Etowah brings its railroad heritage into the present
Etowah, a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, was once a whistlestop for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. While it no longer hauls freight, the train still chugs through the McMinn County community of about 3,600. The Hiwassee River Rail Adventure shuttles tourists toward the sprawling Cherokee National Forest, just outside Etowah. This excursion, along with packets promoting downtown’s businesses on riders’ seats and industrial development to the north, has boosted the former boomtown’s economy, which struggled without the railroad. Plus, proximity to the forest brings a variety of outdoor activities. “As far as McMinn County goes, Etowah is a little more affordable,” says Athens-based Realtor Carla Patton with Silver Key Realty. “A lot of families have been there for generations, and a lot of them came when the railroad started.”
Downtown’s depot hosts events and the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure
Etowah’s well-preserved Victorian-style depot is a hub for the community. “The depot is used for any event we have,” Patton says. Etowah’s Fourth of July Celebration kicks off with a pancake breakfast, continues with a beauty pageant and live music and ends with fireworks. During the first weekend of October, Fall Fest is a two-day event with vendors, food, games and live entertainment.
The Hiwassee River Rail Adventure leaves the depot for its 5-hour, 50-mile round-trip. Out their windows, riders view the dense woodlands of Cherokee National Forest, waterfalls, old mining settlements and the Hiwassee River Gorge, which can only be seen by train, as there are no nearby roads. The train winds around the Hiwassee Loop, where tracks cross over themselves as the train coils up the mountain. During the winter, Santa’s Hiwassee Holiday Train Ride is very popular. “It’s like The Polar Express,” Patton says. Riders write letters to Santa—who makes an appearance—eat gingerbread cookies and drink chocolate milk.
Etowah mixes small-town recreation with national forest adventures
The Etowah Community Center features various exercise facilities and hosts summer camps and sports. The nearby Frank & Maddie Choate Family Community Swimming Pool sits near baseball fields and the school building. Etowah is often seen as the gateway to the over 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest. “We have some really beautiful, scenic places for such a small community,” Patton says. Starr Mountain sits within the forest and offers over 20 miles of trails to hikers and equestrians, as well as game land and campgrounds. Whitewater rafters, kayakers and canoers navigate the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers.
Historic railroad homes and rural lots with mountain views
Homes in downtown Etowah sit on hilly, gridded streets with mountain views. “A lot of the houses—especially near Tennessee Avenue—are old railroad homes,” Patton says. Outside of Etowah’s core, homes with long driveways occupy multi-acre lots. In this part of town, cows graze in open fields, mature oak and pine trees grow alongside two-lane roads and picket fences frame sloping lawns. Small cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes can cost $110,000 to $260,000. New Traditional, Colonial Revival and two-story Cape Cods can range from $270,000 to $590,000. Undeveloped plots of land are also available.
Southern eats and antiques highlight Etowah’s small-town charm
“In Etowah, there’s a Dollar General, a grocery store and a few homegrown restaurants,” Patton says. “If you want something more franchise-y, you go to Athens, Cleveland or even Chattanooga, depending on what you need.” Food City is in the northern part of town, with a Sloan’s Hometown Hardware, Waffle House and McDonald’s nearby. Mom-and-pop businesses sit in historic buildings downtown. Tom Thumb Diner offers American classics, like biscuits and gravy, burgers and barbecue sandwiches. With a dark wood interior and exterior, Farmhouse Restaurant’s name matches its vibe. It serves Southern cuisine, from country ham dinners and hamburger steaks to fried green tomatoes and cornbread. The Sundry Store sells various discounted items and Whistlestop Shoppes features about 70 vendors selling antiques, rustic home goods, clothing and more. “Johnson’s is a staple downtown, too,” Patton says. “For anyone from surrounding cities looking for formal wear, they go to Johnson’s.”
The North Etowah Industrial Park provides many jobs, with facilities like John Manville and IntspectTech Corp. in town. Star Regional Medical Center, located downtown, is also a major employer.
Students attend Etowah School and McMinn Central High
Etowah City Elementary School District operates the kindergarten to eighth-grade Etowah School, which gets a B-minus from Niche. McMinn County Schools run the high school, McMinn Central, which earns a B-minus and offers career and technical education courses.
Athens, Cleveland and Chattanooga are short drives away
Because of its small size and remote location, Etowah is car-dependent. “It’s 10 minutes from one end of town to the other,” Patton says, referencing Etowah’s core. “If it takes longer than that, you’re lost.” U.S. Route 411 and Tennessee state Route 30, which goes toward U.S. Interstate 75, run through. Athens is about 10 miles away, Cleveland about 30 and Chattanooga, with Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, about 60.
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Adreanna DeMarino
