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SOUTHWEST TN BRAVES WINTER STORM FERN

Winter

Storm Fern left Southwest Tennessee

covered in snow and ice. Thousands were without electricity, impacting residents and businesses alike. But as usual, when hard times hit, the cream rises to the top. Those who could opened, volunteered and served as best they could. Thank you Southwest TN for being warmth when its so cold.

ElPalomino

MexicanRestaurant

It doesn’t matter if it’s Manic Mondays, Terrible Tuesdays, Whacked Out Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, Freaky Fridays Sensational Saturdays, or Soulful Sundays, El Palomino has the perfect Margarita and full bar menu for you!

780 MULBERRY AVENUE SELMER, TENNESSEE

Winter Hiking & Camping in Southwest Tennessee’s State Parks

Tired of being stuck indoors this winter? Southwest Tennessee state parks are regarded for their unobstructed views and trails during the winter months. Visit these two state parks and explore all they have to offer this time of year.

Big Hill Pond State Park –McNairy County

A little more than 4,000 acres of forested hills and swampy bottomlands are bordered by the Tuscumbia River and Cypress Creek in southwestern Tennessee, near the Mississippi state line. The park offers over 30 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The park’s namesake may be a beautiful pond grown in with incredible cypress trees, but it’s Travis McNatt Lake which forms the very heart of the park. There are four backcountry trail shelters with bunks for backpackers, three of which definitely qualify as remote. A highlight is the 70-foot observation tower, offering panoramic views of Travis McNatt Lake and Dismal Swamp. A boardwalk winds through the swamp, where you can see unique cypress trees.

Winter Hiking & Camping in Southwest Tennessee’s State Parks

Chickasaw State Park – Chester County

Chickasaw State Park in Henderson, has some of the most unique camping and lodging accommodations. On the hillsides above Lake Placid, at the very center of the park, there are seven Works Progress Administration cabins. These cabins each have their own fireplaces and televisions, making them ideally situated for the ultimate lakeside weekend. There are six two-bedroom cabins within easy access to Lake Placid. You'll find full-size appliances in the kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace in the main living area-- making these cabins a perfect winter getaway in Tennessee. Another accommodation option in the park is the wrangler campgrounds, located near the stables for those traveling with horses. The park's 1,400 acres are a small part of the much larger Chickasaw State Forest, which encompasses more than 14,000 acres of protected lands.

Visit https://www.visitswtenn.com/ for more information about all the region’s parks.

ROCKABILLY RODEO ROCKABILLY RODEO RESCHEDULED RESCHEDULED

Winter Storm Fern has prompted organizers to reschedule the upcoming Rockabilly Rodeo to March in order to allow recovery efforts to be completed. Click the updated poster for morre information.

QUEEN HAILEY

Legend of Southwest Tennessee Legendof SouthwestTennessee

Southwest Tennessee is rich in history and is built on a foundation of impactful and meaningful individuals and stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. Beginning in February, the Southwest Tennessee Tourism Association will publish Legends of Southwest Tennessee, an effort to spotlight an individual or individuals that in some way has been an impactful part of Southwest Tennessee history and culture. We consulted with leaders in Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, McNairy and Madison counties to determine individuals we would spotlight. We begin our journey through the past by getting to know Queen Jackson Haley.

QUEEN JACKSON HALEY

Queen was the grandmother of author Alex Haley. Many may remember Alex Haley as the author of the Pulitzerwinning novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. In addition to his many other works, he also wrote Alex Haley's Queen: The Story of an American Family, in honor of his grandmother. The story was made into a television mini-series in 1993. Queen was born into slavery at the Forks of the Cypress plantation near Florence, Alabama. She was the daughter of the plantation's owner, James Jackson Jr., and an enslaved woman named Easter.

While her biological father reportedly favored her and refused to sell her during hard times, he never publicly acknowledged her as his daughter due to social pressures. According to history, Queen was cast out by her white family members, who also did not acknowledge her. After the Civil War, Queen made her way north to Savannah, Tennessee in Hardin County, working at the Cherry (Mansion) Plantation as a domestic servant. She married Alec Haley, a ferry operator for the Cherry family, on October 9, 1881.

They had one son together, Simon Haley, who became a professor of agriculture and the father of Alex Haley. During her life, Queen faced significant adversity, including racism, and poverty. Throughout her life, Queen endured severe trauma, including sexual assault and physical abuse. She was also forced to witness the lynching of Davis, the father of her first child Later in life she struggled with mental illness. Queen found support and stability primarily through her marriage and her relationship with her children, which helped her heal from a lifetime of trauma. Queen was fiercely supportive of her children's advancement. Despite her husband’s insistence that their son Simon Haley work the farm, Queen pushed him to continue his education, secretly giving him money to attend college to ensure he could pursue his studies In her final years, Queen moved to Huntsville, Alabama, to live with Simon, who by that time had become a professor at Alabama A&M Her insistence in pursuing an education not only impacted her children, it impacted future generations as well, Alex being a prime example. Queen died in June 1941 and is buried in the Savannah Cemetery in Hardin County. In honor of being a Legend of Southwest Tennessee and it being Black History Month, we honor Queen Jackson Haley. “In honor of Black History Month, we recognize and celebrate Queen Jackson Haley, a true legend of Southwest Tennessee.”

QUEEN HAILEY

CHERRYMANSIONFACTS:

Built by slaves along the banks of the Tennessee River, the Cherry Mansion is the oldest dwelling in Savannah. It was the home of William H. Cherry, a Union supporter. Prior to the Battle of Shiloh, the mansion served as the headquarters of U.S. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. On the morning the battle began, April 6, 1862, Grant heard the distant sounds of battle and told his staff: "Gentlemen, the ball is in motion." He left immediately on a Union transport for the battlefield, which is about nine miles southwest. The house is privately owned but can be viewed from the sidewalks where the interpretive markers are located.

Welcome to the Tennessee River Museum, located in the city of Savannah and housed with one-of-akind artifacts detailing the unique history of the Tennessee River Valley. From pre-historic life to post-war reconciliation, discover the exciting stories of bygone eras with a tour through our educational exhibits today. Click HERE to learn more!

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ReimagineHealth RediscoverYou

Whether it’s for a date night or a girls' night, Jackson has all the Valentine’s Day events. Smell the roses, enjoy shops decked out in pink, and listen to some of your favorite love songs at these events. To see more, visit: VisitJacksonTN.com

Santa ’splanning his Springvacation

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The Southwest Tourism Association spotlights the City of Bolivar. One thing that can be said with certainty about Bolivar is that it is rich in history and tradition. The first town in Hardeman County was established in 1823 on the "Hatchee," the Indian name for the river. The town was aptly referred to as Hatchie Town. Because of repeated flooding, a new site, located approximately one mile south of the original site, was selected as the county seat. The commissioners appointed by the state assembly to select sites for county seats named Bolivar in honor of South American Liberator Simon Bolivar. The town of Bolivar was officially established on October 18, 1825.

A quiet stroll through Bolivar will entice visitors to listen to the many stories of Bolivar's yesteryear, and we are all very happy to oblige with stories passed from generation to generation.

Thank you the CIty of Bolivar for being a vital part of Southwest Tennessee.

You’re always a winner when you plan your adventures in West Tennessee

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SELMER, TENNESSEE SELMER, TENNESSEE