Wandering and Shopping – Downtown Tellico Plains Tennessee

About 3 or 4 weeks ago, Laurie had visited Tellico Plains Tennessee with, one of our new neighbors.  She’d ordered something that had to be made by a local artisan and it was ready to pick up…

We decided to pick up her purchase so our first stop in our exploration of downtown Tellico Plains was at the Wren Rock Mercantile Store.

Laurie had purchased a number of ceramic herb plant markers for her deck top garden but Wren Rock didn’t have a marker in stock for everything Laurie has planted, so she’d ordered a few more to satisfy her needs.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not much of a shopper but I do like to browse through stores that sell antiques.  Wren Rock Mercantile had plenty for me to look at.  In the first photo, that is a nice side or couch table and can you imagine sleeping in that huge bed at the back right?  There was plenty to look at in that back room and I’ve always loved the look of the old stoves used for heating rooms or stores back in the day…

If you’d like to learn more, Wren Rock Mercantile is on Facebook at Wren Rock Mercantile | Facebook.  They feature a variety of items ranging from antiques to reimagined and new offerings.

The Trout Mountain Coffeehouse and Inn is a boutique hotel and coffeehouse located right on Tellico Plains’ town square.  They offer high-end accommodations, gourmet coffees and beverages as well as salads and homemade treats.  Laurie and I have yet to stop by and sample their offerings.  Check them out on TripAdvisor at TROUT MOUNTAIN COFFEEHOUSE & INN, Tellico Plains - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor.

Note:

Now for a bit of local history… This area along the Tellico River was at one time inhabited by the Muscogee peoples before they moved further south.  In the late 1700s, the Cherokee settled here after being displaced in the east and north after being pushed out by European colonials. 

Tellico Plains actually occupies the former site of Great Tellico or Tahlequah.  It was one of the most important towns of the Overhill Cherokee up until the “Indian Removal” of the 1830s.  Two important Native American trails met here, ‘The Trading Path’ and ‘The Warrior Path’ both of which connected many far flung Cherokee communities.

After stopping at Wren Rock Mercantile, our next stop was Tellico Goods and Gear.  Laurie saw a lot of items she would have liked to purchase…but we have so much stuff now, she refrained.  This new ‘general store’ is on Facebook at Tellico Goods and Gear | Tellico Plains TN | Facebook.

Note:

This site for Tellico Goods and Gear is very appropriate.  Of course, Tellico Plains is right at the starting point for the Cherahala Skyway to North Carolina and it is a stone’s throw from the Cherokee National Forest.  In addition, I’d never heard of it but the Trans America Trail’s official eastern terminus is at Tellico Plains.  Travelers on the Trail need ‘gear’.  The Trail is a popular OHV (Off-Highway Motor Vehicle) route that extends 4,253 miles across the USA through Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas/the Ozarks, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and ending on the Oregon coast at Port Orland.  The usual vehicles are dual-sport motorcycles, off-road vehicles and touring bicycles.

While Laurie browsed and shopped, I wandered around taking photos.  I avoided going into ‘The Bookshelf’, a used book store.  Since Laurie and I already have over a thousand books, we really don’t need any more, at least for the moment.  Did you notice the architecture in this photo…and it can be seen in the Trout Mountain Coffeehouse photo as well.  We are talking typical old town structures, that’s for sure.  “The Bookshelf’ is on Facebook at The Bookshelf, Tellico Plains, TN | Tellico Plains TN | Facebook.

Note:

More History.  Early in the 1800s, the Tellico Iron and Manufacturing Company/aka, the Tellico Iron Works was based here.  During the Civil War, the Confederacy commandeered the iron works for the production of munitions.  The Union Army, under General Sherman, destroyed them in order to cut off ammunition supplies to the Southern Rebels.

Much later, in the late 1800s and in the early 1900s, Tellico Plains was the base of operations for the Babcock Lumber Company.  They ran lumber operations throughout the Tellico River basin.  After clearcutting the forests, Babcock sold its land to the US Forest Service…which has had to work for decades to restore the woods.

The smaller shop at the left of the larger building is home to Tellico Outfitters.  It’s all about fly fishing… With nearby Tellico River, North River, Bald River, Turkey Creek and Citico Creek and the Cherokee National Forest, there are over 300 miles of wild and native trout streams in close proximity to Tellico Plains.  Both wild and hatchery trout are there for the avid fishermen…

Tellico Outfitters is a retail store, both on-line and for in-person shopping.  They also offer guided fishing trips into the mountains, either half-day (4 hours @ $275) or full-day (8 hours @ $385).  They provide all of the necessary gear, even lunch for full-day excursions.  The limit is 3 guests per guide and each of those extra guests cost $75.  You can learn more on their website at Tellico Outfitters.

FYI, the Cherokee National Forest encompasses 655,598 acres, mostly in Tennessee and partially in North Carolina.  It was created in 1920… Contained within the National Forest are several Wilderness Areas.  They total 36,854 acres and minimal human imprint is the rule of the day in those areas.  To learn more about the Cherokee National Forest, go to Cherokee National Forest - Contact Us (usda.gov).

Abstract, a décor, furnishings and design shop on Scott Street, about a block off the square in Tellico Plains, was certainly unexpected on my part.  Its the last building at the right in the first photo above.  Despite being in a small town and not occupying a space at the center of the ‘action’, they sell quality furniture, bedding, gift items, décor, candles, candies and more.  The buyer/proprietor has upscale tastes without going over the top.  Laurie really liked this store.  To learn more, just go to Retail Shop in Tellico Plains, TN | Abstract (abstractanddesign.com).

Take note of that rock wall at the right in the third photo…

When we walked back down Scott Street, I took this photo of the same rock wall noted in the previous photo…from the outside this time.  It’s almost like a work of primitive art.

Our next stop was a bit further down Scott Street.  This is the Stone Cottage Shops and Gardens.  This restored bungalow features antique furniture and related décor including fine arts and crafts.  Unusual for a store that features antiques, it isn’t overcrowded and you can see everything… This shop which is located at 121 Scott Street doesn’t appear to have a website or a Facebook page.  Proprietress Brenda Lee can be reached at 423-253-2400.

I took this photo just because it’s a different ‘take’ on a garage for your Model-T or whatever special vehicle you might drive.  You don’t see one like this every day, that’s for sure!

Scott’s Antiques, Collectables and Furniture is located at 114 Scott Street in Tellico Plains.  It is a small space that is packed with all kinds of stuff…from true antiques to kitschy collectables.  I finally broke down and bought something…a Bobby Darin CD for my collection of ‘classic’ music.  I think that I spent $2.00!  Lots of good stuff to peruse…but I couldn’t find this store on the web or on Facebook.  If you’re in Tellico Plains, check it out…

This photo was taken from about 2 blocks away.  Yes, we did visit Tellico Plains without visiting our one of our favorite bakeries and luncheon destinations in East Tennessee.  Also the best pizza!  Tellico Grains opened many years ago and I have to think that its presence and success, not to mention the jobs it’s created, have helped stabilize the old downtown area of town.  Learn more about Tellico Grains at Tellico Grains Bakery – 105 Depot Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385 (tellico-grains-bakery.com).

Notes:

More History… Although the railroad came to town ca. 1880, mostly to haul timber, Tellico Plains wasn’t incorporated until 1911.  In 1914, a devastating fire wiped out most of downtown.  Among other businesses over the years, there was a blacksmith shop, a casket store, drug store, a movie theater, a jail, a 5 and 10 cents store, a hardware store and many others.  As of the 2020 census, the town had 762 residents.  The population peaked here back in 1920 with 1,220 citizens… 

You may have noticed the quasi German style architecture.  Apparently some of the buildings were constructed by German POW’s being held at the Tellico Plains POW facility in the early 1940’s.  One of the buildings sporting German architecture was built by a local who wanted to duplicate the ambiance found in Helen Georgia.  Local POW’s mostly did farm work, with many of them growing green beans on land owned by the Stokely Van Camp Company.

Final Note: Just outside the center of town, the Charles Hall Museum is the place to learn about local history and to view an amazing collection of artifacts, many with wide reaching importance.  Charles Hall was born in Tellico Plains in 1924 and he was a local historian since boyhood.  His family was among the first white/European settlers in the area.  His mother’s family settled here by 183o.  Charles assembled an amazing collection of artifacts, photos and local history over the years.  He served for Mayor for 31 years. 

The Hall Museum is an interpretive center, designated by the National Park Service as a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.  To learn more and to plan a visit, go to Home | Charles Hall Museum.

I certainly was long and windy… Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave