Travel to Country Music Stops!

Often in the morning I have Alexa play George Jones or Loretta Lynn! I love the old country most of all. I like new country too! In my travels I have found many places to go and enjoy country music stops. Of course there is always the quintessential trip to Nashville because there is nothing like the Ryman Auditorium. However, there are many other places to go and learn about country music, it’s history and those that sing the country songs! Here are a few I have found over the years!

If you love to travel for music like I do, you may want to put a few of these stops on your radar!

Loretta Lynn’s Butcher Hollar

My story about Loretta Lynn’s replica of her cabin in Butcher Hollar is one of my most visited blogs! This site sits along the Tennessee River in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Located at the Loretta Lynn ranch is the property Loretta Lynn saw when she and Doolittle Lynn were out “courting”.  It was love at first site and the Lynn’s purchase included the entire town of Hurricane Mills and a grist mill and post office! My mom and I toured the Lynn’s Plantation style home along with a replica of the coal mine where her father Ted Webb worked, and a replica of her childhood home in Butcher Holler.  There is also the wonderful Coal Miner’s Daughter museum that highlights the musical history of Loretta and her family.  

Fontanel Barbara Mandrell’s Log Home

Mom and I loved our tour of the home built by Mandrell’s husband. At the time it was where Barbara and her three children lived from 1988 to 2002. Our tour guide shared that at the time of our tour, this is the largest log cabin ever built. The home was situated on a136 acre property and is comprised of 27,000 square feet. We also ate at the onsite restaurant.

Patsy Cline Memorial

This past year, Keith and I were traveling and had the honor of stopping at the Patsy Cline Memorial. This beautiful site is a fine tribute to this amazing country music star. The Patsy Cline Memorial is in Camden, Tennessee at I-40 exit 126. This is the site where she lost her life along with Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hankins, and Randy Hughes. That night the plane they were all in crashed at this site on March 5, 1963 when she was returning home from a benefit concert for DJ Jack “Cactus”. Hank Snow

Hank Snow

On a trip to Canada’s Nova Scotia I had the honor of visiting the Hank Snow Home Town Museum. Born in Liverpool on May 9, 1914, I was amazed to learn that Hank Snow was inducted into seven halls of fame. He held the longest recording contract of any artist in the history of recorded music! His museum was filled with his costumes and cars and was a story of a man coming from a hard scrabble life to stardom!

George Jones (now closed)

Perhaps one of my all-time favorite’s I visited the George Jones museum which actually is in Nashville, but is sadly now closed.  On the first floor was the Smokehouse restaurant, and the museum was on the 2nd floor and then there is a rooftop bar. George Jones was born in Hardin County Texas on October 18, 1932, as George Glenn Jones. The museum shared stories of his family, military service and of course the women in his life. I loved seeing the John Deere tractor at the museum and learning about this amazing man’s career!

Dyess Colony & Johnny Cash Boyhood Home

The Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home was the latest place that my husband Keith and I visited. Johnny Cash grew up in an interesting communal farming community. It was fascinating to learn about this communal farming existence and see his boyhood home. The colony was part of the New Deal era and there is a lot of history on display in the still existing building. They boyhood home has been restored.

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame

There is a lot of music that has come out of Alabama. If you don’t believe it, make a stop at the  Alabama Music Hall of Fame! Honorees include Alabama and Hank Williams Jr. to name a few. Other genres are honored as well, but country music rides high too! The band Alabama donated their tour bus. When I was there it was on display. The most memorable item for me, was Web Pierces 1960 Pontiac convertible “Golden Country Car”. It has more than 500 silver dollars and 12 silver guns mounted in and around the car. The creation was topped off with Texas Longhorns mounted on front!

Roy Acuff and Dunbar Cave

I love stopping in Clarksville, Tennessee, so close to Nashville, this town has amazing country music history. I learned about Dunbar Cave and that the cave was used by Roy Acuff ,King of Country Music and American Record Company recording artist as a stage! You can see the former stage and dance floor at this state park year round.

These are just a few of the amazing Country Music stops I have found over the years!