Fayetteville is a small community with downtown dining and events
Fayetteville is a city of about 7,600 people in Tennessee’s south-central region, surrounded by agriculture, including cattle pastures and crops. While the community is many miles from big-city scenery, residents enjoy time out on the town. The city has a walkable and historic downtown area that’s a destination for dining, shopping and festivities. “It is charming, but not really that small of a town anymore. There’s a lot of antique shopping in Fayetteville, and it’s got the town square going around the courthouse, which is a nice little area,” says Ryan Kent, a Realtor with Access Realty. “It’s a nice place to raise a family.”
The city has a range of classic and modern styles
Homes in Fayetteville were built between the Victorian era and the 2010s. Several homes have stone siding, while stone walls also surround some lots. The city's various designs include ranch-style homes, Colonial Revival and New Traditional styles. There are also historic pockets with Craftsman bungalows, Greek Revivals, English cottages and other homes showing Queen Anne, Italianate and Gothic features. Depending on size and age, many homes sell from about $210,000 to $440,000. Several homes over 2,500 square feet cost between $480,000 and $560,000, while some of Fayetteville’s smaller homes sell from $60,000 to $200,000. Also, nearly half of the city rents.
Fayetteville has antique stores, burger joints and a few bars
The Italianate buildings around the downtown square have many antique stores, clothing boutiques and a vintage movie house called the Lincoln Theatre. As for dining options, there are several places for downhome Southern cooking, classic breakfasts and frozen desserts across the city. A local favorite is the slawburger, a burger topped with mustard-based slaw. Places serving this burger include Honey’s Restaurant, which is also popular for its summer milkshakes. Cahoots has been an institution for pub fare since the 1980s. Based in an old city jail, the restaurant never removed some iron cell doors and has limestone walls covered in scribblings. There’s Mickey’s Garage Bar & Grill for pool, darts and late-night drinks. “If you’d like to get a cocktail after work, you've got a couple of pool halls to go to,” Kent says. Gerald’s Foodland and Walmart are available for groceries.
Outdoor recreation includes several parks and a golf course
The city offers recreation through several small parks with amenities for walkers, cyclists, younger children and dog owners. One local destination is Stone Bridge Memorial Park, which has a footbridge, a historic log cabin and a pond with fountains. The park also has several benches and picnic tables along the water. Don Davidson Park has more open spaces and a disc golf course. Roller skaters may meet with their friends at Star Wheels, while local golfers can play the public nine-hole course at Pebble Creek Golf Club. During the summer, many go swimming at the city’s municipal pool.
Fayetteville has its own school district
Fayetteville students don’t go to the same public school district as the rest of their peers in Lincoln County. The city has its own district, Fayetteville City Schools, which gets a B from Niche. Students may start at Ralph Askins School, which receives a B. They may then attend Fayetteville middle and high schools, which also get B grades. The district makes use of its rural surroundings for student activities. Ralph Askins School gives its students early exposure to agriculture through its 4-H club. Motlow State Community College also has a campus in Fayetteville.
City events include Host of Christmas Past and the county fair
The city hosts various seasonal events throughout the year. In November, the community celebrates the start of the holiday season with Host of Christmas Past, which involves activities like lighting the city’s Christmas tree, caroling downtown and live music performances on the courthouse bandstand. Fayetteville is also home to the Lincoln County Fair every year in September. In addition to its carnival rides, the week-long event is popular for horse races and motorsports contests.
U.S. 431 leads to Huntsville
Many commuters here travel on U.S. Highway 431 to Huntsville, Alabama, 30 miles south of Fayetteville. A job destination for several Tennessee residents, the Huntsville area has employers like the Army’s Redstone Arsenal. “I think about 20% of people in Fayetteville work in Huntsville,” Kent says. Alabama’s largest city is also home to Huntsville International Airport, the nearest hub for commercial flights. For medical care, Fayetteville residents may go to the Lincoln Health hospital.
