Experience Tennessee Visitor's Guide | April 2022

Issue 12 | APril 2022

e e s s e n n e T e c n ie r e Exp monthly visitor's guide

Barrel House BBQ: 10 years and a second iconic location to celebrate

The Mules are Back in town!

‘Never a dull moment; at aMuse’um there is always something going on’ Slawburger Festival Back in Fayetteville

WIn tickets to the Homestead Festival and Bonnaroo!

Barrel House BBQ celebrates 10 years with second restaurant at the Nearest Green Distillery

By Tabitha Evans Moore | Lynchburg TimesEditor & Publisher It’s Sunday morning and there’s nothing easy going about it for Barrel House BBQ owner Chuck Baker.

It’s not even 10 a.m. and he’s already holding court. His website designer sits at a table mining for details on Baker’s two new businesses — one that launches on April 7 and another on Memorial Day. Moments later the hospitality liaison for a local VIP shows up for the first ribs of the day. He’s also training someone to take over as the original Barrel House BBQ pitmaster. In just 10 short years, Baker has evolved from bootstrapping small business owner to a force in southern, middle Tennessee tourism.

On April 7, Baker and his staff celebrated the 10 year anniversary of his Lynchburg restaurant with the grand opening of Barrel House BBQ II at the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville — a move that has been in the air from the very first moment Baker met the distillery’s founders, Fawn and Keith Weaver.

For those who don’t know the story, Fawn Weaver became interested in the story of the formerly enslaved Black man who taught Jasper Newton Daniel how to make whiskey after reading the Clay Risen piece about him in The New York Times in June 2016. {To read that piece, click here.} Not long after, Fawn and her husband Keith visited Lynchburg to learn more about Nearest Green — a decision that ultimately led to launching a distillery to honor Green and his role in the Tennessee whiskey story.

Baker met the Weavers on their inaugural visit to Lynchburg and they’ve remained incredibly close ever since. So close in fact, that Baker credits the Weavers with the inspiration for his second location.

“The first day I met them, we sat at my house sipping a little local product until 1 a.m.,” Baker says. “From that very first night, all Fawn could talk about was duplicating Barrel House BBQ and here I am about to launch my second one at her distillery. How cool is that?”

Photo: Tennessee Crossroads

During the Weaver's first visit to Lynchburg, they ate at Baker’s restaurant multiple times and Fawn says that she knew Baker had a winning formula from the first bite.

“I’m a really picky eater. I love really, really good food and the fact that we were there every day and never got bored said to me that he had something special.”

Fawn also says that Baker has managed to create a signature style of barbecue for Middle Tennessee where one did not previously exist.

“He’s created something so special that it stands up to barbecue anywhere in this country,” Fawn says. “You don’t hear about Middle Tennessee barbecue. You hear about Memphis or North Carolina or Kansas City barbecue. We don’t have a signature style here but what I love about what Chuck did is that he went with what tasted good to him and created a signature style out of that.”

Barbecue as a bigger shovel Nestled in the shadow of Jack Daniel’s original rick houses that line Tanyard Hill, Baker says the idea for the original Barrel House BBQ came to him one night during dinner with good friends, Travis and Susan Burt.

At the time, he worked as a brick layer during the day and in his workshop at night building items out of whiskey barrels for The Lynchburg Hardware & General Store but he was looking for the idea that could be what he calls his bigger shovel.

“Travis asked me, what if you could build something unique that just made $1 off of each person who came through our little town. You’d be set,” Baker remembers. “A few months later, I found myself divorced and with time on my hands and I just couldn’t get Travis’s words out of my head. It wasn’t about the money. It was about building something new and unique and watching it grow.”

That’s when the lightbulb went off. Baker decided to start experimenting with adding barrel stave wood to his smoker and an Aha moment arrived. It is something he still does even to this day.

“It wasn’t just a small business to me,” Baker says. “It was my bigger shovel — my way to use my work ethic and creativity to escape the nine to five grind into a place where I could thrive.”

Eating crow at a barbecue joint Baker opened Barrel House BBQ on April 7, 2012 and built every piece of his business from the ground up.

Like many small business owners attempting to bootstrap a new endeavor, Baker continued to do two jobs until his dream took off. For the first year and a half, he laid brick during the week and served barbecue at night and on weekends.

Bakers says there were plenty of naysayers in the beginning.

“I had good friends approach me and tell me it would never work … that Lynchburg didn’t need another restaurant and even if it did, that folks would never walk down that hill to get to it.”

Baker says he nearly believed his critics but something inside of him nudged him to keep going. He says a few years later on a Saturday with a line out the door that same friend sat at a booth in Baker’s crowded restaurant and admitted he was prepared to eat crow.

“He told me that I’d made it work,” Baker says. “I told him that I didn’t do anything. It just works. That’s what you’ve got to do is work it. It will work if you work at it.

I couldn’t have done any of this without my crew, especially our general manager Rebecca Cooper.”

Today, Baker and his crew serve their signature dish the now world-famous Grilled Cheese on Crack to people around the globe. In fact, it’s so popular that Yelp and Buzzfeed both voted it the number one grilled cheese in Tennessee and Time-Money voted it the third best in the World in 2018.

Paying it forward Bakers says he’s busier now than he’s ever been. His day generally starts at 7 a.m. in the smokehouse rotating out chicken, pork, and ribs so that everything is served fresh that day. It’s a process that starts the night before and a loop that never ends in the barbecue game.

“It’s like Groundhog Day for me,” Baker says. “It’s the same routine over and over.”

Baker says in addition to the day-to-day, he’s currently laser focused on building a team to run both places during his busiest time of the year, tourist season.

“I feel like 2022 is going to be one of our biggest years.

We’re seeing more and more international travelers each week,” Baker says. “Prior to COVID, we fed the world and I feel like we’re getting back to that point.”

Bakers says he’s now attempting to pay the love and support that the Weavers gave him forward by supporting another local entrepreneur. He recently purchased the historic Hall Mill Grocery in Bedford County and plans to open Lucky Duck Canoe Rental on Memorial Day with his business partner, Benji Garland.

Fawns says that from her perspective, everything that Baker does is a form of paying it forward.

“You can’t be around Chuck for any period of time without him trying to give you something,” Fawn says. “I don’t mean just from a monetary standpoint. I mean his time, his energy. He’s just a very giving person in general.”

‘Never a dull moment; at aMuse’um there is always something going on’

By Elena Cawley The best way to learn is through fun activities, and Columbia, Tennessee, offers that and much more. When children visit aMuse’um Children’s Museum, they experience art and science through games. The activities at the museum would let you connect with your children to help them learn as many of the events encourage parents’ involvement.

Erin Jaggers, tourism director for Maury County, Tennessee, invites you to Columbia and have fun exploring and playing at the museum.

“This is a place where not only kids can use their imagination but also they can learn, think and create,” Jaggers said. “It is such a special place to have in Maury County.”

Reagan Clayborne, retail specialist of aMuse'um Children's Museum, loves seeing the smiling faces of children and adults, from visitors and locals who walk downtown and peek in the windows, to staff members greeting each guest, to children and their families playing and learning at the museum.

“Once you step inside you can hear the excitement and it is truly a fun environment,” Clayborne said. “I love when I mention I work at the museum and immediately hear someone say they have visited and how much fun the children and the adults had. Our community loves the museum, and it shows.”

All involved in the operation of the museum, from staff members and management to the board of directors, are invested in providing the best possible experience to visitors and to keep the museum “moving in the right direction,” Clayborne said.

"It is so rewarding to see families bring their children and watch them grow individually but also (to see) the family grow,” Clayborne said. “Chances are we know the kids and parents by name. That is what makes aMuse’um so special, the families that step inside the front doors each day.”

The museum offers activities promoting creativity. One of the events – dubbed Messy Monday – allows children to use shaving cream and playdough to create art. Science Saturday provides opportunities for children to conduct simple experiments and to “explore the scientific method and foster a desire to explore and discover.”

“When you visit the museum you can expect fun,” Clayborne said.

“Our mission is to spark unbridled learning for young children from all backgrounds through play. aMuse'um is a resource for the community to have a place to come and play, learn and grow.

You can also expect encouragement. aMuse’um encourages its visitors to think, learn and create. Whether you play for the day in our exhibits, attend a program, participate in a weekly activity or have your birthday party here, we hope that you walk away having learned something or tried something new. The museum helps spark creativity, imaginative play and encourages big ideas while still keeping with the small-town experience.”

Plan a trip to Maury County and to enjoy the exciting activities at the museum.

“If you are thinking about visiting the museum and haven’t yet, I encourage you to check it out,” she said. “There is never a dull moment; at aMuse’um there is always something going on. If you are looking for a way to spend the day, this is the place for your family.”

The events at the museum appeal to a wide audience, said Clayborne.

“Some examples include our Golf Tournament fundraiser, Food Truck Festival, Daddy Daughter and Mother Son Dances,” she said. “Also, on our calendar each year are the Princess and Superhero parties, Cookies with Santa, and our Llama Llama PJ Party. Follow us on Instagram @amuseumchildrensmuseum or Facebook @amuseumccm to stay in the know.”

Children need to play daily.

“We not only advocate for them to play, but we also encourage you to play with them,” Clayborne said. “Bring the family, make a day out of it, and then grab a meal downtown. We are always looking for ways to enhance each family’s experience with new unique exhibits and activities. You can leave knowing that you supported a local nonprofit, and your family had a great time.”

Browse the store before you are ready to explore Columbia. The museum recently added a Toy Shop experience with the idea to carry fun and educational toys that encourage play at home, said Clayborne. You can also visit the shop online.

Follow the exciting time spent at the museum with a great meal.

Several eateries in the area welcome you to enjoy delicious food.

One of them is Red 7 Pizza, where you can get creative with pizza toppings – from mozzarella, goat cheese, feta, pepperoni, sausage and chicken to black olives, peppers, tomato and pineapple – and create your own tasty art piece.

THE HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL COMBINING MUSIC AND MEANING TOGETHER FOR A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EVENT AT RORY FEEK'S FARM IN COLUMBIA, TN JUNE 3-4, 2022 MUSICAL HEADLINERS INCLUDE KEVIN COSTNER & MODERN WEST, THE ISAACS, JIMMY FORTUNE, AND THE BROTHERLY LOVE PROJECT PROMINENT SPEAKERS INCLUDE DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN, JOEL SALATIN, JUSTIN RHODES, AND MORE Don’t miss this first-of-its-kind outdoor event, will make its debut on June 3-4, 2022 at Rory Feek's 100-acre historic farm in Columbia, Tennessee. This unique event features a variety of entry-level homesteading activities, talks, and demonstrations during the day and then musical performances on the main stage at sunset.

The Homestead Festival was created for folks who are just getting started with the idea of homesteading (or thinking about sustainability)… no matter where they live. Whether you’re in the city, the suburbs, or the country… the hope is to show people how to take the leap and start learning skills such as food preservation, raising chickens, soap making, homeschooling, home births, or natural medicine.

The event combines music alongside meaningful learning experiences to in a two-day affair features musical performances, including headliner Kevin Costner & Modern West, as well as masterclass lectures by prominent homesteading community leaders such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Joel Salatin, Justin Rhodes, and many others.

In addition to Costner and his band making a rare stop on their Tales From Yellowstone 2 tour, the musical lineup on the main stage also includes The Isaacs, Jimmy Fortune, and the quartet combo with Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers, Jimmy Fortune, and Ben Isaacs of The Brotherly Love project, as well as other bands.

“We are all, of course, over-the-moon excited to have Mr. Costner and his band coming to join us for the event. But the truth is, we are just as excited to have all the incredible performers and speakers that are taking the time from their busy lives to come to Tennessee and share their knowledge and skills with individuals and families who too will be coming from all over to take part in this special weekend,” says GRAMMY-winning artist and New York Times bestselling author Rory Feek.

“The format for that Friday and Saturday will be homesteading classes and lectures throughout the day and music on the main stage in the evenings as the sun sets,” Rory continues. “Multiple tents here on the grounds will host simultaneous speakers sharing their vast experience of learning to be more self-sustaining and living closer to the land, which I think are very important things that aren’t being passed down to future generations the way they used to be, especially with the struggles we are all facing in the world today. People are interested in learning the skills and information that can help them provide for their families in these challenging times and also add meaning and joy to their lives.”

Homesteading lectures and classes at the festival will vary from growing and preserving your own food, to keeping bees or baby chicks, to home birth and home-schooling.

Attendees will also be able to explore and shop at the Homestead Marketplace, featuring over 100 vendors, skilled artisans, local food trucks, and a demonstration area showcasing a variety of homesteading arts and crafts like woodworkers, blacksmiths, gardening experts, flower farmers, artists, and many more.

HISTORY OF THE HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL: From 2008 to 2013, Rory Feek and his wife Joey held their annual Bib & Buckle Fest, where thousands of fans from all over attended outdoor concerts on the front lawn of their historic farm. This will be the first time Rory has brought outdoor music to his homestead since then.

Since Joey’s passing in 2016, Rory has expanded the farm adding more rotational-grazed pastures for cows and chickens, a oneroom schoolhouse with a barnyard and livestock, multiple gardens, a greenhouse, and continued to host concerts on the farm in his 300-seat venue known as Homestead Hall. All of this is in an effort to be more sustainable for his large extended family who live, work, and teach on the farm.

Tickets for The Homestead Festival are on sale now at TheHomesteadFestival.com. You too can join the festivities by following the festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Fayetteville Main Street and the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce present the seventh Slawburger Festival in Fayetteville, Tennessee- home of the Famous Slawburger. We have such a rich history with the unique "slawburger" and the festival serves as a way to share those stories.

Create new memories or revisit old ones from the past. Come visit us on April 16th, 2022 at the Historic Fayetteville Downtown Square for the 7th Annual Slawburger Festival.

Register to be a sponsor or vendor or signup to participate in one of our three contests! www.slawburgerfestival.com

visitmaury.com

Download NOw!

TOURS APP

Experience all of your favorite trips, trails, and tours on the all new Experience Tennessee App.

eT nnessee

s w e r B & , s e in W , y e k is Wh 10 Distilleries, 9 Wineries, 6 Breweries, and several specialty locations!

Downtown tennessee.com

an equal opportunity organization