This morning we got up, had breakfast, packed the car and got on the road at 8:30am. The day was a light rain, but good driving conditions. About just over one hour of driving we turned off and drove to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee to go to Loretta Lynn's homestead. This is not where Loretta grew up, but where her and Mooney Lynn [her husband] purchased a property and raised their children.
There are many activities on this estate including camping, RV hookups, cabins, dirt road biking, horseback riding, touring various parts of Loretta Lynns buildings.
Nancy is sitting on the front gate entrance to her home.
This is the main gate into the estate and is presently used for taking in the tour van.
Nancy is standing in front of a duplicated home where Loretta Lynn grew up ... from Butcher Hollow, Paintsville, Kentucky. Inside are some of the items that Loretta had as a child including some of her dolls.
View of Loretta Lynn and Mooney Lynn home from the general store and grist mill side of the river.
Front porch of Loretta Lynn home.
This is a bench on the porch near the side entrance of Loretta Lynn's home. When Loretta Lynn first purchased the property she discover a door on the floor of the porch. When Loretta Lynn saw this door, she thought it led to a outside entrance of a cold room. She went into this space and to her shock found chains, etc. still there. It turned out this was a shackle area for slaves. Loretta never returned to this space and placed the bench over top. What I appreciate is that this was not covered over or ignored even though it was a dark part of American history.
The first room to the right was used as Mooney Lynn's darkroom as he was very interested in photography. The back building was a guesthouse.
Here is Nancy and Jim Webb talking about Loretta Lynn and some interesting facts.
Front view of Loretta Lynn and Mooney Lynn home. Today, Loretta Lynn lives behind this building in a new house. During the tour no one is allowed up stairs. These rooms are the bedrooms of their children and are there if they wish to use them. The tour covers the entire lower floor and explains the filming in many parts of the house.
We truly enjoyed the tour with Jim and also the hospitality of Linda in the general store. Our only regret is that we did not have time to have tea and biscuits with Loretta Lynn ... that would have been the ultimate icing on the cake.
Back at the general store we were heading back to the car and saw the horses ... had to go over and say hello. :)
In behind Loretta Lynn's home was the Anderson Cemetery. This was the cemetery of the original family that owned the homestead that Loretta Lynn presently owns. One story we heard was a lady who lived in the house [before Loretta Lynn] had a child who died. A few days later the lady died. There are strange things that happen in this old homestead. For example, all the lights had been turned off ... the next morning one of the lights was on.
The Battle of the Parker Crossroads. Below was an old grave site with some of the Parkers tombstones found on top of the hill.
A huge battle was fought on this site.
I stood on what is believed to be the original spot that Lt. Col. Alonzo Napier stood on the fence where he was shot. I think it is obvious why I did not stand on the top board of this split-rail fence. LOL
A huge battle, that was also very successful, took place in this field.
We stopped at the information centre just outside of Memphis to get some information. I just had have my photo taken with Elvis. LOL
This was hanging behind the counter at the Information Center.
The lady at the information center mentioned about this restaurant that serves local styled food from pulled pork and ribs [award winning]. Nancy had placed some information into the GPS and it took us to a Central BBQ, but it did not seem to me to be in the right direction. Sitting in the car we were looking for other possibilities and I saw a man standing waving us on. We pulled up to the gentlemen who seemed to be a park attendant ... however, what surprised me was that he had a revolver in a holster on his side! I told Nancy, I think this is definitely the wrong area. LOL We drove around and I asked Nancy to put Beale Street into the GPS ... it took us there. We found 2nd Avenue and I drove down a few blocks. I mentioned to Nancy that we will just go to Beale Street and get something to eat. I turned right onto a side street and right in front of us was the Central BBQ we were looking for! Too funny!!!
Well, let me say, the ribs and pulled pork sandwiches were unbelievable. Apparently, this is where a lot of locals go and a lineup was forming while we were eating ... unbelievable food! It is very clear why they are so busy. Wow! What a day!
