Wartrace is hardly an hour from Nashville, but from the look and feel of it you’d almost think it was in a different state. You won’t find any city slick attitude here, no way. It’s southern hospitality and deep history and kind people all the way around. Not that you don’t get that in Nashville…? But sometimes you just need a visit to a true blue Tennessee town – transplants aside.
Brent Moore - Flickr
Wartrace was once known as Wartrace Depot, and is known for its tiny population of close to 600 folks, and tight Tennessee history ties. The town actually got its name from a Native American trail that used to be in the area. It was a railroad town, popping up around the depot on the line between Nashville and Chattanooga.
The town is the original home to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration – a world championship for walking horses. The event now draws around 250,000 people annually and is held every Labor Day weekend.
Brent Moore - Flickr
The village was the site of a small skirmish between Confederate and Union troops in 1862. The Confederates had been wintering in the town after the battle of Murfreesboro at Stones Creek.
As the cradle of the world-famous Walking Horse industry, Wartrace even boasts a museum dedicated to the horses in the downtown area of the town. We’ve included a video below, so you can see those fabulous horses in action!
Be sure to pop in to the Walking Horse Hotel downtown, if you can. The hotel today serves as a special event and music venue, but it also houses the Strolling Jim restaurant, named after the first Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse. You can also head over to Duck River and Normandy Lake, nearby waterways that are great for renting a kayak and enjoying the perfect Tennessee countryside.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
