Two employment hubs are near the small community of Wildwood
While the surrounding area of Blount County grows, Wildwood remains a small community carved out along the Little River. For many, its compact size is its biggest advantage, says Cody Nuchols, a Realty Executives Associates Maryville Realtor and a Blount County native. “What makes Wildwood special to a lot of people is that it’s a tightknit community. It’s only a 3- or 4-mile radius.” It doesn’t take long to get across Wildwood, and, along the way, one will mostly see a rising and falling landscape of hills and glens dotted with houses. Still, it’s close enough to the cities of Maryville and Knoxville to make it a practical place to live. “It’s convenient for people who work in Knox County and also for industrial places in Maryville,” Nuchols says. There’s an Amazon warehouse in Maryville, as well as the headquarters and manufacturing operations of Smith & Wesson.
Mountain views and riverside lots in East Tennessee
Houses in Wildwood were largely built in small subdivisions or along roads that wind through the community’s open, hilly terrain. Ranch-style homes and split-levels often face the mountains rising to the south and east. On the west end, Colonial Revivals back up to the Little River. The majority of homes come with less than an acre of land, but there are a few farms around the community. Most recent home sales varied in price from $110,000 to $460,000. Large houses on the river have sold from $860,000 to $940,000.
History of athletic success at Wildwood schools
Wildwood is home to Porter Elementary, which is graded a B by Niche. The elementary campus originally opened as Porter High School, where Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer Galen Johnson Jr. coached girls basketball from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, winning three state championships. The memory of Johnson and his team’s success lingers in the community, and Porter Elementary receives strong local support because of it, Nuchols says. Older students can go to A-rated Heritage Middle and B-rated Heritage High. The high school’s record of successful sports teams and state titles stretches back decades. Most recently, the girls basketball team won a state title in 2025.
A community built alongside the Little River
The Little River winds past Wildwood on its way from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Tennessee River. Along the riverbank, River John's Outfitters rents out kayaks and canoes. Those who have their own boat can park and launch from River John's for a fee. Residents can catch a movie 5 miles away at Parkway Drive-In, which has screened films since the ‘50s. The drive-in hosts a flea market on Saturdays and Sundays.
Locals can buy farm-fresh groceries or shop in Maryville, Knoxville
The Huff family began farming in Wildwood in the ‘60s, and today the family sells corn, beef and eggs at Huff Farm. Locals can also shop at Dollar General or head to Maryville for more stores and restaurants. Southland Books and Cafe hosts book clubs, brews coffee and serves sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Stores such as Target, Food City and Lowe’s Home Improvement fill shopping centers. It’s 20 miles to Turkey Creek, a Knoxville shopping district with stores run by recognizable brands, including Nike, J. Crew and Loft.
Wildwood Baptist Church motorcycle ride raises money for the community
Once a year, Wildwood Baptist Church holds the Blessing of the Bikers. The event’s dinner, live music and silent auction raise money for a different cause every year, such as a local who needed costly medical treatment and a nonprofit that teaches a summer reading program. Afterward, the pastor and his wife take off on a multistate motorcycle trip; people can pledge to donate 1 cent for every mile the couple travels.
Taking the ‘backways’ around the Knoxville area
Wildwood is within 20 miles of both Knoxville, East Tennessee’s largest city, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation’s most-visited national park. Wildwood residents can often bypass the congested highways and interstates, Nuchols says. “Wildwood connects by the backways to everywhere.” It’s about 8 miles to Blount Memorial Hospital and 10 miles to McGhee Tyson Airport.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
