Wish You Were Here! Adventures in Tennessee's Upper Cumberland | Wish You Were Here! S2 Ep8 | Season

(bright music) - [Narrator] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(bright music continues) - [Narrator] "Wish You Were Here," produced under an agreement with the Upper Cumberland Development District and made possible in part through support from the United States Department of Agriculture.

(uplifting music) (birds chirping) - [Narrator] In the heart of Tennessee, there's a little slice of heaven you just gotta see.

(uplifting music continues) Oh man, wish you were here.

- Welcome to Wish You Were Here, adventures in Tennessee's Upper Cumberland.

I'm Katelyn Steakley, your guide on this extraordinary journey, as we dive deep into the captivating nature and unique culture of this stunning region.

Together we will unveil hidden gems, witness breathtaking landscapes and savor remarkable encounters that define the charm of the Upper Cumberland.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure meeting field correspondents who reveal the best kept secrets of this stunning region.

Our expedition starts right here in Crossville, Tennessee, where we'll venture into the past, transporting ourselves to the 1930s to uncover the rich history of the Cumberland Homesteads.

(bright music) - [Narrator] Step back in time at the Homestead Tower Museum.

This iconic stone tower located just four miles south of Crossville, serves as a time capsule.

Preserving the legacy of the Cumberland Homestead Project.

The museum's exhibits offer remarkable glimpse into the lives of those who sought a fresh start on these very homesteads.

- I'm here today in Scenic Crossville with the manager of the Cumberland Homestead Tower Museum, Ren Sexton.

Ren, thank you so much for having us today.

- Thank you for coming.

It's wonderful to always have some visitors come by.

- [Katelyn] Well, the property is so unique.

It's located right in the middle of Crossville.

Can you tell me a little bit about the history?

- So this is actually a unique building and it came about due to the Great Depression and the New Deal, and that was essentially a plan to create a hundred different communities throughout the us, specifically in rural regions in order to track industry and jobs there.

And the Cumberland Homesteads was one of those, and it's the only one in Tennessee.

So it created 252 homes through a program where a bunch of folks in the Appalachia region who were displaced minors in text mill workers who applied for this program were essentially building everything here, building the homes, building this tower in order to have part of their wages come back, and pay for the house that they were building.

And the tower itself was administrative offices, and not only that, but it's a water tower.

If you walk up the 97 steps or eight stories, you'll be walking around a 55,000 gallon water tank and at the very top there's an observatory deck, so you can see the entire horizon.

- And there's some very unique features about the architecture of the buildings in the homestead.

- The Cumberland Homesteads makes about 10,000 acres, and due to that huge acreage, they had a lot of local resources to drive from for the architecture, so as you can kind of tell in this room here, they have a bunch of Knotty Pine, and that's because this land was just virgin pine forest.

So that's why they use a lot of pine inside of the homes and the tower.

But on the exterior of the building, you'll notice that there is this orangy brown stone that is just everywhere, that is the Crab Orchard stone.

It is a rare sandstone that is local to this area only, and it's really easy to cut with, and that's why they used it for pretty much all of the homes and buildings in this area.

- Tell me a little bit about the living conditions of the early homesteaders and how it impacted the community development as a whole.

- So initially when they first came down here, it was just the men and they were in a barracks type situation, right where the tower was actually.

But once everything was clear, they started building a barn first on each of the properties because that was what the family could move into until the houses were complete.

And the houses are pretty small.

There's an account of a family having 13 children, so you can only imagine that these two to four bedroom houses with a bunch of children and subsistence living with canning, sulfuring apples, that's kind of the life they lived after construction.

- There's more than just the tower museum, correct?

This is a two-part museum.

- [Ren] Yes, it includes both museums.

It includes the tower museum for everything that is inside here as well, going to the top of the tower, but it also includes one of the original homes that you're able to go and visit.

It has been unchanged and once you go inside, it's basically walking into the past, you know, 1930s and 40s, seeing how these folks lived in their day-to-day lives.

- Ren, thank you so much for having us.

I'm so excited to explore and see the tower and do all the things on the property today.

- [Narrator] Join us on this historical journey at the Homestead Museum and relive a chapter of American history that continues to inspire.

(bright music continues) - At Fall Creek Falls State Park, the Canopy course challenge invites adventurers into a realm where treetops transform into exhilarating pathways.

Whether you're a thrill seeking novice or an experienced explorer, this course guarantees an unforgettable journey amid the stunning landscapes of Fall Creek Falls.

Join field correspondent Rafferty Cleary as he embarks on this high flying adventure.

Let's find out how he fared among the treetops.

(birds chirping) (bugs chirping) (upbeat music) (zip lines buzzing) - [Narrator] Buckle up for an adrenaline packed adventure at the Canopy Course Challenge in Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, everyone's in for an unforgettable ride.

- I'm hanging out in Spencer, Tennessee today at Fall Creek Falls State Park at the Canopy Challenge Course.

Nathaniel Dodson, general Manager, thanks for letting us hang out with you today.

- No problem.

Thanks for being here.

- Literally, hang out.

- Yeah.

(both chuckles) - What's the story behind the Canopy Challenge course?

How long have you been here?

And then What led to this getting off the ground?

- So I started with the previous company back in 2014.

In 2018, the original investors were backing out and they were gonna shut it down whenever the end shut down.

So in order to keep it going, me and my boss at that time decided to go ahead and take it over and keep it running.

So in 2018, we got it opened up as Canopy Challenge Course and we've been running ever since.

- Tell us what makes the Canopy Challenge course unique compared to other adventure parks across the state.

- [Nathaniel] Okay, so what we have out here is an aerial adventure course with over 70 different obstacles and eight different zip lines, ranging from easy all the way to extreme.

We start everyone off on the easy course and incrementally step them up, working their way progressively harder.

- [Rafferty] So something for beginners, more experienced folks.

How do you ensure that there's something for everyone?

- [Nathaniel] By starting on the easy course, it allows people to get used to the equipment before we work them up to the harder stuff that actually starts challenging more on balance and more physical strength.

- [Rafferty] What are some of the physical challenges that folks are gonna stumble across as they attempt this?

- [Nathaniel] We have different things consisting with, wobbly bridges, cargo nets, balance beams.

Sometimes you're just walking on a cable, literally just holding and balancing on a rope as you make your way through.

- [Rafferty] There's some smart belay technology involved in all this.

What in the world is smart belay technology?

- So smart belay means one side will be locked while one side is unlocked.

So while you're making your way through the course, you are always clipped into something.

That way you don't have to worry about accidentally clipping yourself.

It kind of takes that out of the equation.

- There's zip lines incorporated in this as well.

How many different types of zip lines are there and what's involved in that?

- So we have eight zip lines.

Ranging between about 25 feet up to about 300 feet.

So as you go through the courses, they're incorporated in the middle.

So you might have one to two obstacles and then a zip line, then another two obstacles, and then a zip line.

- [Rafferty] Team building.

Tell us about a team building experience and what it's designed to do.

- [Nathaniel] Okay, so team building is a way that we can work groups and let them work together to try to help each other overcome their challenges and their fears.

One of my favorite things about this job is watching a child come out and barely be able to go onto the first element, and then through the progressive challenging.

By the time they get to the end, they're running and leaving their parents behind.

- I'm feeling a challenge today.

Possibly getting over some fears.

What are the chances I can give the treetop challenge a try today?

- I think it's pretty good that we can get you out there and I think it's pretty good you'll have a challenge.

- Let's rock and roll.

- All right.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Make the most of your day in the exquisite Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Beyond the Canopy course, delve into a world of natural wonder as you explore numerous breathtaking overlooks, stunning waterfalls, and a myriad of unparalleled experiences that the park has in store for you.

(upbeat music continues) - Nestled along the Cumberland and Obey River, historic Celina has a rich history as a bustling river town and a hub for industry.

Today it continues to evolve while preserving its charm.

Join field correspondent Matt Beal as he explores Celina's history at the Clay County Museum.

(bright music) - [Narrator] Established in 1986.

The Clay County Museum has evolved and expanded its collection over the years, preserving the essence of this remarkable region.

- Today I am here in beautiful downtown Celina, Tennessee at the Clay County Museum of History.

I'm joined today by Clay County Museum of History curator, Beverly Hollifield.

Beverly, thanks so much for having us in today.

- Thank you for coming.

- First of all, your journey to the museum, you must have a love for history and storytelling.

What, what brought you here?

- Well, number one, I do have a extreme love of history.

My greatest joy with history is sharing it with the community.

My family's been here over 300 years, close to 300 years.

So I came back here to live on our family farm and was asked to be on the board of the museum.

Which led itself to being curator of the museum, which for me, it was just a joy.

- [Matt] Your family, you said, has been here over 300 years.

- [Beverly] Right.

- So let's go way back in time.

- [Beverly] Okay.

- [Matt] Tell me about some of the early settlers here, some of the natives and take us way back and how things got started here.

- [Beverly] Some of the first settlers or first people here would've been the Mississippian Indians.

We have a few things from the Indian heritage, but not a lot.

That's one of the things I want to grow this year.

- [Matt] he rivers in this area, the Cumberland River and the Obey River.

- [Beverly] Correct.

- Have cultural, as well as geological significance.

Tell me about that.

- Right.

We always talk about Dale Hollow and those rivers are really what brought Celina here.

They're what brought industry to Celina.

The two rivers come together, the Cumberland River, of course, flow zone down to Nashville.

It was used for logging, it was used for transporting goods, it was used for transporting people.

And when you stop and think about the rivers, the one thing about the rivers we didn't discuss is a place called Willow Grove.

Whenever the rivers were coming together, there was a lot of flooding that took place downstream.

So they came in and built a dam here.

The dam flooded a whole community, a community of people that had lived there all their lives.

It was their livelihood, it was their roots.

But when the dam came in, they had to come in, the land was purchased and the people were displaced.

But then it helped to prevent flooding down river.

- [Matt] And there are historical people that come from here or have lived here, walk me through who those folks are.

- I'll have to talk about my favorite one, which is Cordell Hull.

He was probably the greatest statesman of our time.

Being the father of the United Nations and the fact that he had his first law office here in Celina is important to us.

I'd like to talk about our veterans because of course, you know, they're the heart of America.

They're what led us to be free and kept us free all these years.

Recently I was given a lot of artifacts from World War I, world War II.

I always wondered why the Marines were called leathernecks.

They actually wore a leather collar, very thick leather, and very hot.

I'm sure.

- I'm so glad that those things are being preserved and shared with the next generation.

And there are special events that occur here throughout the year.

- There are.

- Can you tell us something about that?

- Once a year we have a festival and it's been called different things over the years.

It's been Moonshine Days, it's been Homecoming Days.

This year is called Heritage Days.

So the courthouse is 150 years old, we're celebrating that.

They're gonna be opening up a Rolley Hole Marble Museum.

We're celebrating that.

And of all things, we're celebrating the Clay County History Museum and what it has to offer to the community.

- Fantastic.

Well, thank you so much for having us here today.

We appreciate it.

I've learned a lot and look forward to looking around and seeing what else I can figure out before we take off.

- Thank you so much for coming.

(bright music) - [Narrator] The Clay County Museum serves as a beacon inspiring the local community to reconnect with its heritage bridging the past and present.

Unique exhibits await, each one a portal into the captivating history and culture of the land.

(bright music continues) - Our next adventure beckons from the supernatural realm.

Where history in the Upper Cumberland unveils its mysterious tales.

In the pursuit of the paranormal, one may stumble upon the unexpected.

Join field correspondent Shan Stout, as she ventures to downtown Livingston for a spine tingling ghost tour.

Uncovering the chilling stories that lurk in its shadows.

(playful spooky music) - [Narrator] As the moonlight cast and eerie glow upon the historic streets, we step into a world where the past and present collide.

Join us on a Walking Ghost tour like no other.

- As you can see, the sun has gone down behind the Livingston Courthouse and there's a eerie breeze in the air.

And so you know that means that we might have a shot at a spine tingling ghost tour, because we are here with the mysterious and charming Darren Shell, otherwise known as the Grave Digger.

Hi Darren.

- Hello and welcome to the Haunted History tour of Livingston Court Square.

- Now, after we take this tour, what if I have more questions about the history, the stories behind what you're telling us, is there a way we can get more information?

- Yes, I have a few books on the subject and one is about Livingston and it's creepier history.

(Shan laughs) And several others.

I'm mostly known for the history book about Dale Hollow Lake.

- So what you're telling me is the Upper Cumberland is a plethora of mysterious and all kinds of exciting things to learn.

- There is a lot of great creepy history here.

- Okay, Darren, I think I'm ready for the tour, but there's something you need to know.

I'm a little bit of a chicken, so I hope you don't mind.

I brought protection.

- You knew who to call.

(Shan laughs) (spooky music) - [Narrator] This haunting journey will transport you through time as you walk in the footsteps of restless spirits, and uncover the mysteries that shroud these hallowed streets.

- Tonight, our tour will be a historical tour.

The stories I tell you are historical fact.

And our goal tonight is to see how many photographs of unexplained things that we can find.

What we often find in our photographs are called orbs, and they are a small whitish sphere.

Sometimes there's one, sometimes there's 50, sometimes they're very close.

We also sometimes in our cameras capture clouds of mist, and sometimes those mist are in the shape of humans, animal.

Keep up, we don't want you to be ghosts for the next tour.

- [Narrator] Will you dare to delve into the shadows and confront the ghost of the past?

Be prepared for an expedition into the mysterious and uncharted realms.

- The story tells of one of my favorite Livingston people.

He was an older African American man, one of Livingston's few black families of the area of the time.

His name was Harry Springs.

He was a self-proclaimed soothsayer and that is a prophet.

He studied the astrological signs, he studied the almanac, and he was a very spiritual man, studying the Bible, carrying it with him often.

He feared that Livingston was gonna get wiped off the map by a cyclone, tornado.

And the night that it was to happen, there was a storm coming and it was tearing its way through Nashville, people dying, houses going away, all the way through Jackson County.

And it was building steam.

Harry was on top of that hill facing the storm, both hands in the air, screaming and praying, Psalm 91 to God, with the rain pelting his skin.

And that storm raced up to the edge of our town, swung wide, dissipated, and passed the town and came right back together and bulldozed right through Byrdstown.

And Livingston was spared of it.

And Livingston knew nothing of the difference.

The people of town mocked him, called him crazy, but the family knows the different story and he never recovered from that night fully.

He took ill, was bedridden most of the rest of the next year.

And when they lowered him into the ground over at the cash cemetery across from the high school, they buried him there, and Livingston suffered the worst storm in its history.

So I gotta think in my heart that something more to this story than just one old man being buried in the cemetery.

- [Shan] Okay, Darren, I don't think cemeteries were in my contract.

- Oh yeah.

- With PBS.

- Yeah.

You're already do signed on the dotted line you're in.

(Shan laughing) Talk to your protection over here.

- [Narrator] It's wise to come equipped for a potential encounter with the supernatural.

Fortunately, on this occasion, Shan knew just the person to call.

(playful spooky music) - As the summer temperatures rise, we all seek a refreshing escape.

What better place to cool off than in the embrace of a natural waterfall?

Let's join Rafferty Cleary, our field correspondent as he ventures to Cummins Falls State Park.

Diving into the refreshing waters of this pristine, natural wonder.

(light music) (water hissing) - [Narrator] Cummins beckons with a wealth of activities and recreational opportunities, ensuring and unforgettable visit.

The Blackburn Fork State Scenic River teams with a diverse array of creatures, both large and small.

- We are hanging out at Cummins Falls State Park today, and no stranger to wish you were here, Ray Cutcher, who is the park manager at Cummins Falls State Park.

Thanks for letting us spend some time with you today.

- Well, I appreciate y'all being here, thank you.

- Let's cut right to the chase.

What makes Cummins falls so unique compared to other state parks across the volunteer state?

- I think the, the waterfall obviously, and the magnificent swimming hole at the base of the waterfall.

And it's relatively easy access and people just love that experience.

- Ray, what are some characteristics of Cummins falls?

- The river that flows through the park is the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River.

It flows all the way through the park.

It starts in the edge of Cookeville and heads into the Cumberland River eventually.

The gorge is about 200 feet deep from where we are now, down to down to the waterfall.

The waterfall is, it's a beautiful waterfall.

One of the things that makes it that way is the ledges At the base of it.

So the water comes off and goes over into this big plunge pool of people where people love to swim.

- Cummins Falls is a beast, no doubt about it.

What do folks need to know and be aware of before they come and try to conquer this?

- It's a rugged hike.

It's not a long hike, but it's fairly rugged for most people.

So be, plan for that.

If you haven't been hiking in quite a long time, you might not wanna come in the middle of July on the hottest day of the year.

But if you do, then plenty of water.

One of our biggest issues in the summertime is people having heat exhaustion.

Almost daily we'll have to take water or Gatorade down to somebody and assist them getting out, because I didn't plan.

The hike is about 45 minutes in, 45 minutes out for most people.

It's fairly rugged.

- [Rafferty] If you don't wanna do the hike, if you don't wanna get down to the gorge, there's another alternative, is that correct?

- Yes.

Yes, though you can hike down to the overlook, which is a very short hike, pretty easy.

And you can view the waterfall from there.

And also probably this month is going to be construction started on an observation deck there, which will have ADA access as well, which will be a really cool thing.

- I always think that park rangers have the coolest offices in the world.

You know, all these beautiful outdoor places across the state they get to spend their days at.

You have a really cool office, Ray, because we're standing in just a magnificent visitor center, relatively new to the park.

Tell us what folks can experience and expect here at this new visitor center.

- There's a point where they can come and get the information they need to have the day they planned.

There is displays over there about the history of the park, history of the area, and also about the geology of the area, and also some information about the hazards of the area as well.

- [Rafferty] Tell me about the permitting system.

- For the first handful of years they had this park open visitation grew crazy.

It got totally outta control.

I mean, literally I'd be down at the waterfall and count over a thousand people at one time.

It was unbelievable.

We were having accidents right and left.

Almost every day we were hauling somebody out there in a stokes basket because they slipped and got hurt.

We decided we had to get control over a visitation.

We had to reduce the numbers.

We only issue enough permits to try to manage the numbers at the base of waterfall, so the person can go online and get a permit before they come.

They can buy three months in advance, or they can get 'em here the morning of, the day of as well if they want to.

- Cool in here, inside the visitor center.

A hot day outside, I'm gonna conquer or try to the height down of the gorge and I just, maybe just might hop in the water as well.

You wanna go give it a whirl?

- Sure.

- Let's do it.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] As the day warms up, Cummins falls transforms into a delightful summer swimming destination, inviting you to experience its natural swimming pool.

The temptation is real, and you may find yourself taking the plunge into this captivating wonder, just as our fearless correspondent Rafferty did.

- We're gonna go for a jump at Cummins Falls State Park.

Let's do it.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] What are you waiting for?

Embark on an exploration of the natural wonders with Cummins Falls State Park.

(upbeat music continues) - As we conclude our exploration at the Homestead Museum, we carry with us a profound understanding of the challenges endured by the resilient individuals in the post-depression era.

The enduring homestead structures stand as a testament to innovation and the pursuit of a brighter future.

Thank you for joining us on our journey through Tennessee's Upper Cumberland.

Until we meet again, let Wanderlust guide you to New Horizons, igniting the Explorer within, continue uncovering the Upper Cumberland's Hidden Marbles Farewell for now.

Wish you were here.

(upbeat music) - Ready on set.

(clapperboard claps) - Ready on set.

(clapperboard claps) - On the unforgettable- (Katelyn blubbers) - Be sure that you join, tune in and join us.

There's a blooper for you, Craig.

- [Person] Whoa.

What's up?

(zip line buzzing) - Whew!

(cameraman laughing) - No, wait!

No, I'm playing, you're good.

(all laughing) (upbeat music) (light music) - [Narrator] Wish You Were Here, produced under an agreement with the Upper Cumberland Development District and made possible in part through support from the United States Department of Agriculture.

(bright music) - [Narrator] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

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