Clifton provides a mix of location and affordability
Elevated on a bluff by the Tennessee River, Clifton is a small community that stands tall in terms of its potential for value. Although property prices have exploded closer to Nashville, Clifton and some surrounding areas still offer buyers the opportunity to purchase larger tracts of land for lower prices. “There’s been a lot of people that are looking for homes on acreage, or looking for land to build a home. And the No. 1 driver that I’ve seen is affordability,” says Paul Morrison, an area broker with Mossy Oak Properties who has roughly five years of industry experience. “I know you can find land for $2,000 to $3,000 an acre pretty readily in those counties.” Clifton has an eclectic selection of existing homes, some dating to the early 1900s and some providing river views. Recreation opportunities are also abundant, scattered around the region’s rural landscape.
Availability of land offers a measure of flexibility
The core of Clifton, closer to the river, is relatively dense with established bungalows and ranch-style homes. “It’s kind of a mix,” Morrison says. “There’s opportunity there to find something that maybe hasn’t been remodeled or updated. But I would say most people at this point, if it hasn’t been already updated or remodeled, they’re buying it and going in and doing that themselves. With the quality of housing, I definitely think you’re starting to see some upgrades.” Many of Clifton’s newer homes and multiple-acre lots are on the outskirts of town. The Ross Creek Ridge subdivision, for example, features lots around 20 acres apiece. “It’s basically a community that’s spread out over hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of acres,” Morrison says. “They’ve run all the utilities. All of these lots have sold.” Already-built homes in Clifton go for anywhere from $80,000 to $700,000 based on factors including age, acreage and proximity to the river. The median sale price here is $150,000.
Outdoor attractions cover multiple ages and interests
Locals can take in a nice day in Clifton at spots like Sgt. David Brown Memorial Riverfront Park, where there’s a playground and a splash pad open from late May through late September. Eddie Kelley Recreation includes multiple ball fields. Boaters can take off down the river from Clifton Marina, and the river offers anglers the opportunity to catch bass, catfish and more. Ross Creek Landing Golf Course has an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course that’s open to the public. Mousetail Landing State Park, 30 miles north of Clifton, features over 24 miles of trails and a beach area along Spring Creek, an offshoot of the Tennessee River. “It’s a very pretty park,” Morrison says. Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area, 40 miles east, offers even more amenities across thousands and thousands of acres. “It’s one of the more well-managed WMAs,” Morrison says. “It’s just under 15,000 acres. It’s got fishing lakes, horse trails, hunting areas, campgrounds. It’s a pretty nice park.”
Locally owned businesses dominate Clifton’s commerce
Most of Clifton’s businesses are along Main and Pillow streets. “The neat part is it’s all kind of local, mom and pop,” Morrison says. The Purple Cow Eatery serves sandwiches, salads and soups inside the Pillow Street Bed and Breakfast. The bed and breakfast fills a restored Victorian home built in 1900. The Commodore Inn at Clifton down the street is another bed and breakfast, in a 1892 Victorian house, and doubles as a wedding venue. The Clifton Marina features a bar and grill just off Pillow Street, which is known in part for its burgers. Willoughby Drugs on Main Street is an option for prescriptions. There’s a Dollar General in southern Clifton. The city of Savannah, 20 miles southwest, offers more big-box stores, including Walmart and Lowe’s.
Central school covers all grades
Clifton is part of the Wayne County School System, which gets a C-plus grade from Niche. The community’s C-rated Frank Hughes School includes prekindergarten through 12th grade and offers student groups like a band program and a math club. Columbia State Community College has a campus in Clifton and offers day and evening courses.
Surrounding communities expand access to amenities
Savannah is accessible via Tennessee state Route 128. Hardin Medical Center in Savannah is about 19 miles away and has a 24-hour emergency department. People traveling farther out of town can cross state lines for the 65-mile trip south to the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, where direct flights are available to Charlotte and Pensacola, Florida.
Riverbend Festival is a longtime tradition
Clifton hosts the Horseshoe Riverbend Festival every September along Main Street. The event dates back to 1982 and features live music, vendors, food trucks and a beer booth. Hassell-Carroll Field, a general aviation airport in Clifton, hosts a buffet-style breakfast on the second Saturday of every month.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
