Chart Your Journey
Visiting Here
Lewis County Tennessee - Chart Your Journey!
Lewis County Tennessee has always been a destination for seekers and explorers.
The journeys that these folks charted led them to stay to build good lives and our modern-day community. As a result of our diverse settlement and history, we are home to many unique communities and interesting people that enjoy all that Hohenwald and Lewis County have to offer today!
In 2022, Lewis County Tennessee offers the same abundant resources and natural beauty in our landscapes and pristine streams that drew seekers and explorers to our area. Through our leadership in the Nashville’s Big Back Yard and the Buffalo River Blueway regional initiatives, we continue to share our beautiful place and natural resources with visitors and residents.
We welcome you to Lewis County and look forward to knowing you and your plans for your future soon!
Chart your journey today and come for a day, weekend, or lifetime!
Here’s your way to make your plans.
We invite you to use this website for information on our many interesting destination attractions, events, lodging, dining, shopping, and venue options make lifestyles and visits enjoyable. And be sure to call Debbie Landers at 931-796-4084 for more visitor and tourism information to make your unique itinerary.
Here’s more details on Lewis County’s unique and growing story.
Early explores and settlers traveled through the lands that became Lewis County on the historic Natchez Trace, including Meriwether Lewis for whom the county is named. In the 1700’s and 1800’s, many early travelers on this route of southern and westward settlement decided to stay and claim their place in the county's rich bottomlands and hardwood forests located along pristine streams. Prior to their arrival, the Cherokees called this rich and abundant area home.
The next group to come were the Swiss who settled the New Switzerland Historic Township in 1895. Their new community was platted in perfect squares with wide streets in keeping with Swiss traditions. Settlers from Germany also arrived during this period and organized Hohenwald - The City of High Forests. In 1897 the towns merged. Hohenwald became the county seat of Lewis County. Hohenwald has many design features found in Swiss Townships and German Villages that offers unique dining, lodging, housing options, event space, parks, and entertainment areas that remain today.
In the mid-1970's, Stephen Gaskin and over 1500 modern day seekers traveled from the West Coast to create The Farm, one of the longest operating intentional communities in the nation. Many innovations have launched there including the Swan Creek Land Trust, solar and sustainable building practices, institutes on sustainability and permaculture, publishing companies, and natural health methods. All continue as successful enterprises today.
Later, the founders of the Elephant Sanctuary located on the western side of the county and the Lewis County Amish Community settled along Highway 20 on the way to The Farm. Our Wine District is located on Highway 412 at our gateway near Maury and Hickman Counties. Finally, Lewis County is home to 50+ homesteader families who came to live off-grid throughout the county. Many are members of our unique Sonneshine Movement today.
Visit Lewis County, TN -
Hohenwald-Lewis County Chamber of Commerce (hohenwaldlewischamber.com)

Memorial Park is a 20.2 acre park located within the city of Hohenwald. Recreational facilities include four baseball and softball fields, which are utilized by the local Dixie Youth organizations, and two tennis courts, two basketball courts, gym, public swimming pool, playground and a walking track.
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The 920-acre Devil's Backbone State Natural Area offers a visitor the opportunity for a quiet hike in a natural environment which has had little affected by modern human activity. The trail takes the hiker from the pavement of the Natchez Trace Parkway (located at milemarker 394 in Lewis County) out along the ridges of Tennessee's Highland Rim, down along a creek, and back again.
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Time slows down to a more relaxed pace at Calico Junction Mule Ranch. It calls to you to experience trails, adventures and camps just outside Hohenwald.
Over 100 miles of trails, with new trails being added every year on its beautiful and spacious 2500 acres. Take a trail ride through the trees and meadows. See the ponds, springs, and waterfalls. This is a great relaxing place to just go and visit or go on a wonderful wagon ride or try a trail ride on horseback. For those who enjoy being in the wild outdoors overnight, Calico Junction offers a primitive camping experience. Call 931-796-4111.
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The City of Hohenwald operates a beautiful public nine hole golf course that lies on 58 acres and is open year round for golf enthusiasts. The course plays 2900 from the men's tee's, 2500 from the senior tee's and 2200 from the women's tees. Daily and annual rates are available.
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The Mission of the Elephant Sanctuary
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee exists to provide captive elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being, and to raise public awareness of the complex needs of elephants in captivity, and the crisis facing elephants in the wild.
Links and Resources
For more links and resources worldwide, please visit the Sanctuary's official website, www.elephants.com. The Elephant Sanctuary is a refuge for elephants who have been held in captivity and performers in various circuses or penned in zoos now need of the peace and quiet of the Sanctuary to recover from their past. The About Us page has a list of values and
Although visitors are not permitted at the Elephant Sanctuary, the trust has a wonderful learning center in downtown Hohenwald, The Discovery Center, where guides will inform visitors about the history and interesting details of the Elephant Sanctuary. Be sure to read about the Center in our website, and then plan your next visit.
An Elephant Never Forgets
In 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary was founded on 110 acres in Lewis County, Tennessee. Tarra, a former performing elephant, was the first resident, and construction of the first barn was completed.
Barbara, a former circus elephant, was the second elephant to find sanctuary in Tennessee in 1996. That same year, Jenny arrived. An emergency fundraising campaign was developed to bring her to The Elephant Sanctuary from a Nevada animal shelter.
Shirley and Jenny were reunited in 1999, after 25 years apart. They immediately recognize each other from their previous lives as circus elephants. Also in 1999, the first EleCam, a live-streaming video feed from the habitat, went live on www.elephants.com.
Visitors were not allowed at The Elephant Sanctuary for the safety of both elephants and humans. Many elephants later and a Sanctuary encompassing 2,700 acres of peace for its residents, the EleCam system and the Elephant Discovery Center were welcome additions to engage adults and children, to create awareness and educate them of the plight of captive elephants and the conservation efforts worldwide for elephants.
Visit The Discovery Center
Increasing public knowledge is key to creating a world where elephants no longer live under constant threat of poaching, habitat loss, conflict, or capture. The Elephant Discovery Center offers hands-on self-guided exhibits and educational programming that explores the many ways elephants shape our world.
Upcoming Events

HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesday - Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Holiday Hours
Closed November 24th-26th
Closed December 23rd-24th
Closed December 31st
The elephants' habitats are closed to the public. Visitors to The Discovery Center will not see or interact with elephants.
PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITYPlan Your Visit
The Elephant Discovery Center is open to walk-in visitors, groups, and fieldtrips.
Distance Learning Program
For more information and to request a Distance Learning program, please email Morgan Kaelin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 931-796-6500 ext. 108.
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Nashville’s Big Back Yard, an economic and tourism initiative focused on a natural watershed region wending through the Natchez Trace National Parkway, features 12 rural communities. Leiper’s Fork is the northern anchor, not too far from Nashville. The Big Back Yard journey traverses Tennessee’s southwest quarter down into Alabama’s legendary Shoals region—the mother ship of American music.
The featured rural communities’ common thread is the historic architecture and a timeless, charming small-town atmosphere, some with a river running through it.
Join correspondent Tom Wilmer for an exploration of Nashville’s Big Back Yard with Aubrey Preston, the visionary behind the program. Preston, a resident of Leiper’s Fork, realized there are upside economic and cultural opportunities in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic for refugees from urban centers across America, seeking a rural alternative to urban life.
Next up is a visit with Mike Wolfe, host of History Channel’s 'American Pickers' tv series, at his home in Leiper’s Fork. Wolfe takes us on a journey across America and close to home, providing a contextual lens for Nashville’s Big Back Yard’s various initiatives.
We also speak to Liz McLaurin, president of the Land Trust for Tennessee in West Nashville. The Land Trust is a true greater-good engine of engagement for those who want to become involved with Nashville’s Big Back Yard’s Land Trust preservation initiatives.
You are invited to subscribe to the Lowell Thomas Award-winning podcast travel show, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on the NPR Podcast Directory, Apple Podcast, iHeartradio, the NPR One App & Stitcher.com. Twitter: TomCWilmer. Instagram: Thomas.Wilmer. Underwriting support provided by Honolulu based, Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative.
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