Arrington Adventure Drive Out

We will meet up in Crossville, TN and then take the back roads south of I-40 through Sparta, McMinnville, and Murfreesboro to reach the vinyards with stops along the way for fun and food. During the afternoon at the popular Arrington Vinyards, we can enjoy their free Music in the Vines programs with a choice of bluegrass or jazz band venues on the property. Music begins at 3pm CDT and ends at 7pm CDT. Return home directly on I-40 that evening or choose to add an optional overnight stay in the Nashville area at lodging of your choice.

**Turn-by-turn directions will be provided to each driver when we meet in Crossville

Starting Point - Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN

Meet-up Time - 9am Eastern Daylight Time/8am Central Daylight Time

• Crossville as well as the rest of our trip to Arrington is in Central Time Zone
• We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Homestead Harvest Restaurant in the park to sign release forms, distribute driving route instructions and take a group photo.

• Some of you will remember this as the ending point of our Nov 21, 2020 drive-out from Kingston, TN.
• We will depart on our drive at 8:30 am Central Time sharp since we have a full schedule before arriving at the vineyards just before the music starts at 3pm Central

This starting point is about a one-hour drive from Knoxville via I-40, so plan your departure time from your home accordingly.

There are rest-rooms available at our starting point but the restaurant will not yet be open so you should make other arrangements for breakfast before the meet-up if you so desire.

Directions to Cumberland Mountain State Park from Knoxville (about 1 hr from Downtown Knoxville)

• I-40 West to Exit 329 – Market Street, Crab Orchard and turn right heading north on Market St.
• Take the next left on US-70 (BP Station on your left) and follow it for about a mile until it crosses under I-40.
• After crossing under I-40, take your next left onto Cox Valley Road.
• Follow Cox Valley Road for about 3.4 miles until it tees into TN Rt 68.
• Turn right on TN-68 and follow it about 4.3 miles until just after you pass the water tower and arrive at a fork to Rt-127 on your left.
• Take the left fork to Rt-127 and follow it about 0.7 miles to the entrance to the park (Rt 419) on your right.
• Turn right on Rt-419 (Pidgeon Ridge Road) into the park and follow it about 0.5 mile through the next intersection until you reach the bridge over the dam with the lake on your left.
• Take the first left after the bridge which is Play Drive and then another immediate left into the parking area in front of Homestead Harvest Restaurant.

First Driving Leg

Enjoy twisty and hilly country back roads through farmlands between Sparta and McMinnville

Stop #1 – White County Heritage Museum, Sparta, TN (stop duration = 1 hr) A lovely collection of community-donated memorabilia that chronicles the history and achievements of the families of Sparta and White County including:

• War mementos, photos, and stories
• Business memorabilia including the spoke factory that supplied Marathon Automobile Co
• The official Lester Flatts Museum
• A replica one-room schoolhouse
• Model train village

Just a 4-minute walk from the museum is the Sparta town square where you will find:

• A coffee shop – The Coffee Collective
• The Lester Flatts memorial
• Historic movie theater
• Shops

Second Driving Leg

Enjoy the scenic route past Rock Island Park to McMinnville through small towns on the McMinnville Hwy and Old Rock Island Road, now bypassed by the interstate.

Stop #2 - Rest Stop

Third Driving Leg

We will drive a portion of the Old Nashville Highway from McMinnville to Murfreesboro that will take us through the heart of what has become known as “The Nursery Capital of the World.

• McMinnville and Warren County are at the center of a five-county portion of Tennessee that, due to good soil and an ideal climate that is long, but not too hot, provides most of the containerized plants sold in the eastern USA. Some of the family nurseries date back 6 generations.
• Since BMW doesn’t (yet) make a pickup truck; we won’t be stopping – apologies to all the green-thumbs.

Stop #3 - Lunch Stop - Demos' Restaurant, Murfreesboro

• This popular local restaurant has been run by the same family of Greek heritage since 1943.
• The menu is wide and varies from their signature steak and pasta selections to salads, burgers, sandwiches, and seafood.
• Check out their website at www.demosrestaurants.com to view the full menu including offerings from their special menus of gluten-free, low-calorie, and low-carb offerings.

Fourth Driving Leg

We head west to Arrington Vineyards with a path that takes us off the main roads and through bucolic lowland horse pastures to our destination.

Final Stop - Arrington Vineyards

• Our organized drive will end at the Vineyards where you are free to explore and enjoy the property and what it offers.
• Co-owned by country music artist Kix Brooks, the 95-acre property includes 16 acres of vineyards, five tasting rooms, gorgeous views, shaded picnic areas, live music on weekends (April to November), and plenty of free parking.
• We can enjoy their Music in The Vines program which is free. You have a choice of Jazz or Bluegrass genres:
• 9 Volt Romeo Band will be providing jazz on the Hillside
• Grasstime Band will be performing bluegrass at the Barn
• Bring a picnic blanket and / or folding chairs since the number of picnic tables are limited.
• Sporting equipment such as balls, frisbees, or kites are not permitted.
• The Vineyards produces 21 varieties of wine onsite including several award winners. Wine is available for purchase (by the bottle only) for consumption on the property or to take home.
• If you choose to consume alcohol, please use moderation and do not drink and drive.
• Food is available from the gourmet food shop "Simply Living Life" that serves freshly prepared take-out food at the Pavilion and Barn areas (close to the live music) or you can bring your own picnic basket
• You can bring your own soft drinks to consume but no outside alcohol may be brought onto the property
• Stay as long as you wish, up until the Vineyards closes at 8pm. You may choose to return home that night by the route of your choice or you may choose to make your own arrangements for overnight accommodations in the Nashville / Murfreesboro area.
• Interstate 840 is only about 2.6 miles from Arrington Vineyards for easy access to surrounding areas and an expedient route to I-40 East back to Knoxville.
• Be aware that if you stay until the music ends at 7pm Central Time, and then head home using the most direct route back to Knoxville, your arrival time back in Knoxville will be about 11pm Eastern Time.

Organized by Chris and Pat Tighe 865-347-2197