Michael and I never thought we’d find ourselves in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee as part of our Buick Bucket List trip. In fact, the only reason we found it at all was thanks to the Encore’s GPS.
But, somehow, there we were, pulling into the Holiday Inn Express to spend the night in between our visits to the Elephant Sanctuary. It turned out to be a fantastic experience and made us realize how close-minded we’ve been about certain places.
And that, my friends, is what makes travel so awesome.
Because we weren’t expecting much when we left the Elephant Sanctuary for the hotel, we took our time getting there, which was easy to do because it’s pretty much one lane all the way and no one seems to be in a hurry.
Then, out of nowhere, this showed up on our GPS screen:
Wow! We’d never had a car that did anything like that! But, because we had no idea if we were even in any of those counties and the sky looked pretty clear, we did what we always do in situations that confuse us. We ignored it.
And, fifteen minutes later, the skies opened up. Rain pelted down, thunder shook the skies and I silently thanked the Buick people for putting us in a car with all wheel drive and great windshield wipers. (Okay, I may not have been so silent. Sara and Lauren, that mysterious “WTF? Thank goodness we’re in this car!” you heard one strange afternoon was coming from us in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Please accept our public thank you now, too.)
We checked into our hotel and asked for recommendations for dinner and activities. The man behind the counter was so sweet and so representative of all the Southern hospitality we encountered throughout our trip. He said the Log Cabin, right across the street, was his favorite and that we had to try the chicken and dumplings. He also suggested we spend the rest of the afternoon at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, which was just a couple of miles away.
Thankfully, the rain had stopped so we got back in the car because of course we had to see Loretta Lynn’s Ranch!
The place is huge, and features a full-service RV park, campgrounds, cabins, a pool, fishing, boating, and so much more. Although we arrived too late to spend time in the museum, we signed up for the tour and checked out the gift shop, which was like a shrine to Loretta.
I was so excited to walk through the actual house – a replica of Loretta’s Butcher Holler childhood home – that was used in Coal Miner’s Daughter, one of my favorite movies of all time. We watched it again when we got home so we could see the tiny living room where the family spends most of their time, and the newspapers glued to the ceilings for insulation.
The tour took us through a simulated coal mine, which was fascinating and sobering since Loretta’s dad worked there and it laid the groundwork for her identity.
We also got to see Loretta’s plantation home – the one she bought because she was such a fan of Gone With The Wind. The house is gorgeous but what stopped us dead in our tracks was the slave pit still in place under the bench on the porch.
According to our tour guide, Loretta kept it there so no one would ever forget that slavery existed not so long ago. I admire her for doing that because it is so painful – but important – to see this blatant reminder of one of the most shameful periods of our country’s history. I had kept my eyes closed through much of 12 Years a Slave, and seeing the slave pit right there in front of us was horrifying to me. When one of the little boys on our tour innocently asked if he could go in it, it sent shivers down my spine.
Once we were in the house, I enjoyed seeing some of the rooms I remembered from Coal Miner’s Daughter and was blown away by the 100+ album covers hanging on the walls. Loretta was definitely prolific! People on the tour talked about her with such reverence and some even got teary as they got a chance to walk through her personal home.
She now lives in a small house adjacent to the property and sometimes surprises guests by showing up on tours. I would have loved to have met Loretta, who was absolutely a pioneer in her field, bringing topics like feminism and the Pill out into the open.
We left the Ranch with a real sense of admiration for what Loretta has accomplished and how she has inspired so many people. She is living proof that you can rise to the top from the most humble beginnings – and, despite huge success, she herself has retained that humility.
By the time we got back in the car, still humming Coal Miner’s Daughter, we were starving. Although we knew we were going to eat at the Log Cabin, we stopped at Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen to check out the décor and the buffet. It was almost like another Loretta Lynn Museum.
At the Log Cabin, which was hopping on a Friday night, we had a waitress who called us “hon,” Mason jars full of sweet tea and more delicious food than two people could eat in a week. Notice the fried pickles, which were becoming a given at every meal for us.
It’s a good thing I don’t live in the South because I could get used to this. That being said, we didn’t skip dessert, although we did bring it back to our room, which had a fridge — and we ended up having a great evening in the surprisingly charming hotel lobby, drinking complimentary tea and people watching.
We didn’t skip breakfast the next morning (which was also complimentary), either, because this pancake machine was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!
One minute later …
OMG! I so want one of these in our house!
Fortified and ready to work, we packed up a lunch made of cereal, fruit and pastries and headed off to the Elephant Sanctuary for our Volunteer Day.
You are so right about travel opening up your world and your heart to the unexpected. The friendly people in the south and the unexpected welcoming feeling is very cool!
When you get one of those machines, I am coming over for breakfast!!!
If I can find that machine, I’m going to host a big pancake breakfast! You can come over even if I can’t find the machine!!
Sounds amazing, Lois. A wonderful trip. I would have (gladly) gained a million pounds. Yum.
Did you happen to see Tommy Lee Jones?
Wow, that place looks amazing. And that food looks absolutely delicious.
Wow, this looks like fun, but not in the heat of summer!
Tennessee is such beautiful state, I am looking forward to vising again in the spring. I visited Dolly Parton’s park and museum last time. I will have to check out Loretta’s this time.
Those gps warnings are scary. I got one while I was driving in NC and it told me to seek shelter. I was in the middle of no where. Scary.
I’m glad you were ok.
Yes more fried pickles! How cool that the car could alert you of the storm. That is amazing!
Well flap my jacks, if you aren’t a real honky tonk hon!
We just got back from vacation in Tennessee. It’s such a beautiful state full of so many things to see. I have never been to Loretta Lynn’s farm. Maybe the next time we are there. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Tons of fun! I have always wanted to visit Tennessee. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
That trip to the Loretta Lynn farm and estate was remarkable. Seeing the slave pit is painful though. Like you, I appreciate that she doesn’t want to brush that part of history away though.
This looks like a lot of fun~
I’ve never been to Tennessee, but it looks peaceful. I want to go to Nashville one day!
Excellent tour guide! I want to go there. Thanks!
How fun! I love going to places unexpected and then enjoying it. Sounds like the perfect roadtrip!
Okay, I had several things I wanted to say about this post, but they all went out the window when I saw that pancake machine. WHAT?!?! I need one of those!!!
That looks like a fun trip, and you had some good eats!
OMG, I want a pancake machine!! That looks amazing! I’m from East TN and I’ve never been to Hurricane Mills (never even heard of it). Now I’m going to have to make it a point to drag my hubs there to check out Lorette Lynns place!
Wow I am so jealous of your trip. I love Loretta Lynn and would love to visit her house one day.
I love all of TN! Really- the beauty is overwhelming along with the history!
What a great trip! Isn’t it amazing what cars can do for us these days. Awesome how it warned you about the weather. I don’t know a lot about Loretta Lynn but would love to learn more. I’ll have to visit her place someday.
Would love to go to Tennessee. That food looks pretty amazing.
The only time I’ve spent in Tennessee was a week in Memphis for business, which I really enjoyed! (Rare for a business trip.) I’ve always said I would go back and now, in addition to volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary, I’ve added roaming the country side in search of cool pancake machines and a Mason jar of perfect sweet tea.
First adding this town to my must see list. Second that food looks amazing and finally omg that pancake machine rocks.
That sounds like a wonderful tour. I would like to get me one of those pancake machines also.
I would have probably never heard of this city if it were not for your post. It looks like you had a good meal there though.
Ok, that pancake machine is awesome! I want one of those for my house!
I would love to visit there, the place you went to eat sounds like my type of place. I need to have alerts like that when I am running, wonder if Buick can come up with something for that!
Looks like you had an amazing time. That pancake machine looks awesome!
I am not sure who Loretta Lynn is, but I can promise you that right after I finish this comment I am ‘Googling’ her. Your overnight stay in Hurricane Mills sounds perfect. Travel really does open up your world to places and things you’d never consider.
The GPS is awesome! i like how it is built in and no fumbling with plugging one in!
A pancake machine???? I need one!!!!
That looks like a fun trip. Lots of good food too
What a fun day! And now you have me wanting to see Coal Miner’s Daughter again! And lucky you getting to go the Elephant Sanctuary -that is an absolute dream of mine!!!
As much as I love Loretta Lynn I won’t be visiting her ranch. Seeing the slave pit up close and personal would give me nightmares. Heck, the photo gave me chills. I really, really want that pancake machine though.
Awesome trip! I’m glad you had a great time.
You are really enjoying your Buick. We always get complimentary breakfast whenever we stay at hotels and that pancake machine is a winner.
What a fun adventure – my Nana would have been proud of the mile high meringue on that pie!
Sounds like a great trip. And now I want a pancake machine. It sounds like a nifty gadget.
I would love to meet Loretta Lynn!!! That pancake machine looks amazing!!
I love tours like this! And that pancake machine is pretty cool.
I love those pancake makers and use then whenever we stay at a hotel, I would love one for my house as well.
Oh, I so want my own pancake machine! I’d love that so much! What a nice time you had on your trip.
I love the GPS on that car! I also like how it is more eye level than other built in GPS systems.
I would like to visit Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. My Dad just loved her and listened to her music all the time. The food looks fantastic too!
The unexpected events in our life is what makes it so exciting. What a fin trip.
Oh and I sooo want that in my kitchen too!
What a beautiful house – and agreed. The slave pit would have given me the shivers too – but love that she wanted to preserve history. It’s definitely something that should never be forgotten.
Oh my gosh to the pancake machine. hahahhaa I like it. 🙂
I’d love to visit here, Loretta Lynn was a favorite of my mom and grandmother. 🙂
You’ve had some amazing adventures! This looks like another fun place to visit.
I am living in the 90s with my car. It doesn’t have anything fancy on it.. I sometimes wish I had a fancier one.
I would love to visit this place. The Coal Miner’s Daughter is one of my favorite movies.
This is a tour my mom would probably love to go on. She is such a Loretta Lynn fan! She seems like a very humbled woman, so it’s no wonder people love her so.
Oh my gosh, you had quite an adventure! I’ve never seen a gadget in a car do that but I do get alerts on my phone. By the way, I seriously want that pancake machine in my life now!
You are having quite the adventure! Can I come with? 🙂
I love visiting new areas. Makes me feel like the world is waiting for me to visit. I just need to get more paid days off of work!
Looks like you had a great time . I wish I could be as adventurous.
Hello,
I ran across your blog and loved your write up on the LL Ranch. I’m from TN about 30 minutes from the Ranch and lived here my whole life. The south is full of courteous people and lots of great things to do. So glad you liked your visit in my part of the world. Happy Vacationing!