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General Tennessee Release
Tennessee Quick Facts

What’s New in 2011

Benton, Decatur, Henderson, Henry, Humphreys, Perry, Stewart, and Wayne Counties

"The Tennessee River Runs Through It" is a professionally produced CD/DVD driving trail through eight counties, highlighting Civil War sites along the Tennessee River.

Birchwood

The Cherokee Removal Memorial Park Visitors Center and Museum is now open at the old Blythe Ferry Landing.

Chattanooga

The Tennessee Valley Railroad, the largest historic railroad in the South, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Special events and all–day excursions are offered throughout 2011.

Chestnut Hill

Bush Beans recently opened a Visitors Center located in the town where it all began, Chestnut Hill, Tennessee. It has the original general store A.J., a theater, exhibits, and a café.

Clarksville

The scenic Clarksville Marina is set to open in March 2011. Condos, shopping and dining are slated for 2012.

Collierville

The historic Bess Crawford Morton White Church Museum and Visitor Center is currently under renovation. The historic Civil War site is being converted into a museum and a visitor's center.

Collinwood

A primitive campground across from Wayne County Welcome Center is under construction for bicyclists and motorcyclists located at Tennessee’s southernmost point off of the Natchez Trace.

Franklin

The Old Tennessee Trail, part of Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, is an 84-mile-long scenic drive which begins in historic Franklin, just minutes south of Nashville and leads to Maury County.

The 62^nd annual Franklin Rodeo will take place May 19-21 at the Williamson County Agricultural Center. There will be 400 cowboys riding bulls, broncs, roping and wrestling.

The Franklin Theatre will reopen early summer in downtown Franklin.  The restored theater will be a state-of-the-art, multi-use entertainment venue for live performances, movies and events.

Gatlinburg

Ole Smoky Distillery recently opened, offering Tennessee Moonshine. It will be available legally for the first time. Free tours are available and moonshine is for sale.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies recently announced the addition of African Black–footed Penguins in their new state–of–the–art indoor/outdoor habitat.

Greeneville

The Sunny Side Trail, part of the Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways initiative, covers 12 East Tennessee counties-including nearly 300 points of interest. The trial begins in Sevier County and also features Great Smoky Mountains National Park and sites throughout Northeast Tennessee. 

Henning

The Alex Haley Interpretive Center opens in the fall of 2010. The 6,500 square foot Interpretive Center, owned by the Tennessee Historical Commission, features interactive exhibits, artifacts and mementos.

Hohenwald

The Elephant Sanctuary educational gallery and downtown visitor's center is now open. Large screens will be available for viewing the elephants.

Jackson

The Neil House, one of Tennessee's oldest homes, is being relocated from Trenton to Casey Jones Village in Jackson. Citizens gathered on its roof during the Civil War to watch the Battle of Trenton unfold.

Jamestown

It is the 10th Anniversary of the Ye Ole Jail Museum, constructed in 1899 and used as a jail until 1980. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a section of the building is devoted to hometown Apollo astronaut Roger Crouch.

Johnson City

Gray Fossil Museum is undergoing a $2 million dollar expansion. A 7,000 square foot annex will include a cafe, a wet lab, and classrooms.

Jonesborough

Depot Street Brewing offers local beers in historic Jonesborough, hand crafted with the finest ingredients from around the globe.

Kingsport

MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center's executive conference center will be unveiled in late 2010. The 14 million dollar addition brings the property's total meeting space to 87,000 square feet.

Knoxville

The White Lightning Trail, part of self-guided driving trails in the Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways program, features 160 tourism sites in Knoxville, Knox County and eight additional counties and features the East Tennessee Crossing Byway, one of Tennessee's five National Scenic Byways.

Memphis

Newseum exhibit "Elvis! His Groundbreaking, Hip–Shaking, Newsmaking Story" opens at Graceland and tells the story of Presley as he was portrayed in the news media.

Expansion of the Memphis Greenline and the Wolf River Greenway is ongoing, with some new sections already open to explore. The popular Germantown Greenway also continues to grow.

The Walking Tall trail launched in Memphis. It takes travelers along West Tennessee's rural highways, exploring music legends as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Carl Perkins and others. It ventures through charming small towns and pauses at Shiloh National Military Park, as well as at the home of legendary Sheriff Buford Pusser.

The National Civil Rights Museum, assassination site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., celebrates its 20th anniversary with a variety of special programs, all culminating on Nov. 12 with the anniversary of the museum's Freedom Award event.

Nashville

Trains! Tennessee in G outdoor exhibition will open at Cheekwood and take visitors across Tennessee with model trains, miniature representations of the state's historic landmarks, and colorful gardens. The exhibit will run April 9 – December 31, 2011.

Opry 85th Birthday Bash – One–of–a– kind cakes and special shows are on tap as the show that made country music famous celebrates its 85th birthday.

Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum: Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music, Presented by Great American Country Television Network, opens Aug. 20, 2010 and runs through June 12, 2011.

The Recording Academy® will host GRAMMY Salute To Country MusicSM honoring Loretta Lynn. It is Loretta Lynn's 50th Anniversary in Country Music.

"Modern Masters From the Smithsonian American Art Museum" will be on exhibit at Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art from March 19 through June 19.

Nashville's Trace, part of the Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways initiative, offers backstage stories of Music City and 102 mile stretch on the Natchez Trace, one of Tennessee's National Scenic Byways, incorporates historic main streets, quaint restaurants, scenic spots for outdoor adventure, Amish Country, wineries and unique local attractions.

2011 marks the 150^th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Nashville Public Television (NPT) and the Renaissance Center in conjunction with the Tennessee Sesquicentennial Commission, present Tennessee Civil War 150, a new series of documentaries delving into life in Tennessee during the war. The first episode, "Secession," will premiere Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. and will air throughout January.

Pickett County Welcome Center

The site will house not only the Welcome Center, but also the Borderlands Museum, Amonett Home Place and a living history village.

Pigeon Forge

Dollywood recently opened Adventure Mountain outdoor terrain, America's largest challenge course. In 2011, Dollywood will debut the new Barnstormer ride, a $5.5 million family thrill ride.

Dollywood theme park received The Applause Award, the most prestigious award in the entire international amusement and theme park industry.

Titantic Pigeon Forge, a 30,000–square–foot ship–shaped structure situated on 5.69 acres is now open. It holds 20 galleries with hundreds of artifacts from the Titanic.

Polk County

Polk County recently added the Ocoee Zipz. The awesome zip line adventure in Ocoee features 7 zip– lines/towers and takes approximately 2 1/2 hours to complete.

Sevierville

Foxfire Mountain Adventures has recently opened a seven line zip–line adventure course on 150 acres. The tallest line conveys riders 1500 feet between two hillside ridges while suspended 200 feet in the air.

Smyrna

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds returns to the Great Tennessee Air Show at Smyrna Airport on May 7 and 8, 2011. This signature event has been held at Smyrna Airport for more than 40 years allowing the community the opportunity to experience aviation up close and personal.

Whites Creek

The Fontanel Mansion &Farm, former home of Barbara Mandrell is now open. Also onsite are the Farm House Restaurant, walking trails and The Stone House Center and Gift Shop.