Maryville is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville is a good starting point for exploring a number of popular tourist destinations such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Dollywood and Pigeon Forge. Sam Houston Schoolhouse, today a State Historic Site, located near Maryville, is the oldest schoolhouse in Tennessee. Blount County Historical Museum is great place to learn about Maryville past. Blue Goose Vineyards produce 13 award-winning labels from the muscadine grapes they grow in their vineyard.
Bicentennial Greenbelt Park
© Al/stock.adobe.com
Bicentennial Greenbelt Park in downtown Maryville, Tennessee was developed in order to change the nature of the area once used for light industry and known for heavy pollution. The key to the redevelopment in the area was cleaning of the once polluted Pistol Creek that now runs through the park. The development of Bicentennial Park changed the character of the entire area. Its walkways became the roots of the Maryville Alcoa Greenway and the park became locally known as the Greenbelt. The area around Bicentennial Park started to grow and rejuvenate, Canada geese stopped at Bicentennial Park on migration, and in 1999, the first phase of the Maryville Alcoa Greenway was finished and included the former walkways in Bicentennial Park.
409 N Cusick St, Maryville, TN 37804
Blue Goose Farm and Vineyards
© Blue Goose Farm and Vineyards
Blue Goose Farm and Vineyards is a small, family-operated farm and vineyard located in the lovely green valley of the Great Smoky Mountains, just outside Maryville, Tennessee. They grow various berries and apple trees, several different varieties of muscadine grapes, and take care of livestock on their lush pastures. The vineyard has a breathtaking view of the Great Smoky Mountains, and is a perfect venue for weddings and other celebrations. Their winery, located on the property, has a nice tasting room in the old rustic barn and provides wine tastings of their 13 award-winning labels. The tasting room also has a small gift shop that offers a variety of wine accessories and handcrafted items from local and regional artists.
3334 Old Niles Ferry Rd, Maryville, TN 37803, Phone: 865-456-7815
Capitol Theatre
© Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre opened in 1934 and it soon became the major entertainment place in Maryville, Tennessee. The Capitol was the largest movie house in downtown Maryville, seating about 1000 people. The building which housed the theatre went through many incarnations: it was originally built for the WA Dunlap in 1922, then it became a furniture store and undertaking establishment. Later it housed J.C. Penney Company until 1934 when Crescent Amusement Company bought it and converted it into the Capitol Theatre. The theatre closed as a movie theatre in the 1970’s. Today it houses the Heath Claiborne Gallery, and serves as a venue for movies, live performances and other special events in a dinner theatre setting. It has a stage, dance floor, a retractable silver screen, catering kitchen and flexible seating. The theatre is also available for private parties, corporate events and other celebrations.
127 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37801, Phone: 865-980-1966
Sam Houston Historic Schoolhouse
© Sam Houston Historic Schoolhouse
Sam Houston Historic Schoolhouse State Historic Site is a three-acre site around the one-room schoolhouse built in 1794 and made of rough-hewn poplar logs in Maryville, Tennessee, and is typical “field” school of the 1700 and 1800s. Built two years before Tennessee became a State, it is the oldest school in Tennessee. Sam Houston, a renowned statesman, pioneer and teacher, taught at the school as a young man. The school house was originally built by Andrew Kennedy, a Revolutionary War veteran, together with Henry McCulloch and a few other neighbors. The schoolhouse is a Tennessee state historic site and it is open to the public. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
3650 Sam Houston Ln, Maryville, TN 37804, Phone: 865-983-1550