has been in the business of bringing people together for over 50 years.

People say it's not a structure, it's a feeling.

A sense of home that is undeniable for new and old patrons alike once you walk through the door at John's PLace.

Field correspondent Matt Beal recently visited John's in Cookeville, Tennessee to get a world famous John Dog and learn more about its journey to the restaurant it is today.

(big band music) - [Matt] 1949, Harry S Truman was sworn in as the 33rd president of United States.

Post World War II prosperity is just starting to break out all over.

In the Jim Crow South, Ed McClellan chose to open Ed's place and McClellan's Cafe, a grocery store and eating establishment nearby Cookeville's African American community.

In 1963, Ed sold his part of the business to his brother John Lee McClellan, who opened up the space and sold beer to be consumed on the premises.

At that time, every place in the area was segregated except for John's PLace.

Many white people had their first social interaction with African Americans at John's PLace.

John's PLace became a local favorite.

So can you still drop in for a drink and one of their delicious John Dogs at John's Place?

What do you think?

- I am joined today by manager of John's PLace, Bill Roberts and by longtime patron and historian Mark Dudney.

Gentlemen, thanks so much for being here with us today.

- Appreciate it.

- Thank you.

- And we know that everyone's welcome at John's PLace.

That's the spirit of it since it began, which is unique for America and Tennessee and Cookeville in 1949.

Where does the spirit of that come from in your family?

- It comes from a long line of Peaks.

Hayes, McClellans, they're all family already.

Cookeville's a small town so everybody knew everybody growing up.

So it just kind of, we didn't know color, so color wasn't a factor for us.

So when everybody started coming, I mean we didn't know what color was, we just knew their first name and that's what we stick by.

- And it's been that way for over 70 years now.

- Ever since I've been born.

- Yeah, and speaking of history, John's PLace is recognized in some very special ways.

A few years ago, by being placed on the National Register.

Tell us about that process.

- Yeah, Dr. Michael Birdwell, who's recently passed away, was a Tennessee tech history professor.

He got John's PLace on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

That same year, WCTE did a documentary called Everybody's Welcome at John's PLace.

And it was placed on the National Register because of its historical significance in helping race relations.

- And the ties to Tennessee Tech are strong and they go way back.

- Shaky is the one that's most responsible for making the connection between Tennessee Tech and John's PLace.

Shaky, worked here in the sixties and Shaky was a really top-notch athlete.

He was a big supporter of Tennessee Tech Athletics.

When they would bring in athletes to recruit for Tennessee Tech's teams, Shaky would bring them over here, a lot of the African American athletes, and let 'em know they had a place to come and hang.

He also employed and mentored a lot of tech students, black and white for years.

- [Matt] And John's is famous for a lot of different things and one of 'em that we know and why people still come today is the John Dog.

So what is the John dog all about?

- John Lee McClellan wanted to have a signature offering and sort of had the secret recipe which I think is still enforced today.

And so the John Dog sort of grew and people would come through here and get John Dogs in a six-pack or whatever.

(upbeat music) - There are a lot of community service oriented events but there's also a lot of fun and entertainment that happens here.

Talk to us about what we can expect.

- We try to do something every day of the week, but on weekends we usually have maybe live music on a Friday, Live DJ on a Saturday.

We usually run a little karaoke on Thursdays and specials during the week, just depends.

We have open mic nights some nights so we usually post a lot on Facebook.

- Something's going on here every night of the week except Sunday.

- Except for Sunday.

And the reason why is cause my mother's probably next door at the church and we're not having that.

(both laughing) (upbeat music) - Since 1949, one Cookeville Institution set the precedent for inclusion for generations to come in the Upper Cumberland.

And since its beginning it's never lost sight of its key message.

Everyone's welcome at John's PLace.

(upbeat music) - Music for the Heart, Food for the Soul is the anthem that rings true for this Upper Cumberland Cafe.

Recently field correspondent Matt Beal visited Gibson's Cafe right on the historic Lafayette Town Square for some great company and a slice of excellent carrot cake.

(upbeat music) - I'm here in beautiful Lafayette, Tennessee at Gibson's Cafe right on the historic downtown square.

And I'm joined today by owners of Gibson's Cafe Ginger and Miles Gibson.

Ginger and Miles, hank you so much for having us his morning.

- Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

- Likewise, so what was the inspiration to start a cafe 15 years ago?

- Well, we both retired from southwest Florida and we came up here to be with family.

And we had rentals and I was sitting outside on the bench and I couldn't get a cup of tea or coffee and I said, I'm gonna open a coffee shop.

- We moved in and then built the cafe because it was just, this was just a hodgepodge of different little offices and businesses and we turned the whole thing into our home and the cafe.

- We said, we're gonna do something small.

Well, it didn't stay small, it just kept growing and growing.

- [Matt] And I know you have gourmet sandwiches and great hamburgers and then they're also daily specials.

Tell us something about the food here.

- We make everything from scratch.

Our soups are homemade.

Our chilies are homemade.

Our desserts are homemade and we try to do something different every day.

And then we go with the weather too.

So like in the summertime we'll do a chicken salad fruit plate, more in the winter we'll do more comfort food like stews and chilies.

And we're famous for our desserts.

We sell a ton of desserts.

Right now, we probably got, just this week alone, 25 carrot cakes going out.

- I understand there have been famous people and faces who have been here through the years and you've had the opportunity to meet.

Tell us about some of those names and faces.

- Well, we've had Joe Bonsall from the Oak Ridge Boys come through and he would come in for breakfast and lunch and bring his family in.

And he has a farm in Macon County not far from here.

So he comes to visit once in a while and we're glad to see him when he does.

And then we've had the Bellamy Brothers come through and our good friend Bucky Covington comes quite a bit - [Matt] From American Idol.

- American Idol?

Yeah.

He's a good friend of ours.

And I've played music with his brother.

And we've had Dr. Ralph Stanley come through for lunch and of course he's passed now.

But he was a pleasure to have.

So we've enjoyed a lot of different characters coming through - And this is a great place to come and get breakfast and lunch and then there's lots to see here in Lafayette and Macon County and some of the natural things around us.

Tell us where I could go and explore.

- It's very beautiful around here in Macon County.

There's beautiful scenery and we are on the Cumberland Plateau.

And if you go south of town, it drops off dramatically and there's just, it's very pretty south of town here.

And a lot of people are moving here and mainly because it's so beautiful and it's such a good place to live.

- [Matt] It's natural beauty and good folks.

- What more can you want?

- [Ginger] It's very peaceful.

People live to be an older age here because there's no stress level.

It's not fast paced - Outside of the cakes you have to get out.

- (laughs) Yes.

And I understand you might be making a carrot cake if we're lucky enough to check out and help with.

- Yes.

- Awesome.

(upbeat music) This looks delicious.

- Thank you.

- Shall we try some?

- Yes.

- Okay.

(upbeat music) Oh, that's so good.

- Thank you.

- It's so moist.

- [Ginger] Yes.

Thank you.

- And delicious.

I don't know what a piece of this sells for, Ginger, but I don't think I have my wallet with me.

What can I do to repay you for this delicious cake?

- Well, the kids did all the dishes.

So the only thing I can think of is you can play us a song on our piano.

We just got it fixed by the piano man.

- So sing for my supper.

- Absolutely.

- That sounds fair.

- Awesome.

(piano music) - There is no other place in the Upper Cumberland quite like Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Satisfy your longing for adventure and come stay a weekend here at the lodge.

Whether you decide to stay for the endless views of waterfalls and wildlife or you're just looking to unplug, this nature getaway is one you are not gonna wanna miss.

Join us next time for more Upper Cumberland Adventures in Tennessee.

Don't you Wish You Were Here?

(upbeat music) Those hickstoric structure.

Hickstoric.

Hickstoric.

It's a picking royal out picking outta Christmas tree.

- (grunting) (laughs) (grunting) - They're heavy.

(light music) - Wish You Were Here.

Produced under an agreement with the Upper Cumberland Development District and made possible in part through support from the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

(light music) - This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

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