Loudon County, Tennessee
Loudon County, TN, is home to outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities given its placement within several different watersheds that empty into the Tennessee River. Its naturally beautiful landscape has been home to prosperous settlements for thousands of years, and this tradition is held up today with its unrivaled fishing, agriculture, and historic offerings.
Visit Loudon County!
History
The land that Loudon County, TN, sits on was populated by Native American tribes for thousands of years, and they made the most of the fertile watershed created by the Tennessee River and plethora of nearby creeks and rivers. During the French and Indian War in 1756, the British colony of South Carolina built Fort Loudoun, which they lost to the Cherokee four years later.
The area has always been sought after for its proximity to local waterways, and the first long-term white residents arrived in what is now Loudon County in 1790. Small settlements assembled on both sides of the river through the turn of the century, and the town of Blair’s Ferry was born in the early 1800s. By 1850, the settlement had a formal town plan and in 1858 its name was changed to Loudon.
In 1852, the railroad came through town, and in 1855 a railroad bridge was built over the Tennessee River, which drastically reduced the river’s necessity for moving goods through Loudon. This bridge would make Loudon County a critical junction during the Civil War since it helped thousands of troops move across eastern Tennessee.
The war brought tough times to Loudon County given it was a hub of coming-and-going regiments and hardly saw quiet or peaceful times throughout the conflict. The eastern portion of the state was home to many Union sympathizers despite Tennessee lawmakers’ allegiance to the Confederacy, and their frustration with secession came to fruition in the form of 1861’s famous bridge-burning conspiracy.
Plans to burn bridges across East Tennessee were ultimately thwarted in most places, including Loudon County, which local legends say avoided damage because the conspirators were drunk and missed their window of opportunity. Other accounts simply say the attackers made no attempt since they were outnumbered by the bridge’s guards. The failed attacks were a wake-up call for the Confederacy nonetheless, and they watched the bridge carefully until the North took over East Tennessee in September 1863.
During Northern control, 10,000 Union troops were stationed in Loudon, and there were several skirmishes in the area through the following months. One saw 700 Union soldiers and 50 supply wagons captured by Confederate forces in October in Philadelphia, TN.
Following the unsuccessful Siege of Knoxville in December 1863, retreating Southern forces burned down Loudon’s railroad bridge to protect themselves from Northern pursuers. Three locomotives and 48 train cars were lost in the destruction. Loudon County was left in a precarious economic condition after the war, and financial recovery was slow as the townspeople rebuilt everything they lost during the fighting.
The Lenoir family, who owned significant generational land deeds, played a massive part in gradually bringing industry back to the region, as they financed the rebuilding of stores, depots, and mills that were destroyed in the 1860s. The Lenoir City Company office building is now the Lenoir City Museum, which is open on select days to showcase local artifacts and share the city’s history.
Lenoir City was planned from the ground-up by the company, who hoped to create an effective place to work and live, inspired by company towns in coal-rich communities on the Cumberland Plateau.
Steady industrial growth continued through the early 20th century, and TVA brought major changes to the county with the construction of Fort Loudoun Dam beginning in 1940.
The last part of TVA’s unified dam plans completed before World War II, the Fort Loudoun Dam provides energy and flood control to the region to this day alongside Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River. The latter faced controversy on a national stage throughout its construction because of fears that the dam would alter the only known habitat for snail darters at the time. Though the Supreme Court ruled against the dam in Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, it was ultimately completed and snail darters were moved to another watershed, where they have thrived and were removed from the Endangered Species List in 2022.
Outdoor Recreation
Getting outside is a big part of life around Loudon County, as access to water and wilderness are readily available across the landscape.
The Tennessee River plays a major part in this, as the reservoir created by Fort Loudoun Dam means fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and watersports opportunities are easy to find. Bass–large, small, and white–are the most commonly harvested fish in the reservoir, followed by catfish, crappie, and bluegill. It shares the river with Watts Bar Lake on the other side of the dam, which has similar recreation experiences and sights to see. Watts Bar Lake is also a great place for camping and catching a view from its panoramic overlook.
Fort Loudoun is open for exploration, and its impressive offerings are fun for history buffs or anyone looking for a leisurely stroll along its about four total miles of hiking trails. The fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression after about 150 years of inactivity (the site was moved to accommodate Fort Loudon Reservoir), and the recreation offers a faithful step back into time. The site has picnic areas, paddlecraft rentals, a museum, gift shop, and the occasional battle reenactment.
Tellico and Melton Hill Dams can be found on the nearby Little Tennessee and Clinch Rivers, respectively, and both offer even more opportunities for fishing, boating, or whatever else visitors enjoy doing to recreate on the water. One thing’s for sure, fishermen can’t blame an empty bag on insufficient places to cast!
Golf is a popular outdoor attraction in Loudon County, and Tellico Village is home to three different courses. It offers private and public experiences, so be sure to call and check availability before seeking out a tee time. There are plenty of nearby options if Tellico Village lacks openings.
Tourist Attractions
Loudon County has a strong agricultural presence, given its proximity to abundant freshwater and fertile soil. Southeast Tennessee is known for dairy production, and several spots offer opportunities to get an inside look at farm life, or simply enjoy some delicious local berries, meats, cheeses, bread, wine, and ice cream.
Sweetwater Valley Farm specializes in dairy products, and it offers tours of the farm as well as a cafe where it serves sandwiches made with components grown on site. Richensin Family Farm in Loudon specializes in blackberries, peaches, and pumpkins, all of which you can pick yourself depending on seasonal (and appointment) availability. The roadside stand offers produce as well, but the family encourages making a phone call before taking the trip out to see what they are offering each day. Tennessee Valley Winery operates out of Loudon County as well, and its best bottles can be found all around the area.
The city of Loudon has a historic downtown area with charming brick buildings full of restaurants, antique shops, cafes, and boutiques perfect for a day of wandering the streets and meeting friendly faces. LoCo Drive-In Movie Theater offers a fun way to enjoy an evening full of cheap snacks, beer, and blockbusters.
Loudon County is truly an outdoor recreationists' paradise with many opportunities to fish, boat, hunt, and explore. Its historic and agricultural opportunities give visitors plenty of opportunities to escape the speed of everyday life, and there are plenty of charming spots to eat after a day of heavy traveling. Loudon County has embraced its plentiful freshwater as part of its identity, making it a perfect representative of all the Tennessee RiverLine has to offer.