Sitting atop the Cumberland Plateau roughly an hour-and-a-half northwest of Chattanooga, Crossville is an easy-to-reach and excellent - but often overlooked - getaway.
Located right off Interstate 40, Crossville is within striking distance of three of Tennessee's five biggest cities: It's an hour-and-45-minute drive from Nashville, an hour's drive from Knoxville, and a 90-minute drive from Chattanooga.
The plateau city is best known as the Golf Capital of Tennessee, boasting 10 championship courses and playing annual host to the Tennessee Women's State Open.
But there's more to the city than its greens and tee boxes.
Crossville is also home to locally well-known and well-trafficked professional theaters, as well as a popular outlet mall.
The combination of attractions, good local eats and drinks and proximity to the central and eastern parts of Tennessee mean Crossville today is far more than just an interstate town. It's a mountain must-see for locals and a vacation destination for out-of-towners.
Homesteads Tower Museum is located near Crossville.More Info
*HIT THE LINKS*If golf is your bag, then clean your clubs and lace up your shoes and start planning a visit to one of Crossville’s premiere courses. Crossville features courses of all difficulty, challenging for players at any level — beginner to pro. The town is even home to a Jack Nicklaus-designed course, The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain.*The city has been recognized by the national golf community for its offerings. Matt Ginella recently said on the Golf Channel show “Morning Drive” that Crossville is No. 10 on his list of “Budget Buddy List” of destinations.*>Crossville’s 10 championship courses are as follows:Deer Creek Golf Club: 445 Deer Creek Drive; 931-456-0178Dorchester Golf Club at Fairfield Glade: 567 Westchester Drive; 931-484-3709Druid Hills Golf Club at Fairfield Glade: 435 Lakeview Drive; 931-484-3711Heatherhurst Golf Club, The Brae Course at Fairfield Glade: 421 Stonehenge Drive; 931-484-3799Heatherhurst Golf Club, The Crag Course at Fairfield Glade: 421 Stonehenge Drive; 931-484-3799Lake Tansi Golf Course: 5050 Shoshone Loop; 931-788-3301Mountain Ridge Golf Course - 16941 Highway 70 N; 931-839-3313River Run Golf Club: 1701 Tennessee Ave.; 931-456-4060Stonehenge Golf Course at Fairfield Glade: 222 Fairfield Blvd.; 931-484-3741The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain State Park: 407 Wild Plum Lane; 880-800-2327*Source: golfcapitaltenn.com
More Info
SEE THE SCENESCrossville is more than a sports town. It’s also home to the well-known and well-loved Cumberland County Playhouse, the only nonprofit professional performing arts resource in rural Tennessee. The playhouse is also one of the 10 largest professional theaters in rural America.The playhouse accommodates more than 145,000 visitors annually, and features two indoor and two outdoor stages for its nearly 500 performances and 1,600 classes in music, theater and dance every year.>Find the event you can’t miss at the performing center’s website, ccplayhouse.com, or drop by the box office and speak with someone in person.
More Info
SHOPPING OUTLETIf you’ve taken in all the golf and theater you can handle, there’s still plenty to do around here. Any lover of bargain pricing on name-brand clothes and goods will have no trouble spending an afternoon wandering the shops at the Crossville Outlet Center.The 151,000-square-foot indoor mall is anchored by VF Outlet. Current stores include Rack Room Shoes, Dress Barn, Maurices, Vitamin World, Tools & More and Pet Supply World, among others.Source: Crossville Outlet Center
More Info
PARK ITAnother of Crossville’s many amenities is its nearby natural sites and attractions. One of the best ways to find natural beauty in the city is to head out to Cumberland Mountain State Park, a 1,720-acre park located around man-made Byrd Lake. The park features hiking, swimming and picnicking opportunities for visitors.There is a popular restaurant on the premises and a recreation hall large enough to accommodate 250 people.There are also more than 140 campsites for both tents and RVs at the park.View all the park’s amenities and offerings, as well as maps and trails, online at tnstateparks.com/parks/about/cumberland-mountain.
More Info
*BIO OF A MOUNTAIN TOWNPopulation: Approximately 11,000Largest employers: Cumberland County Medical Center, Flowers Bakery, CoLinxLandmarks: The Homesteads TowerDate founded: 1901History: Crossville was founded at the intersection of two major roads, and merchant Samuel Lambeth opened a store there. The spot became what is now the intersection of U.S. 70 and U.S. 127, resulting in modern-day Crossville.Famous residents: Earl Lloyd, first African-American to play in an NBA gameUnique tradition: The “World’s Largest Yard Sale” runs along Highway 127, right through Crossville.*Sources: Crossville Cumberland County Convention and Visitors Bureau