Orlinda

The story of Cross Plains is a tale of two rural Tennessee towns, Orlinda and Cross Plains. “These are farming communities about halfway between Nashville and Bowling Green, and they attract many commuters,” says Realtor Joe Groves with Jim Brinkley Realtors Inc., who has lived in the area all his life and began selling real estate there five years ago. “People want more yard, and the properties in Cross Plains are no smaller than a half acre,” Groves says. “Industrial and commercial centers have sprung up along the state line with Kentucky bringing factory jobs and working families to the area. Real estate in White House, south of us and closer to Nashville, has jumped in the last few years, and we’re the next leg north.” Single-family homes in Cross Plains range from $300,000 to $900,000 and include ranch-style houses with finished basements, brick contemporaries with open floorplans and new farmhouses with wraparound porches. The neighborhood also features large 3- to 5-acre properties that offer horse barns and buildings that can be used as music/recording studios. “The typical home has three to four bedrooms, sometimes with a bonus room, making the area ideal for families,” Groves says. “Because there are not many attractions nearby, the home becomes the sole focus for buyers.” Living in such a rural area, residents have a limited number of places to do their shopping. One such area is on Route 25 in Cross Plains, which features Thomas Drugs, a family-owned, full-service pharmacy in continuous operation since the early 1900s that offers an old-time soda fountain serving shakes and sandwiches. The Piggly Wiggly is just down the street, as is Agave’s, a Mexican restaurant with an extensive menu and friendly, attentive service. For fresh meats, produce and other staples like milk and eggs, Bernard Farms is nearby, selling meat butchered from hogs and cattle raised locally. Not surprisingly, Orlinda has a Mexican restaurant too - Senor Fajita’s, a place residents go to watch the big game while enjoying tacos. The story of the public school system is one of expansion. The East Robertson Elementary building once housed kindergarten through grade 12. When a high school was built in the 1990s, the elementary became a kindergarten through grade six institution and recently scored a B-minus from Niche. East Robertson High School, which received a C-plus from Niche, serves grades seven through 12 and is enjoying a historic year in girls’ volleyball, capturing its first-ever Class A tournament appearance. The boys’ basketball team has also won numerous state championships, and the football team has made dozens of championship appearances. While there is no major lake or campground nearby, families make use of the local parks for recreation, Groves says. “You’ll find nice ball fields and sports activities in the town parks. Festivals and holiday functions, like the Fourth of July, are held there, too.” Next to the high school, Kilgore Park’s four baseball fields are the park’s largest attraction. For family members who come to support their players, picnic shelters are nearby. Also adjacent is a field where the Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival is held in May. The other local green space is Orlinda Park, next to Orlinda City Hall. This community park features a children’s playground with jungle gyms, slides, swing sets and a merry-go-round. A basketball court sits next to two fenced-in tennis courts, and the grounds offer benches and a picnic shelter for visitors. Adjacent to Kilgore Park is a field that leads to an old tobacco barn where the Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival is held in May. The field makes a natural slop downward toward Honey Run Creek, behind the barn, making the venue one of the most beautiful venues in Tennessee. Festival goers can expect fiddling, clogging and dancing during this lively two-day event. Interstate 65 runs through Cross Plains, providing access to Nashville, around 35 miles away, and Bowling Green, around 37 miles. Residents drive as far as 15 miles to get to a major grocery store or shopping center in Portland or Springfield - which is also where the nearest emergency services are at TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center.