Mascot's transformation from a mining hub to a quiet residential area
About 20 minutes east of Knoxville, the small community of Mascot was once the heart of Knox County’s zinc mining industry. “When I grew up, pretty much everybody’s parents worked for the mine,” says Ralph McGee, who spent 50 years in Mascot and is now the director at the local library. “We were a company town. We had our own stores, housing and a little school.” Even the name Mascot was derived from the mining industry - it's an acronym for the company's name, Mining and Smelting Company of Tennessee. But by the 1980s, most of the zinc mines had moved out, the stores and school closed, and all that remained was a quiet residential area.
Mascot is still home to a large industrial park, and as housing demand rises in Knoxville, the area is seeing an influx of new subdivisions. “There are several hundred homes being built in this area as we speak,” McGee says. “But it’s still a quiet, peaceful place to live. You have to get into the car to make it to any stores.”
Vintage homes and modern subdivisions
With a view of the green ridges of House Mountain, homes in Mascot are peppered along winding roads and the rural ridges of East Tennessee. Predominantly rural, the area appeals to those who aren’t looking to be settled around the rush of Knoxville, preferring the hum of crickets to the chatter of city noise. Mascot’s older homes are typically ranch styles or bungalows built around the mid-1900s. In recent years, modern subdivisions have added identical rows of contemporary-style properties in tighter-spaced neighborhoods. There is a moderate risk of flooding around the Holston River and area creeks, according to FirstStreet.org.
Most move-in-ready homes cost between $200,000 and $400,000, with new construction generally being $300,000 or more. Some properties needing renovations are available for under $200,000, and a few homes with several acres can get up to $500,000.
Specialty academies at Carter High School
East Knox County Elementary School is located within the community, within a few miles of most homes. Older kids move on to Carter Middle and Carter High School. All three schools receive a B-minus grade from Niche. Across Knox County Schools, different high schools offer unique academies for college and career readiness. Carter High has an Academy of Communication & Health and an Academy of Engineering & Manufacturing.
The community comes together at the local park, library and churches
Residents can meet their neighbors at one of the area’s many churches or Mascot Park. There’s also an active Facebook group, and the Mascot Branch Library has served as a community focal point since it opened in 1930. “The library is the main information point for Mascot,” McGee says. “People use us for entertainment, reading, research and school. All the Knox County Branches are tied together, so we can access over a million books.”
Mascot Park is outside the library and has a playground, basketball court and walking track. It’s also the endpoint for the Mascot Christmas Parade, an annual tradition with homemade floats and hot cocoa passed out by Godsway Baptist Church.
Kayaking and hiking in East Tennessee
Mascot borders the Holston River. Although there isn’t a public access point in the community, McBee Ferry Landing Park has a boat ramp about 3 miles away. About 5 miles north, House Mountain State Natural Area spans over 500 acres and has hiking trails and panoramic overlooks. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about an hour south for more extensive hiking.
A car is necessary to reach shopping and dining
The community has a few basics, including a post office and a Dollar General. Although it’s a gas station, Town & Country Market & Grill gets busy around lunchtime thanks to their restaurant with made-to-order deli food. However, for more shopping, residents must drive for a while. “You have to have a car to live here; it’s not a walk-to-the-store kind of community,” McGee says. “That’s one thing the newcomers always comment on — there’s nothing nearby.”
The city of Blaine is about 8 miles away up the highway, offering a Food City and several restaurants. El Paisaje has authentic Mexican food, and The Little Dipper Diner & Creamery is a favorite for its homestyle cooking and creamy milkshakes.
Knoxville commutes and a local industrial park
Downtown Knoxville is about 15 miles away, typically a 20-minute drive. The large city has major hospitals, shopping malls and a regular schedule of cultural events. The McGhee Tyson Airport is further west, about 25 miles from Mascot. Closer to home, the Eastbridge Business Park has several major employers, including Lifetime Products, a plastic manufacturer.
The railroad running through Mascot is still active as a freight line, though passenger service stopped in the 1970s. “When I’m working at the library in the afternoon, we normally get one passing through every hour,” McGee says. “It will rattle the building.”
Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Byrum
