Bluegrass & Old Time Mountain Folk Music

Bluegrass Pickin' at Nut-n-Fancy

Come enjoy live bluegrass pickin' on Friday, April 27th, from 5:00pm 'til closing at Nut-n-Fancy Restaurant.

"Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band" is a group of friends who get together to pick bluegrass and old time music. The band is made up of local musicians, including Charles Morris (lead guitar, dobro, & vocals), Julie Crunk (mandolin & vocals), Bill Crunk (rhythm guitar), Judy Lavoie (banjo & vocals), and Rick Lavoie (guitar & bouzouki).

Nut-n-Fancy Restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and will be featuring their "Friday Night Fish Fry".

Nut n Fancy is located at 390 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. Telephone: 423-253-6775. nut-n-fancy-restaurant.com

Indian Boundary Campground Opening

Indian Boundary Campground will reopen for the 2012 Season on Tuesday, April 17, at 2pm. The campground is part of the Cherokee National Forest, and is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and visitors. The 91 tent/RV sites are wooded, level, mostly shaded, and spacious, all with electric RV hookup and fire ring, some with RV pull-thrus. There are water spigots along the camping loop roads. Several sites have views of Indian Boundary Lake. There are flush toilets and shower facilities, a well stocked campstore, and a picnic pavilion at the beach.

Wild yellow trout lily growing along the hiking trail

The campground is within easy access of all the activities on and around picturesque Indian Boundary Lake: fishing (wheelchair accessible fishing pier too), beach swimming with bath houses, hiking and bicycling on the 3.2 mile track around the lake's shore, kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized boats, volleyball, picnicking, and relaxing on the beach. The "overflow" camping area, open year round, is ideal for groups. Note there is no cell phone coverage and no public phone; the campground hosts have radio contact to the Ranger's station for emergencies.

Year-round, the lake is a special destination for day visitors too - a welcome escape from city life and crowds. PIck up a picnic lunch from a restaurant in Tellico Plains, grab a book, put on your walking shoes, pack your bathing suit, and enjoy the serenity of a day at Indian Boundary Lake.

Indian Boundary Lake is manmade, and dam controlled, and beautifully surrounded by mountains. It is at an elevation of about 1800 feet. The approximately 100-acre lake is drained during the winter off-season, allowing the Forest Service to do maintenance to fish structures, the fishing pier, etc. Flats Creek, which helps feed the Lake, can be seen in the photo of the drained lake, below. Old tree stumps have been preserved by remaining underwater. The forests around the lake are home to much wildlife, and beautiful wildflowers bloom along the trail all through the spring, summer, and fall.

Indian Boundary is two miles off the scenic Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165, NC Hwy 143), about 16 miles east of Tellico Plains.
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
35.40167, -84.10722
35°24'6"N, 84°6'26"W

Campsites can be reserved by calling 877-444-6777.

Make your camping reservations online, at least 4 days ahead of arrival, thru:
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Indian_Boundary_Tn/r/campgroundBookingWindow.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70494
or
http://www.reserveamerica.com

During the winter, Indian Boundary Lake is drained for various projects.

We are sad to report that the March 2nd tornado leveled the KOA Tellico Plains Kampground in its path of destruction. The Kampground owners have plans to rebuild, and we look forward to seeing this wonderful facility reopen. In the meantime, Indian Boundary Campground will be a popular alternative for many campers.

For more information about Tellico Plains activities, events, and businesses, visit the Guide to Tellico Plains.

RAMP FESTIVAL SCHEDULED IN BALLPLAY COMMUNITY

The Ballplay Ruritan Club is hosting the 2nd Annual Ramp Festival on Saturday, April 21 at the Friends Meeting of Ballplay Fellowship Hall and grounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be family activities, live music, craft vendors and local community organizations.

The Ramp Dinner, served from Noon to 3 p.m., includes a beverage, fried potatoes, and dessert.  Adults are $7 and children under 12 are $4.  We are also planning a “kid-friendly” alternative meal.  Proceeds will be used for community projects.

Event is “Rain or Shine” with free admission.  Friends Meeting of Ballplay is located ¼ west of the intersection of Hwy. 360 and Ballplay Rd in Tellico Plains, TN at 157 Ballplay School Road.  Plans are still underway for additional activities.  Look for us on Facebook, “BALLPLAY RURITAN” for updates.

We are looking for local crafts vendors and demonstrators who are interested in participating in this popular, community-based event.   Call John at 442-7053 for more information.

Tellico Tornado Victims Fundraiser Concert

Come to Tellico Plains Town Square on Saturday, March 24th, beginning at noon, for a free, family-friendly afternoon of music, food, and raffles - all to benefit the Tornado Victims of Tellico Plains. Enjoy music from Greylan James Band, Jason Stinnett Band, Wicked Garden, C.A.B., and Monroe County's own Southbound Band. All donations accepted and appreciated.

Smoke in the Mountains

Looking east from Tellico Plains you get a great view of the Smoky Mountains. But lately the "smoke" has been from burning. Don't be alarmed, this is part of the Cherokee National Forest's Prescribed Burning. Here is their news release:

"The Tellico Ranger District will be conducting three prescribed burns through April 15, 2012. The burns will be in the vicinities of Brushy Ridge, Turkey Creek, and Whigg Mountain. Neighboring communities should be advised that minimal smoke may be observed during the burning operations. 

USDA Forest Service officials say prescribed (controlled) fire is a useful tool for managing National Forest lands. Approximately 20,000 acres are scheduled for burning throughout the 650,000 acre Cherokee National Forest during 2012. A significant portion of the prescribed burning is planned for early spring."

Thank you to Debra and Mike Rogers for their photography, capturing the beauty of our mountains in every condition.

You Can Help!

The Relief Center at the Tellico Plains High School serving food.

Donations for tornado victims of Tellico Plains TN are now being collected at the Official FEMA Center:

New Providence Baptist Church
Fellowship Building
451 New Providence Rd
Tellico Plains TN 37385

Open for the next two weeks (March 26 - April 7):
Mondays and Wednesdays 12pm to 5pm
Saturdays 9am to 5pm.

Donations are still being accepted, and those who suffered loses in the tornado are welcome and encouraged to come for food, clothing, shoes, baby items, household goods, and more

Needed:  clothing, footwear, cleaning supplies, school supplies, toiletries, non-perishable food, tarps, totes for victims, garbage bags, towels and washcloths, kitchen towels, baby supplies, kitchen and household goods, small appliances.

A well-coordinated volunteer effort is manning the center, sorting the items to make it easier for those in need.

Financial donations for victims are being accepted at all Tellico Plains area banks.

For more info, see our website Tornado page.

Tornado Hits

On Friday, March 2, around 2pm, a tornado touched down in Tellico Plains, leaving a path of destruction through the city limits and up Hwy 360, Ballplay Road. Property damage to residential and commercial buildings is extensive, with some personal injuries but, miraculously, no fatalities. Many have suffered damage or loss of their homes, businesses, vehicles, and other personal belongings. One of the TDS buildings and the police department annex were destroyed. The cabins, main lodge and pavilion at the KOA Campground were leveled. Downed, broken, twisted, and uprooted trees cover hillsides and roadsides in the tornado's path.

Relief efforts began immediately, with city/county/state law enforcement, road crews, forestry personnel, volunteer firefighters and rescue squads, disaster relief workers, the Red Cross, and many others. Residents of Tellico Plains and surrounding communities came forth in numbers to help, in whatever means possible. All day Saturday, the sounds of chain saws, heavy equipment, and moving dump trucks filled the air, as clean-up crews worked all over town. Damaged roofs were covered with tarps to prevent more damage, huge trees were cut away from buildings, power crews replaced fallen poles and repaired damaged lines, and high school students and other folks picked up pieces of debris, large and small, which littered the town. Fluorescent "X" marks were spray painted on the exterior of buildings which were condemned due to the storm damage.


A relief center is set up at Tellico Plains High School, serving food and beverages to displaced residents and relief workers all day. Many area businesses have donated to the efforts too - Tellico Kats delivered dozens of sandwiches to the High School Relief Center, Tellico Grains Bakery provided sweets and other baked goods to those working at clean-up and directing traffic and to the High School Relief Center. Area churches coordinated to deliver additional meals to the Relief Center. Local banks are taking donations for aid to victims of the tornado. See the separate post about the FEMA center set up at New Providence Baptist Church for donations for those in need. The community has truly come together to help the victims of this devastation.

Thank you to all who have volunteered their labor so far, and those who will help with all that needs to be done in the coming days and weeks. Please keep us all in your prayers.

For more photos and information, see our website Tornado page.

Open Mic Night every Thursday Evening

OPEN MIC NIGHT every Friday beginning at 6 PM
Bring your instrument of choice and/or your voice and join in the fun, or just kick back and listen
food and beverages available. Sign up begins at 5:30pm.

Also, LIVE MUSIC every weekend
Please call 423-253-2322 for this weekend's details
The Outpost Pavilion, 123 Main Street, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Garage Sale to Aid Community Projects

Come discover treasures and grab some goodies at the Garage Sale and Bake Sale of The Cherokee Women's Club, this Saturday, Oct. 15th. It takes place in the Tellico Plains Community Center parking lot on Bank Street, from 8am 'til 1 or 1:30pm.

The Sale will help fund projects which financially assist the Tellico Plains Library. The Club pays the annual software license fee for checking books in/out, helps with the Summer Reading Program children's gifts, and generously provides other assistance as needed.

In addition to supporting the Library, The Cherokee Women's Club also does beautification in the town seasonally, like the cornstalks and mums now decorating the town so beautifully for fall. The members help maintain the Botanical Garden behind the Charles Hall Museum, give a scholarship to a Senior at Tellico High, and conduct a poetry contest for all the local schools, grades 1 through 12. This year the Club also supported a Science Fair at the Junior High and help the horticulture students monetarily at the high school. Its major fundraiser is the popular "Cookie Caper" during the Tellico Plains Candlelite Walk, held annually on the evening of the first Saturday in December.

The Cherokee Women's Club meets on the first Monday of each month at noon, usually at the Visitor Center. They welcome any ladies who are interested in their community and helping improve it to join. Call Sharon Bodie at 423-253-2269.

Hope to see you there Saturday!

Please Neuter Your Pets

There are too many homeless pets, and neutering is a humane way to reduce these numbers. With the free vouchers available to Monroe County citizens in need, there is no excuse not to neuter dogs and cats. The distribution of these vouchers moves from one town to another over the course of the year, and this month is available in Sweetwater. Please print and post this flyer for your own employees and customers. Thanks.

Centennial Quilt on Display

The Cherokee Women's Club has presented the Charles Hall Museum a Commemorative quilt, celebrating the town's centennial, July 4, 2011. The design incorporates archival photographs of the town, set among quilt squares in red, white, blue, and gold. It was specially created by a group of about a dozen women from the club, whose names are on the back. The quilt is now displayed for all to view in the museum's #1 building. The Charles Hall Museum is located at 229 Cherohala Skyway and displays amazing collections of photographs, guns, telephone equipment, furniture, and many historic artifacts collected by Charles Hall, local historian and former Mayor of Tellico Plains. Admission is free.

The Cherokee Women's club is a non-profit group of women from the Tellico Plains area (not exclusively) who raise money to support local needs. The main fundraiser is the Cookie Caper at the annual Candlelight Walk in Tellico Plains in December. The group supports the library, the local schools with scholarships and a creative writing/poetry contest, and well as other needs of the community as they arise. New members are always welcome! Join and help the community. Meetings are held monthly, September through May. Contact Sharon Bodie, President, at 423-253-4269 for more information.

4th of July Fun in Tellico Plains

Here's the schedule of Independence Day activities in Tellico Plains:

• July 2nd: Annual Square Dance in Town Square from 4pm - midnight.
  Includes Kids' Fun Zone ($5 All-Night admission); Music by "Angels in Waiting" from 4-6pm; Music by "Tim Childress and Unwound" from 7-midnight. Vendor booths will be set up too.
•  July 4th: Wagon Train Parade begins at noon. 

 Join us for some old-time family fun!

May Extravaganza in Coker Creek

Come and sit a while at the Coker Creek Welcome Center & Heritage Gift Shop for the May 2011 Extravaganza. They are located on Highway 68 South in Coker Creek, TN. There will be variety of demonstrations from local artists who display and sell their crafts at the Heritage Gift Shop. There will also be entertainment from local musicians each weekend during the month.

Here's the schedule of events:

Saturday, May 7, 2011 – 10:00 to 5:00
Ken Dalton, Wood Carver
Morris Hawk, Wood Carver
& the Coker Creek Whittlers
Music provided by Charlie Harper

Saturday, May 14, 2011 – 10:00 to 5:00
Kathleen Dalton, Linda Charest - China Painting

Saturday, May 21, 2011 – 10:00 to 5:00
Richard Anderson, Leather Art Designer

Saturday, May 28, 2011 – 10:00 to 5:00
Children’s Book Signing by Margie Carroll
Judi Wrighter, Painter
Music provided by Wanda Murphy

Sunday, May 29, 2011 – 1:00 to 5:00
Terry Ayers, Penny Rug Maker & Quilter
Book Signing by Jack Darnell
Mary Mac Eachron, Wind Chimes
Music Provided by Don Mac Eachron

Monday, May 30, 2011 – 10:00 to 5:00
Bill Lee, Potter
Peggy Gay, Painter
Music provided by Ken Gay

The Tennessee Arts Commission and the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association has provided financial support for these events.

For more information call Lynda Dicandio, 423-261-2027

Antique Cars in Tellico Plains

The Grand National award-winning 1934 Plymouth, owned and restored by the late Charlie Young and his wife Deborah of Coker Creek, has a new home. The Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains will welcome this spectacular antique car in an informal dedication ceremony on April 23, 2011, at 3:00 pm. Over thirty antique cars, owned by members of the East Tennessee and Cherokee Valley regions of the Antique Automobile Club of America (both of which Charlie was a member) will parade through Tellico Plains after the dedication.

Share Your Favorite Trails

Falls Branch Trail

We have added a new Trails Page to the Guide to Tellico Plains. You can help, by sharing your favorite hiking, horseback riding, or mountain biking trail, to be posted on this new section of The Guide. The new Trails section includes areas in and around Tellico Plains, including the Tellico and Citico River areas, Cherohala Skyway, Starr Mountain, and Coker Creek.
Get your trail story and photos published!
Please include:

• Type of trail (hiking, mountain biking, and/or horseback riding)
• Level of difficulty (easy, moderate, difficult)
• Directions to the trailhead
• Trail Length (in miles)
• Description of the trail (what you can expect to see, etc.)
• Photo (include a photo caption for each photo submitted)
• Author: "trail info and photos submitted by" (your name as you want it to appear)

Please see examples already on this new trails page and info on how to submit your trail information. Thanks.