NASHVILLE’S BIG BACK YARD LOOKS BACK ON ONE YEAR
Previously posted on PR Newswire Sep 30, 2021 Nashville’s Big Back Yard is celebrating the accomplishments of its first year! Launched entirely via Zoom meetings during the pandemic, with...
Sep 30, 2021
Nashville’s Big Back Yard is celebrating the accomplishments of its first year! Launched entirely via Zoom meetings during the pandemic, with the assistance of spokesman Mike Wolfe, History’s American Picker, and the community leaders of 12 small towns, this grassroots movement was created to increase travel and tourism to the region while capturing the interest of people in pursuit of a simpler way of life.
To date, Nashville’s Big Back Yard achieved more than 270 million media impressions, engaged more than 50,000 social media followers, and received hundreds of inquiries from people drawn to rural living, remote work, and an affordable lifestyle.
Read the full press release below for more information.
NASHVILLE’S BIG BACK YARD LOOKS BACK ON ONE YEAR
LEIPER’S FORK, Tenn., Sept. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Launched entirely via Zoom meetings, and with the assistance of spokesman Mike Wolfe, History’s American Picker, Nashville’s Big Back Yard is celebrating the accomplishments of year one. A regional movement of 12 rural Middle Tennessee communities and The Shoals of North Alabama, the organization is taking stock of the year’s success.
With an aggressive PR and social media effort and a grassroots approach to marketing, Nashville’s Big Back Yard achieved more than 270 million media impressions, engaged more than 50,000 social media followers, and received hundreds of inquiries from people drawn to rural living, remote work, and an affordable lifestyle.
NBBY’s comprehensive website achieved in-excess of 100,000 UVM’s and pageviews combined. The site showcases all the towns in the Big Back Yard with robust content – stunning photography, professional videos, real estate information, tourism and relocation stats, and detailed contact information.
Nashville’s Big Back Yard is the result of lengthy conversations during COVID-19 spearheaded by Leiper’s Fork philanthropist Aubrey Preston and led by community leaders in a region long known as a destination for musicians, artists, and other creative talent. Debbie Landers serves as the organization’s executive director.
NBBY was created to increase travel and tourism to the region and capture the interest of people in pursuit of a simpler way of life. Nashville’s Big Back Yard includes the Middle Tennessee towns of Centerville, Clifton, Collinwood, Hampshire, Hohenwald, Leiper’s Fork, Linden, Loretto, Mount Pleasant, Santa Fe, Summertown, and Waynesboro in Middle Tennessee and The Shoals region of Northwest Alabama – Florence, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals.
Mike Wolfe’s participation as a spokesman is inspired by his passion for the backroads of America and a love for Tennessee, where he resides in the Big Back Yard. Wolfe’s involvement, including a video endorsement, helped catapult the initial launch of NBBY to more than 90 million PR impressions and multiple thousands of social media engagements.
“Initially, NBBY was launched as a result of COVID-19’s devastating blow to our nation’s public health and economy, which led people and communities to think about who we are and what we do,” said Preston, who has spent more than 25 years working on rural preservation efforts including the popular Americana Music Triangle. “The success of our first year confirms what we already knew. The land is calling people back, and Nashville’s Big Back Yard has an abundance of land, water and world-class music. It’s a great place to visit and an even better place to live. We’re inviting people to come and play in our big back yard.”
Looking ahead, the Big Back Yard partners anticipate their first in-person meeting in November to celebrate the one-year anniversary and the success of Nashville’s Big Back Yard, a movement created entirely via Zoom.
Nashville’s Big Back Yard is made up of 12 small towns under a population of 5,000 between Nashville, TN, and Muscle Shoals, AL. This watershed region is anchored by the historic Natchez Trace Parkway and has endless outdoor adventures and activities, historic landmarks, quaint small towns, and unique places to stay.
Here are just a few of the many experiences waiting for you.
Dinner In A Cave — Tuscumbia, Alabama
Dinner in a cave, live music, southern hospitality, and a ride in the back of a pick-up truck await you at the Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia, Alabama. The saloon, which is located in a cave, has been featured in national and international travel publications.
The venue is open Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner and live music rings through the cave on weekend nights. The natural cave setting offers extraordinary acoustics.
The crowd-pleasing menu features cheeseburgers, homemade chips, onion rings, deli sandwiches, and many other items. Adult beverages are available after 5 p.m. The visitor parking area is located above the cave, so visitors are transported to the venue via the “pick-up truck taxi.”
Visit The Hit Recording Capital of The World — Muscle Shoals, Alabama
In 1961 a young recording pioneer named Rick Hall connected with a talented young singer-songwriter named Arthur Alexander. They recorded the single “You Better Move On” together in an abandoned tobacco warehouse in Muscle Shoals, and it became an international hit! Rick Hall went on to build FAME Studios on Avalon Avenue and this song marks the global “big bang” of the Muscle Shoals sound.
Today we salute Arthur Alexander, Rick Hall, and our sister community Muscle Shoals, Alabama “The Hit Recording Capital of the World”. Come Visit the Shoals and FAME Recording Studios & Publishing Co.
Set Up Camp On The Natchez Trace — Hohenwald, Tennessee
Thousand Trails Natchez Trace RV Campground is a beautifully wooded RV Campground in Hohenwald, TN right off the Natchez Trace Parkway. This picturesque campground features 830 acres of stunning views, hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, and more. Amenities on the property include a large swimming pool, mini-golf, a restaurant, and a 3-mile lake where anglers can fish for bass, shellcracker, and crappie.
Choose from over a dozen cabins to stay in, bring your own RV, or pitch a tent if you love to sleep right under the stars.
Take a pontoon tour of the lake, play volleyball, basketball, tennis, or billiards. With a library, wifi and laundry all your needs are met onsite. Pets are welcome so bring your furry best friends they will love the dog park!
Explore Local Historic Roots — Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
Brothers, Pat and Mike Green fondly remember growing up in Mount Pleasant, TN. In the 1960’s they left their quaint town for college and did not return. Now, both brothers are retired and live in neighboring Columbia, TN. This past March, they decided it was time to return to their roots and invest in the revitalization of their beloved hometown.
They purchased a much neglected historic building in the middle of Mount Pleasant’s Historic Downtown District. While cleaning out the building, they were surprised to find an old metal sign that said “The Mt. Pleasant Record”. Even though the building was listed on the historic register as c.1940, they decided that more research needed to be done.
They discovered deeds that date back to 1883 and a fire map from the Maury County Archives listed the property in 1899 as a general store, in 1905 & 1910 as a saloon, and in 1919 as a printing business. This building was the home of the Mt. Pleasant Record, which for over 50 years, was the town’s weekly newspaper.
Mike and Pat, both well-known area businessmen, plan to open an art gallery in early October at this location, and in honor of its past, name it The Mt. Pleasant Record Art Gallery.
Follow along to see more of Nashville’s Big Back Yard on Instagram and Facebook