I was hungry while on my way back from Chattanooga a couple weeks ago and discovered The Smoke House Restaurant and Trading Post in Monteagle, Tennessee. It’s an impressive place with enough cured meats, spice rubs, barbecue sauces, and jams and jellies for an army. I opted for the smoked turkey open-faced sandwich with cole slaw and mashed potatoes.
Good grief, it was delicious. The smoked turkey was the best I’d eaten in years. I’m sure the rest of the menu is just as delicious, and I’ll probably try the fried chicken and / or frog legs if I ever get back there.
You pay for your meal in the gift shop on the way out. As I walked through their expansive gift shop, I twice passed a room that appeared to be another alcove full of knick-knacks for sale before I noticed the sign above the entryway.
Yes, tucked along one back wall of this place, with a light-up reindeer atop it, is a museum dedicated to country music legends Ira and Charlie Louvin.
It’s full of plaques, photos, and memorabilia from the duo who popularized country harmony music and were well-known for their gospel songs.
There is so much here that I couldn’t photograph all of it without burning up more time on my trip home. There are display cases full of show tickets, recording notes, family photos, and personal effects. The number of photos and commendations from various music venues, writers, and associations is staggering.
There’s also a display case dedicated to the car crash death of Ira Louvin and his fourth wife, Anne Young.
That photo was taken three days before their car was struck by a drunk driver on June 20, 1965. In a weird twist, a DUI warrant had been issued for Ira’s arrest around the same time.
The museum also has a complete collection of the Louvin Brothers’ records, so many that I couldn’t get them all into one shot.
It’s a cool place that is easy to miss, but you owe it to yourself to see it if you’re a fan of classic country or gospel music. There’s a lot of neat stuff in there. Like this, a laminated picture of Grandpa Jones on a piece of wood.
Keep your mind open.