Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge is a city in Tennessee. Oak Ridge was created as secret city during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. In Oak Ridge, thousands worked in secrecy to enrich the uranium used in the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The city is no longer secret, but it has a rich history worth exploring, and a strong bent toward science and technology. Oak Ridge is Appalachia and the nuclear age rolled into one, a great city to check out.

Understand

Tourist information

• Oak Ridge Visitor website

Get in

By plane

The closest municipal airport is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), which is served by:

• American Eagle, +1-800-433-7300.
• Delta Air Lines, +1-800-221-1212.
• United Express, +1-800-241-6522.

A taxi from the airport to Oak Ridge might cost $70. Renting a car is a better idea, particularly because Oak Ridge has little public transit.

By car

When Oak Ridge was first built by the U.S. government, there were only two entries and exits from the city due to the desired isolation of the secret Manhattan Project. In later years, several other entrances were built, but Oak Ridge is still fairly disconnected from surrounding towns.

By the Interstate, Southbound I-75 and westbound I-40 converge in the middle of Knoxville. Continuing on I-40, proceed west until the northbound Pellissippi Parkway exit. Pellissippi merges into Illinois Avenue, which leads into downtown Oak Ridge.

By bus

• Greyhound, 100 East Magnolia Avenue, ☏ +1-800-231-2222. A taxi from downtown Knoxville to Oak Ridge will also be expensive, about $70.

Get around

Oak Ridge was designed by the government, so the layout of the town is fairly simple, almost utilitarian in some neighbourhoods, the streets are even in alphabetical order. Having a car is almost necessary, as the city is quite sparsely laid-out. There is virtually no public transportation.

See

• 1 American Museum of Science and Energy, 115 E Main St, ☏ +1 865-294-4531. Su M 1PM-5PM, Tu-Th 9AM-5PM, F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. This museum has several exhibits. Primarily it is dedicated to explaining Oak Ridge's role in furthering the WWII-era Manhattan Project. There are also various scientific toy puzzles and a gift shop. Offers three-hour tours of the Clinton Engineer Works (now Oak Ridge Reservation), the headquarters of the Manhattan Project. Adults $8; youth, seniors, active military, and students with ID $5; children under 5 free; 40% off on Fridays after 5PM. (updated Oct 2020)
• 2 Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 W Outer Dr, ☏ +1 865-482-1074. Tu Th Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM. (updated Oct 2020)
• 3 International Friendship Bell, Badger Avenue (about half a mile west of the American Museum of Science and Energy). 24/7. The first monument between a U.S. Manhattan Project city and Japan, the bell serves as an expression of hope for everlasting peace. Free. (updated Oct 2020)
• 4 Images Studio, 109 Towne Road (Located in Greenwich Village Mall, a small strip mall. Next to Locally Grown.), ☏ +1-865-483-9115. M 10AM-4PM, Tu-F 10AM-5:50PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. This small art gallery has various paintings, post cards, and other locally-produced arts, crafts, and jewelry. 
• 5 University of Tennessee Arboretum, 901 S Illinois Ave, ☏ +1 865-483-3571, utas@utarboretumsociety.org. 8AM-sunset. Free. (updated Oct 2020)
• 6 Green McAdoo Cultural Center, 101 School St, Clinton, ☏ +1 865 463-6500. Tu-Sa 9ː30AM-5ː30PM. In 1956, it was here at the former Clinton High School where the Clinton Twelve supposedly became the first African Americans to desegregate a state-supported public school in the Southeast. (updated Sep 2021)

Do

• Centennial Golf Course, 101 Centennial Blvd, ☏ +1-865-483-2291. Beautiful publicly-owned golf course designed by Billy Casper. Centennial offers 18 challenging holes. Collared shirt required to play. 
• Oak Ridge Playhouse, Historic Jackson Square. Largest theater venue in Oak Ridge. 
• 1 Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, 629 Granite Rd, Clinton, ☏ +1 865 457-5536. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Wildlife zoo and exotic animal rescue. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Windrock Park, 599 Windrock Park Ln, Oliver Springs. It has the country’s largest privately owned off-road recreation area (400 mi of ), so it's popular with ATV enthusiasts. 

Eat

• Big Ed's Pizza, 101 Broadway Ave, ☏ +1 865-482-4885, info@bigedspizzaoakridge.com. M-Sa 11AM-2PM and 4-8PM. One of Oak Ridge's strongest traditions. At Big Ed's the pizzas are made out front of the customers. The pizza slices are thin, floppy, gooey and hot, served on paper plates. The only restroom is in the basement, which is inconvenient for handicapped customers. (updated Oct 2020)
• Buffalo Mountain Grill, 205 Oak Ridge Turnpike, ☏ +1-865-481-0515. Standard American restaurant and bar. Small selection of beers and liquors. M-F 4PM-midnight, Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-9PM. (updated Oct 2020)

Drink

Oak Ridge has been a dry town since consumption of alcoholic beverages was banned in 1946, shortly after becoming chartered. Therefore, one would not find any bars in this town.

• Crafter's Brew Market & Social, 856 Oak Ridge Turnpike, ☏ +1 865 227-4560, craftersbrewoakridge@gmail.com. (updated Oct 2020)

Sleep

Most of the hotels in the area cater to scientists visiting Oak Ridge National Laboratory on their expense accounts, so rates are generally higher. There are few "no-frills" motels.

• Hampton Inn Oak Ridge, 208 S Illinois Ave, ☏ +1 865-482-7889. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Sep 2020)

Go next

• A half-hour drive will take you to downtown Knoxville.
• An hour-and-a-half drive will take you to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.