A Weekend By the Water in Loudon County

Featured in this Article: Things to Do in Loudon County, Tennessee

Fuel Up: Coffee Culture
Hiking Trail: East Lakeshore National Recreation Trail
Lakeside Lunch: Calhoun’s
Farm Tour: Sweetwater Valley Farm
Deep History Dive: Lenoir City Museum & Cotton Mill Site
Taste A Fried Honeybun: Greenback Drug Company Diner
Local Winery Stop: Tennessee Valley Winery
Hang Out with Locals: The Burgers
Lakes in and near Loudon County
The Yacht Club at Tellico Village

If you’re looking for life on the water in the Volunteer State, look no further than Loudon and Lenoir City, two towns surrounded by lakes near Knoxville, Tennessee. The land is nestled in a fertile valley where the Tennessee and Little Tennessee rivers meet, with the Smokies rising to the east and the Cumberland Plateau to the west. Tellico Lake, Fort Loudoun Lake and Watts Bar Lake are favorite among anglers as well as those who are looking for Waterside dining, lakeshore hiking, some of the best kayaking in East Tennessee and fried honeybuns.

Whether you’re trying to start the day off right, or just need a pick-me-up when you roll into town, any time spent exploring Loudon County should start at family-owned Coffee Culture in Lenoir City. 

• Coffee Culture is located at 560 Hwy 321 N Suite D, Lenoir City, TN 37771

• Parking lot is located in front of Coffee Culture

• Menu includes Belgian pastries and seasonal coffee flavors served hot and iced

Boating is a way of life in Loudon County and the East Lakeshore National Recreation Trail showcases this in the best way showing off coves, overlooks and more. 

• The East Lakeshore Trail is 28.8 miles

• Numerous trailheads jut into the trail’s length

• Experienced hikers could tackle the whole thing in a sunup to sundown jaunt, but you can cut the trail into a shorter, leisurely segment to enjoy.

• Choose a quick hike to Mizell Bluff, where you stand high above Tellico Lake

East Tennesseans and dedicated visitors know and love Calhoun’s, located on the edge of one of Tennessee's largest marinas, above Fort Loudon Dam. Boaters even pull up dockside at Calhoun’s to pick up to-go orders. So, if you ever wanted to have a pontoon and barbecue party, you can make your dream come true.

• Calhoun’s Lenoir City is located at 4550 City Park Drive, Lenoir City, Tennessee 37772

• Known for quality barbecue and an excellent beer selection

• Order the sampler made of fried chicken, barbecue ribs and pulled pork

• Vegetarian friendly, vegan and gluten-free options are available

• Calhoun's is wheelchair accessible

• Parking is ample

Have you ever had a fried cheese curd fresh off the griddle? You will at Sweetwater Valley Farm. Head to the farm to buy cheese, but also ask whether they’ve got any fresh cheese curds fried up. One taste and you’ll be glad you asked. With rows of cheeses - from aged extra sharp cheddars to smoked selections that smell distinctly of bacon - you can take a bit of Sweetwater Valley Farm home with you.

• Sweetwater Valley Farm is located at 17988 West Lee Highway, Philadelphia, TN 37846

• The Red Cow Tour features the latest technology in the dairy industry, including Tennessee's first Lely XL robotic facility

• Eight robots are milking 500 of Sweetwater Valley Farm's Holstein cows

• Before or after your tour, order a grilled cheese and milkshake at the "Seed to Sandwich" Cafe onsite

The Lenoir City Museum is filled with relics and antiques that tell the story of Loudon County through settlement, war and industry.

• The Lenoir City Museum & Cotton Mill Site are located at 110 East Depot Street, Lenoir City, TN 37771

• The museum documents its early settlement by Major William B. Lenoir in the early 1800s, train and Civil War history and the emergence as a city in 1907

• Military history and industrial growth, including the premier industry Lenoir Car Works are presented through artifacts

• Museum hours are 1-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Special tours can be arranged by calling 865-986-9169 or 865-693-3664

• Lenoir City Cotton Mill is a 3-minute stroll from the museum. See the ruins of the early 1800s mill

• The county is named after nearby Fort Loudoun, a British colonial-era fort to the South. Learn more about the fort and its history at Fort Loudoun State Historic Park, located about 20 miles south of Lenoir City

Established in 1923, Greenback Drugstore and Diner has served delicious daily lunch specials, sandwiches, burgers and more for generations.

• Greenback Drug Company & Diner is located at 6729 Morganton Road, Greenback, TN 37742, about 13 miles south of Lenoir City

• Hamburger steak, The Hammontree - two 1/2-pound patties stacked with cheese and bacon on Texas Toast and the Signature Grilled Honey Bun with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup are menu standouts

• The diner provides a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, restroom and seating

• Street parking is available

Tennessee Valley Winery, located off of Interstate-75, is a hilltop sanctuary for wine lovers. 

• Tennessee Valley Winery is located at 15606 Hotchkiss Valley Road, East Loudon, TN 37774

• One of the oldest operating wineries in East Tennessee

• Have won more than 800 awards and accolades, including being served in the White House 

• Pink Muscadine, semi-sweet, cabernet sauvignon and the award-winning red wine are local favorites

• Paved parking is available in front of the winery

• Tennessee Valley Winery is wheelchair accessible

In Lenoir City, The Burgers is a place to hang out, catch a football game and meet the locals. You'll be ready for a platter loaded down with more fries than you’ve ever seen anyone eat. There’s a courtyard outside with cornhole and a bar. It’s like a University of Tennessee tailgate year-round, which is great during football season, and even better in the off season, when fans are craving that pre-game atmosphere even when the stadium lights are off.

• The Burgers is located at 540 US-321, Lenoir City, TN 37771

• Appetizers include fried pickles, chili cheese fries, buffalo wings, fried mushrooms and blackened shrimp

• Freedom Burger topped with your own toppings: cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, mustard, pickles, raw or caramelized onions, jalapenos, mushrooms, ketchup, chili sauce, egg, and bacon; fish and chips

• Black Jack chicken sandwich with blackened chicken, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, mayo and jalapenos

• The Knox Dog with chili, caramelized onions, mustard and jalapenos

• The Burgers is wheelchair accessible

• Parking is available

The very heart of Loudon County, including Loudon and Lenoir City, is water. Surrounding lakes include:

• Watts Bar Lake

• Fort Loudoun Lake

• The Tennessee River

• Little Tennessee River

• Tellico Lake

• From yachting to pontoons, fishing to kayaks, the area is a water recreation paradise

• Thanks to River Sports Outfitters is Loudon County’s first kayak rental spot on Fort Loudoun Lake at Lenoir City Park, making kayaking easy and accessible

A weekend away ought to always include a fine dining experience. Enter The Yacht Club at Tellico Village.

• The Yacht Club at Tellico Village is located at 100 Sequoyah Road, Loudon, TN 37774

• While the restaurant is located in a private lakefront community, it is available to non-members

• The menu includes mussels and pecan breaded brie, slow roasted prime rib and pan-seared salmon

• All served in a dining room above Tellico Lake, overlooking the Appalachian foothills with the mountains fading from blue to grey in the distance

Plan your waterside getaway to Loudon and explore more things to do in this charming area.