Let the Sequatchie Valley view bring you in. Let the surroundings extend your stay. Feel free to hang around for a while.
Known as the "Hang Gliding Capital of the East," Dunlap was founded in 1858 and officially gained its cityhood in 1941. Now, several hang gliding groups consider the city their home base. Once you arrive, the setting will quickly let you see why. Thankfully you'll have an extra hour to explore, as the city is located in the Central Time Zone.
SMALL TOWN
As of 2016, Dunlap had an estimated population of 5,132.
BIG CELEBRATIONS
* Valley Fest: Held each year at the beginning of May, this two-day festival has something for everyone. Experience a taste of life in the Sequatchie Valley through a spectacular car show, a Miss Valley Fest Pageant, 5k and 10k runs, musical performances on two outdoor stages and an abundance of food. (valleyfestonline.com)
* Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival: For more than 30 years, locals have armed themselves with lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the fine sounds of the fiddle, mandolin and banjo during this bluegrass celebration. Attendees in early June are treated to a fantastic lineup of regional musicians, a great jam session and even a fiddle workshop to keep the acoustic string music tradition alive in the Sequatchie Valley. (cokeovens.com/site)
* July Fourth Parade and Festival: Each Independence Day, this usually quiet town explodes with patriotism. The daylong celebration starts with a lively parade and ends with a of fireworks, with music, dancing and games in between.
* Sequatchie County Fair: A local attraction since 1938, this late-summer fair draws families from near and far for carnival rides, food competitions, musical entertainment, games and plenty of fun.
COUNTRY FOOD IN A COUNTRY SETTING
The Cookie Jar Café brings new meaning to the old term "country eating." Located on a working dairy farm, the restaurant offers a hilltop view of the Sequatchie Valley, a pleasant post-meal stroll through farmland, and a petting zoo with sheep, goats, donkeys and more.
Guests are treated to Johnson family recipes straight out of Memaw's cookbook. The selection includes Southern favorites such as fried catfish and grilled meatloaf, as well as a dessert menu showcasing specialty pies and 24 different flavors of cupcakes. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (1887 Kelly Cross Road; 423-949-5852; thecookiejarcafe.com)
ADVENTURE IS IN THE AIR
If you're looking for high-flying adventure, you're in luck. The Tennessee Tree Toppers, a nonprofit club of hang gliding enthusiasts, is eager to show visitors why Dunlap is called the "Hang Gliding Capital of the East."
Flights start from the club-owned launch site at Henson Gap, which is home to a wooden radial ramp.
Flying Camp, based on the TTT's property, offers tandem hang gliding and paragliding flights for all ages, and it runs a school certifying pilots. Tandem flights start at $199 and courses start at $699. (1683 Window Rock Road; 423-800-2228; flying.camp)
IN-DEPTH HISTORY
The Dunlap Coke Ovens serve as the Sequatchie Valley's link to its coal mining past. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 88-acre park gives history lovers a look at:
* The remains of 268 "beehive" ovens used to turn coal into coke, which was used at iron and steel foundries in Chattanooga.
* Old photographs found tucked away in trucks and closets, as well as hundreds of mining artifacts, census data and historical data.
* A rare collection of videotapes featuring the last surviving coal miners. Seeing it can be requested by appointment for universities, historians and educational groups. (350 Mountain View Drive; 423-949-3483; cokeovens.com/site)