A TOWN THAT SURVIVED—AND THRIVED
Thanks to the fertile lands along the French Broad River, Dandridge remained a quaint but successful farming town for many years. But when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began building the Douglas Dam in 1942 to generate electrical power, it flooded much of the best farmland in the county and threatened to flood most of downtown Dandridge—which was below the proposed reservoir’s high-water mark. However, a group of citizens went to Washington, D.C., to petition then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to help. They pointed out that Dandridge was the only town in America that was named for the wife of George Washington. Convinced, she helped their cause, and the TVA built an additional dam between downtown Dandridge and the Douglas Lake section of the river—basically saving the town.
When visitors come to Dandridge they see the efforts made to preserve the town’s history, as well as the welcoming shops and restaurants lining the downtown streets. In addition, the lake offers a variety of recreational opportunities suitable for family vacations. The nearby Smoky Mountains are always an amazing experience, and visitors can also head about 10 miles south of Dandridge to see the Visitor Center and Museum for Bush’s Best—the family-owned corporation known for its Bush’s Best brand canned baked beans.
By staying at one of the hotels in Dandridge, TN, you can be close to all that the city has to offer. For the true Dandridge experience, you can take the Dandridge Walking Tour through the historic downtown area, browsing the boutiques and shops and maybe stopping by the Tinsley-Bible Drug Store for one of their famous Bible Burgers. You can rent a boat, kayak or paddle board and head out on the lake, or hike through the TVA Hiking Trail and enjoy amazing views of Douglas Lake.
A fun day on the lake can quickly tire you out. So make sure you get a good night’s rest at one of the Dandridge hotels from the selection of Choice Hotels!
BOOK YOUR DANDRIDGE, TN HOTEL TODAY
Choice Hotels has a variety of Dandridge, TN hotels available. Reserve your room in Tennessee’s Second Oldest Town today!