Columbia

Good, small, close to Columbia and not far from I-65. That's how Jake Hubbell, a Realtor and auctioneer who owns Larry Hubbell Realty and Auction Sales, describes Culleoka, a place where he also lives. “Here, you’ll find regular people and a safe community — the kind of town people want to live in." But geography matters, too. Hubbell recently sold a property to an out-of-state buyer who chose Culleoka because the community was the same distance from Nashville as Huntsville, Alabama. "They settled on Culleoka because we're just an hour's drive from the Nashville International Airport." Older, well-established single-family homes start in Culleoka at $300,000, and new builds can list as high as $2.5 million. In this rural community, ranch-style houses back up to quiet tree-lined farms. Farmhouses from the late 1800s still have their original hardwood floors, fireplaces and staircases, which’ve been thoughtfully maintained and updated. Unique barn-shaped structures that offer rustic charm and modern comfort feature picturesque backyards that look out to fields and pastures. “Homes in Culleoka run across the board — from older farmhouses to those built in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s and new builds,” Hubbel says. “We have something for everyone.” For everyday needs, residents can shop for groceries at Kroger in Columbia, only 12 miles west. For a bite to eat, Stan’s Restaurant and Country Store on Bear Creek Pike features down-home cooking in an atmosphere with all the trappings of country life, including stags’ heads on the fireplace. Stan’s also sells sausage, country ham, jams and jellies that diners can take home. Homemade meals and sandwiches are also available at convenience stores like Cully’s Market & Diner and Mooresville Market & Deli. Locals have more dining options in Columbia at places like Puckett’s Restaurant, specializing in Southern comfort foods, and Ollie & Finn’s Counter, a soup and sandwich shop. Culleoka School, which received a B-minus from Niche, serves nearly 1,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2006, the building received an addition that added a music room, agriculture classroom and shop, auditorium, cafeteria, practice gym, two new science labs, several classrooms and a new main office. Area students also attend Howell Elementary, which scored a C from Niche. Howell was designated a Tennessee STEM School in 2020. E.A. Cox Middle, a C-minus school, and Columbia Central High, a B-minus school, also serve the community. Yanahli Park is the largest and newest park in Maury County. “Yanahli” is a Chickasaw word that means “to flow through,” referring to the Duck River that flows through much of the park. With a new access road, parking and nearly 2 miles of paved trail, Yanahli has become a draw for hikers and hunters. “It’s not maintained like a park,” Hubbell says, “but people from out of town come to the area to hunt. In all, Yanahli covers some 1,200 acres.” In the Fire Hall of the Culleoka Volunteer Fire Department, the Culleoka Farmers Market is set up every 3rd Saturday from April through November and hosts special holiday events like A Very Cully Holiday Bazaar. Fruits, vegetables, baked goods and handmade items, including jewelry, clothing and gifts, are sold regularly by local farmers and craftspeople. With no train or bus service to the area, residents must rely on their vehicles to get from point A to point B. Culleoka is 60 miles south of Nashville and 70 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama. To get to either, residents have fast access to Interstate 65, which cuts through the community.

Referred to as the Napa Valley of Tennessee due to its proximity to three award-winning wineries, Hampshire is a small town in Maury County, 60 miles southwest of Nashville. Some houses and local shops line the two-lane Hampshire Pike—also known as U.S. Route 412—running through the community alongside sidewalks, which end as the road reaches the outskirts of town and winding back roads lead to the area’s more tucked away residential home. “Driving down Hampshire Pike, there’s no grocery stores, only one gas station and a whole lot of rural farmland,” says Bonnie Hickman, a lifetime local and Broker at Crye-Leike, Inc. with 43 years of experience in the area. While dining and retail are somewhat limited in Hampshire, there are more options in Columbia just 15 miles east. “It’s a tiny little town of just 1,400 people with lots of land for sale and subdivisions either in the planning stages or developing,” says Sally Woodard, a Broker at Crye-Leike, Inc. with 46 years of experience in the area. Quaint, 1,000- to 1,500-square-foot ranch homes and cottages, some with attached garages and fenced-in yards, are typically priced between $250,000 and $350,000. Larger, 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot Farmhouse Revivals, Split Levels and historic Farmhouses, some on multiple acres with spacious back patios and front porches, sell anywhere from $300,000 to $900,000. There are also plans for several new constructions, ranging from 1,250 to 2,250 square feet in size and $300,000 to $800,000 in price. On the east side of Hampshire is Wyndham Park, a 55+ community with ranch houses and townhomes for a median of $400,000. The Maury County School District serves students living in Hampshire. Learners can begin their education journey with a 12-1 student-teacher ratio at J.R. Baker Elementary School, which boasts a B-minus Niche grade. As they progress, students can move on to Whitthorne Middle School, graded a C on Niche. Older learners can attend Mt. Pleasant High School or Columbia Central High School, both given a B-minus Niche grade. Also in the area, Hampshire Unit School serves students from Pre-K through twelfth grade, which receives a B Niche grade and has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Also, Hampshire Unit School is ranked in the top 15% for Best Public Middle School and High School Teachers in the state of Tennessee, according to Niche. “Many families prefer this school, so their children can stay at the same place with the same faces from grade school through graduation,” Woodard says. To the north, right outside of Columbia, locals enjoy Maury County Park. This 242-acred park offers sports fields for both little leagues and adult leagues, equestrian facilities for horse riders, playgrounds and wooded walking trails, and even a dog park called Muletown Bark Park. Nearby, the Ridley Sports Complex hosts teams like the Lady Volunteers softball team, the area holding up to 3,000 spectators as they cheer on athletes on the diamonds or soccer fields—which are well-lit with LED lights. Off the highway in the center of Hampshire, Copperhead Creek Studio sells unique, handcrafted art, jewelry, furniture and home décor, and locals take pride in the shop’s recycled and locally owned pieces. “Buck and Board restaurant just opened a few months ago, so now there’s officially one restaurant in town,” Hickman says. People often go to Columbia for more restaurant options, like Victor’s Taco Shop and Katie Pie & Sons Country Kitchen. “And Legends Restaurant is a local favorite, often packed by noon because they make the best steaks,” Woodard adds. Before leaving Columbia to head back home, locals can stop into Aldi, Piggly Wiggly or Food Lion for fresh groceries and essentials. The plethora of farmland around Hampshire lends to great, open spaces for vineyards and venues. In the southern part of town, Natchez Hills Vineyard and Winery offers wine tasting with a view and hosts weddings on the property. Four miles west, guests can stay the night in a cottage on site at Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, where the Music on the Ridge series and the annual Cajunfest take place. About 6 miles north is Keg Springs Winery, which also hosts live music throughout the year and offers visitors a tasting room. Hampshire residents can take U.S. Route 412 north for 60 miles to Nashville or Tennessee State Route 166 south for 80 miles to Huntsville. As a car-dependent neighborhood with most of the retail and other adventures a few miles away, two-lane highways get locals to their destinations. At the end of the day, the townspeople of Hampshire take winding back roads past meadows and farm fields to their countryside homes.

Minimal stoplights and rolling green pastures fill the small town of Hopewell, located in Maury County 55 miles south of Nashville. Farmland and winding back roads lead the way to residential homes, off the beaten path of the main drags: Hopewell Road and Pulaski Highway. Commercial retail or restaurants other than Dollar General are sparse within the neighborhood itself, but Columbia—just 8 miles north—is teeming with shops, eateries and recreational spaces. “Hopewell isn’t so much a town as a two-lane road. It’s the kind of quiet and rural place with four seasons where people stay forever, or don’t move too far away. And usually, children will inherit their parent's property,” says Bonnie Hickman, a lifetime local and Broker at Crye-Leike, Inc. with 43 years of experience in the area. With plenty of open land to build on, there are several lots for sale in Hopewell, ranging from 1 acre for $60,000 to 86 acres for $860,000. Single family, 1,000- to 2,000-square-foot ranch and raised ranch homes and smaller cottage Farmhouses are typically priced between $300,000 to $600,000. Larger, 2,000- to 5,000-square-foot Farmhouse Revivals, contemporary homes and estates, some on multiple acres with spacious back patios and front porches, sell for $650,000 to upwards of $4 million. The Maury County School District serves students living in the Hopewell area. Young learners can begin their education journey at J.R. Baker Elementary School, which boasts a B-minus Niche grade and a 12-1 student-teacher ratio. As they progress, students can move up to Whitthorne Middle School, graded a C on Niche. Older learners can attend Mt. Pleasant High School or Columbia Central High School, both given a B-minus Niche grade. Also in the area, Culleoka Unit School serves students from Pre-K through twelfth grade, with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. “Many families prefer this school, so their children can stay at the same place with the same faces from grade school through graduation,” says Sally Woodard, a Broker at Crye-Leike, Inc. with 46 years of experience in the area. North of Hopewell, right outside of Columbia, locals enjoy the 242-acred Maury County Park. This park offers sports fields for both little leagues and adult leagues, equestrian facilities for horse enthusiasts, playgrounds and several wooded walking trails, and even Muletown Bark Park for furry friends. Nearby, the Ridley Sports Complex is well known in the area for hosting teams like the Lady Volunteers softball team, holding up to 3,000 spectators cheering on athletes on the diamonds or soccer fields—which are well-lit with LED lights. “Often, Hopewell locals will go into Culleoka, where Campbell’s Station makes the best steaks. Motorcyclists will even drive out of their way to stop into this restored old grocery store, which was featured on the Tennessee Crossroads show,” Hickman says. “And Legends Restaurant is a local favorite, often packed by noon because they also make great steaks,” Woodard adds. On the way into Columbia, Hopewell residents can stop at Catfish Campus Restaurant for some southern-style fried fish or stuffed crab. Down the highway to the east, Joie’s Cajun Market is a local seafood restaurant serving fresh crab legs or shrimp boils in an eclectically colorful tin-sided building, only open for dinner. Also in Columbia, locals can pick up groceries and essentials at a variety of spots like Aldi, Piggly Wiggly, or Food Lion. Just outside the city limits of Columbia, weddings and other events take place at The Antrim, a private 300-acre space where Maury County’s first brick house was built. The Antrim makes for great photoshoots, as Little Big Town shot their 2016 album cover there. “The Antrim is a privately owned home that hosts events like the Rotary Sunset Symphony and the James K. Polk Ball,” Hickman adds. Seven miles southwest of Hopewell, Cypress Barn at Miller Lake is another picturesque wedding and event venue set on quaint Miller Lake. U.S. Route 31 runs right through town, leading north for 55 miles to Nashville and 70 miles south to Huntsville. While Hopewell is a car-dependent country neighborhood without many options for shopping and dining, two-lane highways take residents where they need to go. But when it’s time to settle in for the night, locals rest easy on their bucolic, countryside properties tucked away from neighbors and noise.

Surrounded by endless greenery encompassing farmland and untouched forestry, Santa Fe is a rural retreat from the busy streets of suburbia. Located west of Spring Hill, Santa Fe includes the small town of Santa Fe and the surrounding unincorporated communities of Fly, Williamsport, Whiteoak and Primm Springs. “Santa Fe is an extremely rural location. There isn’t much there besides a few scattered homes, but that’s why people like it,” says Matt Bogosian, Realtor with Kerr & Co. Realty, who has 5 years of experience in the industry. With meandering creeks and streams, large private lots hidden behind trees and the serenity of a simple life, the region appeals to those looking for a tranquil oasis along a quiet country road. Many homes are scattered amongst the landscape, including sprawling ramblers, colonials, classic farmhouses and luxury custom-built homes. “Most of the homes are on some acreage. All around middle Tennessee, the 5 acre tract is extremely popular when building a custom home,” Bogosian says. Prospective homebuyers can expect a median list price around the mid $400,000s with the median lot size around an acre and a half, providing a sense of privacy and the freedom of owning land. Prices range from the $300,000s to the $400,000s for a modest ranch-style home sitting on half an acre or more, while stately dwellings on 5 acres are listed around the $800,000s. Multimillion-dollar homes on large lots are also standard, ranging from $1 million for a converted barndominium on 22 acres to over $3 million for a custom-built home with high ceilings and a dreamy kitchen spanning over 45 acres. Depending on the location, those looking to build their own home can score a 5-acre tract between $150,000 and $350,000. The Maury County School District serves the region, scoring above-average ratings on Niche. However, students have about a 16 mile drive to next door to Spring Hill for school. Students may attend Spring Hill Elementary School and Spring Hill Middle School, both scoring a B-minus on Niche. Earning a C ranking, Spring Hill High School offers various Advanced Placement courses and afterschool clubs, such as the National Honors Society. Students in town also have the opportunity to attend Santa Fe Unit School. Scoring a B-minus, this small school has around 600 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Along Santa Fe Pike, Chickasaw Trace Park spans over 240 acres and is the central draw in the area for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Mountain bikers can head to Chickasaw to explore the 9 miles of rugged trails or practice their skills on the pump and jump track. The park also boasts scenic trails that wind along the river and woodland trails for beginners. Locals can rent log cabins on the property for a weekend getaway or hit the open waters on the Duck River thanks to a convenient boat ramp. For everyday necessities, locals can drive to Williamsport Market & Deli or head to Columbia or Spring Hill for big box stores, such as Food Lion, Target and Kohl’s. The Home Depot is also conveniently across the street for those overlooked home improvement projects. The Embers Tavern and Grill is along US Route 31 on the way back to town for a bite to eat after a long day of running errands. Santa Fe is home to a few small eateries nearby, such as the famous Papa Bourdreaux’s Cajun Café for Louisiana specialties that are worth the drive and the Santa Fe Diner, known for their juicy burgers and fries in a nostalgic atmosphere. Residents of Santa Fe can head to the neighboring cities of Columbia and Spring Hill for various annual events, such as the Hill Fest. Every June, Spring Hill locals can take flight in a hot air balloon and explore the vast blue skies from above while food trucks and crowds fill the fields of Fischer Park below. Residents can also head to Columbia’s signature event of the year, Mule Day. Every April, thousands of attendees fill the streets to watch the horse show, mule-driving contest and peruse around the crafts stands and food stalls. US Route 7 and 247 are the main thoroughfares through town, connecting locals to neighboring Columbia and Spring Hill.