Soon after the Civil War, the nearly-bankrupt Tennessee Coal and Railroad Company (“TC&R”) was acquired by entrepreneur Arthur St. Clair Colyar. Tracy City was created as a company town, named after company financier Samuel F. Tracy. Impressive postwar growth in the company’s stock value resulted in TC&R’s inclusion in the very first Dow Jones Industrial Average for the New York Stock Exchange.
Much of Tracy City’s historic downtown traces its origin to the period of TC&R’s most rapid expansion, between 1875 and 1895. At one point, Tracy City was one of the ten largest cities in Tennessee. The town included an impressive school, the Shook School, known locally as “the college.” Historic businesses in Tracy City include the Dutch Maid Bakery, which first opened in 1902; the Marugg Company; and Henry Flury & Sons General Store.
The coke ovens at the nearby Grundy Lakes Historic Area are some of the best preserved artifacts from the town’s coal mining heyday. Today, the multimodal Mountain Goat Trail traces the path of the former Mountain Goat Railroad, which ran from Cowan to Palmer. A portion of the trail can be accessed at the Tracy City Roundhouse Park. From the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead in South Cumberland State Park, a short walk takes you to the site of a 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps workers’ camp, with an informative self- guided tour of the remaining building foundations, telling the story of the 200 young men of CCC Company 1475.
Tracy City is surrounded by the natural attractions found in South Cumberland State Park, including Foster Falls (the park’s largest waterfall), world-class rock climbing at Denny Cove and the 12-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail, rated as one of the 25 best hiking trails in the United States.
Grundy Forest Campground
Five sites and one group campsite, only a half mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
The Falls at Sewanee Creek
Unique cabins and glamping options with private waterfall, trails & outdoor movie theater
South Cumberland Getaways
Rental agency offering a lodge and a variety of cabins, tiny homes, glamping and hostel options
Foster Falls Campground
Located at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead, this is the only state park campground in this area that is open to vehicles, with 25 sites for tents or small trailers. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Father Adamz Campground
The Father Adamz Campground was established in honor of a local priest and early advocate for the Boy Scout movement. It's only a half-mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
The Retreat at Water's Edge
Tiny home community situated around a lake
Goat Pen Hostel
Bunk rooms and private rooms with shared living space kitchenette and bathrooms
Bigfoot Adventure RV Park and Campground
500-acre property with pull-through RV spaces, tent camping, ziplines, disc golf and more
Annex Cafe
Classic Southern diner with specials - breakfast & lunch only
Bigfoot Adventure Zipline & Disc Golf
RV park and campground with ziplining, disc golf and clay shooting
Moderate
Black Canyon Cascade
One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard, Black Canyon is technically a cascade, not a waterfall, but still an amazing sight, as two creeks come together and are squeezed through a narrow rock opening. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead.
Moderate
Blue Hole Falls
This pristine mountain creek waterfall is in an awe-inspiing setting, with a good swimming hole. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
Christ Church Episcopal
From a humble start in a woodshed, an enduring legacy
DG Market - Tracy City
Dari-Delight
Pizza, burgers, sundaes & more
Moderate
Denny Cove & Falls
Explore a world-class rock climbers’ paradise, with a double-cascade waterfall and nearly 500 climbing routes with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.14. Access this adventure from the Denny Cove Trailhead.
Dutch Maid Bakery
The oldest family-owned bakery in Tennessee
E.L. Hampton House
From Railroad Ticket Agent to Coal Company President
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant
Authentic Mexican cuisine
Difficult
Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure
Ranked as one of the top 25 backpacking trails in the United States by Backpacker magazine, "The Gizz" features cascading streams, numerous waterfalls, panoramic overlooks, extremely rocky gorges, gentle slopes and lush woodlands. Use either the Fiery Gizzard North or Fiery Gizzard South trailheads to begin this adventure!
Moderately Difficult
Foster Falls
At the southern end of the Fiery GizzardTrail is Foster Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, the tallest in the parks, with a swimming hole at its base. There is an easy quarter-mile hike to observe the falls from above; and a much more strenuous two-mile hike (round trip) to clamber to the bottom of the falls on a rocky trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.
Frank White House
An Eclectic Home with a “Do It Yourself” Owner
Grundy County Historical Society Museum
The Definitive Historical Resource for the South Cumberland Region
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Grundy County Saddle Club
A non-profit, family oriented, volunteer organization of equine enthusiasts.
Moderate
Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp
A moderate 3-mile trek with swimming holes, history, geology, giant hemlocks and cascading streams with an optional 1/3-mile walk through the site of a 1930s CCC camp. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
Easy
Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens
There's a recreational lake with swimming and picnicking facilities at the site of the historic Lone Rock Coke Ovens, where locally-mined coal was converted to coal coke by convict labor. An easy 2.3-mile hike encircles the lakes; some of it using a low-traffic paved road. Access this adventure from the Grundy Lakes Trailhead, which is also the parking area for the swimming and picnicking facilities.
Moderate
Hanes Hole Falls
The first named waterfall of Fiery Gizzard Creek, on its way into Fiery Gizzard Gorge, along the Grundy Forest loop trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
Hank's Corner Grille
Steaks, burgers, wings & pizza with a full bar
Henry Flury & Sons Grocery
A classic turn-of-the-last-century American grocery store, and a step back in time
High Point Climbing
Fully insured and certified climbing guides at Denny Cove and Foster Falls
Historic Dutch Maid Bakery
Tennessee’s Oldest Family-Owned Bakery
Historic Henry Flury & Sons Grocery
A Century of Essentials and Personal Service
Easy
Historic Mountain Goat Railroad
A real-life version of “The Little Engine that Could”
L & J's Breezy Stables
Novice equine riding lessons
Easy
Mountain Goat Trail
A real-life version of “The Little Engine that Could”, and now a great paved trail
Mountain Mobile Massage
Individual or couple massages with optional add-on treatments in your accommodations
Music Barn
Musical instruments & accessories, bibles, books and gifts
Olde House Shoppe
A carefully selected collection of home & garden decor, antique/vintage finds, gifts & unique items
Potbellies
Chow down on a hearty breakfast of omelette, skillets, or the hillbilly bowl, or come at lunch time for a sizzlin' sandwich or mouth watering burger.
Rosie’s Farmhouse Kitchen
Country breakfasts, daily plate lunches and evening meals
Roundhouse Park and Historic Tracy City
Park with historic marker, picnic pavilion and playground
Easy
Schoolhouse Falls
This small waterfall has the remains of a moonshiners' still at its base -- an easy quarter-mile walk from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead, if you bear left at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk.
Moderate
Sycamore Falls
This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
Taste of Ink Tattoo Studio
Private tattoo studio offering a variety of custom tattoo, art and piercings.
Tenacity Adventure Fitness
Martial arts studio with weight training equipment and indoor climbing, trampolines and obstacle courses for kids
The Marugg Company
The Business that Scythes Built
Things to do in Tracy City
Lodging in Tracy City
Monteagle
Amish Hippie
One of the quirkiest vintage shops in Tennessee
Coalmont
Coalmont OHV Park
New off-road park offering over 1,300 acres of trails with varied wooded terrain for all vehicle types and skill levels.
Monteagle
Cove Creek Farm
Working farm with indoor & outdoor playgrounds and guided tours
Monteagle
ECO E-bikes
E-bike rental, sales & repair right on the Mountain Goat Trail
Monteagle
Fade Medical Spa
Medical spa services by appointment: hydrafacial, dermal filler, neuromodulators
Monteagle
High Point Restaurant
Fine dining in a mansion once financed by Al Capone and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Monteagle
High Vibes Healing
Yoga, sound healing, pilates and infrared sauna -- your sanctuary for self-care
Monteagle
Highlander Folk School
An historic site on America's journey toward a more just and inclusive society. (Closed for Restoration)
Monteagle
May Justus Memorial Library
Local library, named for a noted author and teacher who encouraged literacy among area citizens.
Monteagle
Meadow Trail
This is a 1-mile easy, round trip walk through a meadow with storyboards from a children's book and a forest playground made of logs and ropes -- a great way to introduce the little ones to the joys of hiking! Access this adventure from the South Cumberland State Park Headquarters on US 41 in Monteagle.
Monteagle
Monteagle Sunday School Assembly
One of Nine Surviving Chautauquas
Monteagle
Mooney's Market & Emporium
Gourmet, gluten-free, and organic fresh produce, as well as antiques, vintage books, gifts, yarn shop, hand-knitted items, and more
Monteagle
Mountain Goat Market
Sandwiches, salads, pizza & treats, plus an eclectic gift shop
Monteagle
Mountain Outfitters
Outdoor equipment and apparel store with rock wall inside with permanent 50%-off outlet upstairs
Monteagle
Mountain Top Meal Prep & Catering
Gourmet style clean eating cafe with prepared meals to go and catering options
Monteagle
Music on the Mountain at The Smoke House Patio Grill
Barbecue grill with live singer/songwriters Friday & Saturday nights
Monteagle
Oakes & Oliver's Modern Mercantile
Cool vintage items, unique home decor and local handcrafted goods
Monteagle
Papa Ron's Pizza & Italian Steakhouse
Pastas, steaks, pizza & sandwiches
Monteagle
Piggly Wiggly - Monteagle
Pelham
Simply Southern Cafe
Southern comfort food
Monteagle
Smoke House Patio Grill
Barbeque and other casual options with cold beer and live music weekend nights
Monteagle
South Cumberland State Park Visitor Center
Park info, gift shop, mini-museum and trailhead for a kid-friendly "storybook trail"
Pelham
Tess's Kitchen Cafe
Country food, Asian food & pizza
Pelham
The Caverns
Underground concert hall plus above-ground amphitheater that features nationally-touring acts. Cave tours also available.