Between Knoxville And Chattanooga Is Tennessee's Riverside Town With Farmlands, Roadside Eats, And Antique Finds

There is more to Tennessee than country music and Dollywood. Throughout the Volunteer State, you'll find plenty of charming small towns where wide open fields, wholesome diners, and trinket-filled antique shops reveal just as much about the state as any headline-grabbing attraction. Greenback, located in Loudon County, is one of those special places.

Founded near the Little Tennessee River and shaped by Baker Creek, the town's roots stretch back to the late 18th century, when a new ferry crossing was built in Morganton and began to connect settlers across East Tennessee. By the 19th century, the arrival of the railroad and the rise of local commerce helped establish Greenback as a hub for trade, agriculture, and community life. One can find the town situated between Chattanooga, the perfect summer destination for music lovers, and Knoxville, with its bustling downtown square full of shops and restaurants. 

But navigating to Greenback from a major city can be a long journey. From Nashville, the drive runs a little more than three hours, taking you down an easy path east into Loudon County. That said, the town is technically closer to Atlanta, home to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Staying overnight in Greenback is a breeze, as visitors can find plenty of homelike stays on vacation rental platforms. However, those craving a more luxurious stay can check out Grand Vista Hotel and Suites in nearby Vonore. Featuring saltwater pools, mountain views, and even the occasional bear sighting, this hotel provides a comfortable retreat that pairs well with a day of exploring Greenback's history and countryside.

Greenback's farmlands offer visitors a chance to experience local traditions firsthand through food, harvests, and seasonal events. Take Milne Farm, for example, where history is literally built into the soil. The family home, constructed in 1810, stands as one of the oldest in Loudon County. Since 1990, the property has transitioned its specialty from cattle raising to grain cultivation and vineyards, each new venture adding a chapter to its legacy. 

By 2006, their "Pick Your Own Grapes" event had become a community favorite and was later expanded when the Milne family added blackberry fields and muscadine vines to their fields. At one point, Milne Farm owned and operated nearly five acres of grape vines. However, ever a family-run business, when the family's children left for college, operations scaled back. Today, hay production and fields of Norway Spruce and White Pine (a.k.a the ideal species of Christmas trees) set the farm's rhythm, alongside a successful events calendar.

Hyde Farms and Maple Lane Farms further highlight Greenback's agricultural diversity, offering visitors the chance to step directly into the wonders of farm life. At Hyde Farms, guests can pick their own strawberries in the spring, stroll through rows of sweet corn and pumpkins in the summer and fall, or purchase custom beef and pork raised on-site. Maple Lane Farms, meanwhile, has become a local institution thanks to Tennessee's longest-running Fall Corn Maze Festival, hosted on-site. Each year, from September to October, its 10-acre maze draws crowds eager to navigate winding paths. Many locals also return in the evening when the farm transforms into a haunted attraction. Visitors can also pick pumpkins straight from the patch, pose in blooming sunflower fields, or relax by campfires with live music and food vendors.

Dining in Greenback has a distinctly local flavor, built on traditions that favor familiarity, generous portions, and a sense of belonging. At the Greenback Drug Company, a community fixture since 1923, meals come with a dose of history. Locals describe it as a small town spot known for home cooking where regulars gather as much for conversation as for pancakes and burgers. 

A few blocks away, the Greenback Corner Market & Deli is tucked inside a gas station but wins loyal fans with its reasonable prices and amazing food. On Friday nights, shelves move aside and the place transforms into a casual steakhouse. For families, Rocky's Place Ice Cream adds sweetness to the mix. Known as the region's first Hershey's parlor, it serves flavors like butter pecan and black raspberry in homemade waffle cones, paired with hot dogs and a putt-putt course next door.

Shopping for antiques in Greenback is less about ticking off lists and more about stumbling upon stories. The Home Decor Resale Store is a great place to find unique trinkets and treasures. Featuring aisles full of decor, dishware, and the occasional piece of vintage furniture, antique lovers can easily lose themselves amongst these quaint valuables. After antique shopping, visitors can also stop at the Greenback Heritage Museum. Here, one can roam through displays of radios, farm tools, and documents that stretch back two centuries. Each artifact, often donated by local families, reflects the community's memory and history.