This Quiet Tennessee Town Is An Underrated Gem For 2026

Almost every part of Tennessee, including its many small towns, has an element of outdoor elegance and rebellious authenticity that makes the state easy to engage with. So, welcome to Hohenwald, a quiet Tennessee town that we strongly consider an underrated gem for 2026. About 80 miles southwest of Nashville, this rural county seat offers a slower pace shaped by rolling hardwood forests, the winding Buffalo River, and a downtown rooted in 19th-century architecture. From its uncommon Swiss and German origins to its connection with one of America’s greatest explorers, Hohenwald invites visitors to discover a place where landscape, culture, and history are deeply intertwined.

What To Know About Hohenwald

People are often intrigued by its funny name, but Hohenwald is a German word meaning “High Forest,” and that alone should pique your interest in taking a vacation there, especially because the name is suggestive of the town’s landscape and heritage. Hohenwald is a small town in Middle Tennessee with a population of about 3,800. It serves as the seat of Lewis County, a small, rural county characterized by natural beauty, especially lush forests, peaceful rolling hills, and the scenic Buffalo River. The population of Lewis County is about 13,000.

Hohenwald is a close-knit community with a historic downtown area. People here value the quiet, community-oriented lifestyle and relish the delightful range of outdoor recreational opportunities. The downtown area features a charming collection of brick buildings in various colors and is anchored by the Lewis County Courthouse, a majestic, solid brick structure constructed during the Great Depression and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hohenwald’s Fascinating Heritage

Hohenwald is unique for being one of Tennessee's few immigrant communities. Its founding and settlement are credited to Augusta Smith, an enterprising German immigrant, who gave it a name indicative of the surrounding countryside and the town’s location on the Western Highland Rim. Later, with the coming of the railroad, the town attracted the interest of Swiss-American J. G. Probst, who advanced a scheme to establish a Swiss colony. Probst purchased 13 thousand acres in the area for his colony and founded the Swiss Pioneer Union as the investment vehicle to attract potential immigrant settlers. He then advertised the scheme in German-language newspapers.

Those who came laid out a new town, which they called New Switzerland. It was immediately adjacent to Hohenwald. However, a clash over several issues, including language and culture, culminated in a courtroom battle that resulted in the merger of the two towns under the name of Hohenwald. In 1897, Hohenwald became the county seat of Lewis County. Well into the 20th century, Hohenwald retained its Swiss distinctiveness. However, during World War I, the strong anti-German sentiment compelled residents to downplay their cultural roots. Within a few years, most of Hohenwald's Swiss families no longer spoke German-Swiss. Only in recent years have descendants begun reclaiming their cultural roots.

Hohenwald’s Association With One of America's Greatest Explorers

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson appointed 29-year-old Meriwether Lewis commander of an expedition to explore the newly acquired American territory in the Louisiana Purchase. Six years later, after toilsome years mapping rivers, mountains, and terrains previously unknown to Americans and greatly expanding geographic knowledge, Lewis was found dead from two gunshot wounds at Grinder’s Stand, a log cabin inn located near Hohenwald, along the historic Natchez Trace. He was just 35.

In 1848, Tennessee erected a grave-site marker that, almost 80 years later, became the Meriwether Lewis National Monument. This iconic monument, although associated with one of modern history’s most famous explorers, is remarkably Spartan. You will find an unadorned circular column with a broken top, signifying the adventurer's sudden death, and a quote from Thomas Jefferson celebrating Lewis's courage. The Meriwether Lewis gravesite now also features a small museum nearby that celebrates the life and work of the explorer. It is one of the town’s most sought-after attractions.

Hohenwald’s Other Mesmerizing Attractions

Hohenwald is also widely popular for several other attractions that can fit into a quiet vacation. There’s the Elephant Sanctuary, regarded as the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for African and Asian elephants. Here, the largest land mammals on Earth live out their retirement, away from crowds and noise, on 2,700 gorgeous acres in the Tennessee hills. Although the sanctuary itself is private, the Elephant Discovery Centre in downtown Hohenwald will give you a glimpse into their lives and personalities.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Hohenwald offers an epic-level experience. There’s abundant camping, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and more, especially along the gorgeous Buffalo River, the longest undammed river in Middle Tennessee and a designated State Scenic River. There’s the Lewis State Forest, a quiet, woodsy place to soak up lovely views of the Tennessee River, The Course at High Forest, whose greens are always in exceptional shape, and Devil's Backbone State Natural Area, a pristine place for an afternoon hike. As if that’s not enough, the county boasts three award-winning wineries: Amber Falls Winery & Cellars (13 miles away from town), Keg Springs Wineries (18 miles), and Natchez Hills Vineyard (15 miles). All these are perfect spots for sunset picnics, scenic date nights, and a memorable happy hour.

Visit-worthy Towns Near Hohenwald

Lynchburg, known worldwide as the birthplace of the famous Jack Daniel's Whiskey, is approximately 87 miles from Hohenwald. You can visit the Jack Daniel Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in America, and probably sample the popular flavors, then pass by the Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Hardware and General Store, where you will find all kinds of Jack Daniel's memorabilia and souvenirs, some of which you can't get elsewhere.

On the flipside, Pulaski, just about an hour southeast of town, hosts the Sam Davis Memorial Museum, an evocative space that preserves the memory of the Boy Hero of the Confederacy and shares the story of his execution by Union soldiers. Pulaski also boasts a thriving performing arts scene, meaning you can grab a front-row seat for top-class stage productions at the STAAR Theatre, an old-school theatre in the Historic Antoinette Hall Opera House.

Embracing Hohenwald's Quiet Beauty

Modern life can be hectic and unhelpfully fast-paced. That’s why everyone needs to occasionally escape to a quiet retreat in the woods to refresh and unwind. Although Tennessee is dotted with several small, slow-paced towns ideal for relaxation, few match the quiet but irresistible allure of Hohenwald. People come here to spend a reflective moment at the Meriwether Lewis Monument, the resting place of one of America’s most celebrated explorers. They also come here to drink wine, wander through quiet forest trails, and spend peaceful nights under the stars at the many RV parks surrounding the town.