We had a day and a half to explore the area here, near Arnold Air Force Base. This is a picture of the lake we are camped on. It offers a very peaceful setting for camping.
Saturday afternoon, we decided to drive around Tullahoma and
see what was out there. I spotted a sign that said “Follow 55 to the Jack
Daniels Distillery.” So, we turned on Route 55. Charlie was excited to see
where Chris had gotten his engraved bottle. We also learned a little about Jack
Daniels Whiskey.
It uses one of Lynchburg’s natural resources, it’s a not-so-secret
ingredient. Limestone spring water, it resides in the depths of a two-mile deep
cave. Sticking to the detail that comes with making whiskey starts with
crafting of their own charcoal for mellowing. It’s hard work, but nothing good
comes easy.
Jack Daniels whiskey wouldn’t be what it is without their secret mash
recipe. He has found the perfect mix of corn, rye, and barley recipe and they
haven’t changed it since. They let it mellow, drop by drop. They let their whiskey
slowly drip through 10 feet of hard sugar maple charcoal so it comes out with
its distinctive smoothness. It’s a costly, time consuming process and if it
sounds extravagant, well, it is.
To Jack Daniels, the barrel is more than a
container for whiskey. It’s an ingredient. That’s why they have always insisted
on making their own. Their whiskey goes into the barrel colorless and raw.
Years later, it will pour out a beautiful amber, its rawness turned smooth and
complex. Exactly how many years later? That’s a question decided by Mother
Nature and Father Time.
We went down to the Lynchburg Square. Along the way, we saw this home ... I think they might need a few more things in their yard.
Lynchburg Square is lined with quaint shops, gin ... well actually whiskey joints and some fine dining eateries.
When we drove through Tullahoma, we saw planes on the light
poles and a few that were on bases on the ground.
I learned that in 2008, the Dream Tullahoma Committee was formed
as a means to celebrate the city’s history in aeronautics and to market
Tullahoma as an attractive destination for new businesses.
The committee’s vision is to brand Tullahoma as an aerospace
center of excellence.
The first planes were “Dream planes.” But there were issues
with being too low to the ground and not being able to be seen well, by people
driving by.
The Dream Tullahoma Committee had to rethink this project. So, they
scaled back the sizes and created smaller version.
There are a total of 49 scale model F-16 jets hanging throughout
town. Tullahoma Utility Board purchased 30 of them, and the remaining models
were bought by local businesses, including Jacobs Technology, Harton Regional
Medical Center and Wal-Mart.
The community was invited to become of a part of the
project. The Dream Tullahoma Committee invited local children to put their
artistic skills to use at a paint party held at the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center.
More than 200 local youngsters accepted the invitation and the fruits of their
artistic labor are on showcase all over the town.
Sunday morning, we headed to the Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park. It is an 850-acre historic area dedicated to the
preservation, protection and interpretation of the Old Stone Fort, a 2,000 year
old American Indian ceremonial site.
The site consists of mounds and earthen
walls that combine with cliffs and rivers to form an enclosure. There is a
looped trail of less than 2-miles. The 50-acre hilltop enclosure mound is
believed to have served as a central ceremonial gathering place for some 500
years before it was abandoned. By the time European settlers arrived, it was
unclear what the area had been used for which resulted in it being misnamed as
a fort.
The trail follows the main wall of the Old Stone Fort.
Winding through the landscape you can see the original entrance of the fort,
which was designed to face the exact spot on the horizon where the sun rises
during the summer solstice.
We also enjoyed the area’s graceful waterfalls. The three
largest falls are the Step Falls, Blue Hole Falls and Big Falls.
I found colorful fungus too ... I love seeing these brightly colored ground creatures.
We spent Sunday afternoon with my niece Kelly, her boyfriend
Randy and our great nephew Tripp, in Murfreesboro, TN.
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