This Blink-And-You’ll-Miss-It Town in Tennessee Is So Worth Exploring

When we first discovered Rugby, Tennessee, it was kind of by accident. This is funny if you know anything about Rugby, because it is a small, blink-and-you-miss-it kind of town that's way out in the country. Most people don’t just stumble upon this charming little town in Tennessee; however, we were on our way to a hike when I saw a sign and quickly made a spontaneous change to our plans for the day. You see, I remembered reading about this town before and knew we had to stop if we were driving by.

Since we weren’t planning to spend the day in Rugby, I knew the Historic Visitor Centre was the best place to start. Upon entering the town, I immediately saw the historical charm glowing from every property. What I already knew about the town was that it was a "step back in time" community that cared deeply about its heritage.

The visitor center fits nicely into its surroundings, as it resembles the other Victorian and historical houses in town. As we parked, my daughters expressed interest in exploring the town, so we all got out of the car and headed towards the big wrap-around porch. However, once we set foot on the porch, we were disappointed that the visitor center was closed and wouldn’t open until later.

My girls were delighted to find a cat snoozing near the rocking chairs, so they were very content to pet their new friend. To my surprise, a man opened the door and asked if we needed any help. I explained that we were looking for information on the town, but then saw that they were closed and didn’t want to bother him outside of business hours. The gentleman insisted that we come in and was quite excited to tell us all about the charming and historic Rugby, Tennessee.

Kindness and Southern hospitality are alive and well in Tennessee, and I was thankful for the man's time. He explained all the historic Victorian buildings and provided me with maps and brochures. You could tell he was passionate about the history and the town itself. After the man pointed me in the right direction (and after the cat received much love from the kids), we returned to our car to explore the town. You could drive through the town in a matter of minutes, but there was plenty to see all within a very short distance.

Rugby was founded as a colony by British author Thomas Hughes in 1880. Today, it is a preserved village with only 85 residents and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. The kind man at the visitor’s center recommended that visitors take a tour of the town, which showcases each historic building, allowing you to feel like you are stepping back in time.

The homes were meticulously preserved; it was clear how much care had gone into them. Some were small businesses, and others were personal homes. Among the historic buildings within the town of Rugby are the Thomas Hughes Free Public Library (1882), the Kingstone Lisle home (1884), the Christ Church Episcopal (1887), and the Rugby Schoolhouse (1887).

The town's pride is not only in its preserved Victorian homes but also in the surrounding wilderness. I had countless maps, brochures, and intriguing pictures that made me want to drop everything and head into the woods. There were historical walking paths through homesteads as well as trails that made good use of interesting rock formations and beautiful waterfalls.

If you enjoy a good family hike as much as we do, I highly recommend one trail located just outside Rugby in the Colditz Cove State Natural Area. The Northrup Falls Trail is a straightforward course that leads to one of the area's most beautiful waterfalls, known as Northrup Falls. The stunning height of the falls plunge to a sparkling pool below is a sight to behold. You can even walk behind the waterfall to continue the trail as a loop. We all enjoyed it immensely as it's a good addition to a trip to Rugby.

Rugby, Tennessee, isn’t a town you just stumble into, but when we did, we were glad we made the effort to stop. After listening to the fine gentleman who gave me a glimpse into the town, I wouldn’t mind going back to dig much deeper into its history. For more information, please visit the Historic Rugby website.

If you want to dive headfirst into this charming little town, I suggest making a whole trip out of it and spending the night in a beautiful Victorian-style home. The next day, you can tour the town and even go for a hike. To see Northrup Falls, it would be helpful to download the map on AllTrails like we did and then enjoy the trail!

More fun trails are found in the nearby Big South Fork region, so check out all the amazing natural wonders hidden within this huge wilderness area.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.