Waverly

Waverly, the county seat of Humphreys County in Central Tennessee, is like the typical sleepy Southern town with charm. It has points of interest covering a large spectrum of time, from the prehistoric era to the Civil War to contemporary culture.

Get in

Waverly is a bit off the beaten track from I-40, but it's pretty easily accessed via US 70 from Nashville in a few hours' time.

See

• 1 Waverly Train Disaster Memorial, 107 Richland Ave. In February of 1978, Waverly was dealt a severe blow when a propane car derailed from the track and exploded, killing 16 people. This is a memorial to that occasion. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Humphrey's County Museum & Civil War Fort, 201 Fort Hill Rd, ☏ +1 931 296-3739. Small regional museum that includes Civil War events that took place around Waverly. (updated Sep 2021)
• 3 Johnsonville State Historic Park, 90 Nell Beard Rd, New Johnsonville, ☏ +1 931 535-2789. Daily 8AM-4:30PM. Site of the Civil War Battle of Johnsonville, where Maj Gen Nathan Bedford Forrest wreaked havoc on the Union fort here, hamstringing the North's efforts to execute its campaign. Additionally, it is the site of the former township of Johnsonville that was inundated when Kentucky Lake was formed. Nice interpretive trails along the lake cover these topics. The park also manages the Link Farm State Archaelogical Area that is somewhat to the southeast, where a large discovery of Mississipian burial mounds from 1100AD was uncovered and where Jesse James ironically once farmed. (updated Sep 2021)
• 4 Loretta Lynn's Ranch, 8000 Highway 13 South, Hurricane Mills, ☏ +1 931 296-7700. A themed park surrounding the home where this country star used to live. It even includes a Coal Miner's Daughter Museum. (updated Sep 2021)

Do

• 1 Benton-Houston Ferry (Danville Ferry), 9846 Danville Rd, Big Sandy, ☏ +1 931 721-2776. For something quirky, you could ride this ferry across Kentucky Lake, and in so doing, see a partially submerged granary in the river called the Old Danville Grain Elevator. It is a rather eerie sight. (updated Sep 2021)

Sleep

There is lodging along Kentucky Lake and around the Waverly area, including at the Johnsonville State Historic Park and Loretta Lynn Ranch. These would probably be more enjoyable than a seedy motel in town.

• 1 Southernaire Motel & Restaurant, 50 Overlook Ln, Stewart. A basic motel but not without a country cooking restaurant. (updated Sep 2021)