The Best Things To Do In Leipers Fork, Tennessee

The secret is out about Leipers Fork. Once an unknown spot about 45 minutes southwest of Nashville, the area is now one of the South’s most fascinating small towns. Located on the scenic Natchez Trace Highway, Leipers Fork has one main road that goes right through the heart of town. If you were speeding along, you might drive right past the dozen or so small businesses on either side of the street, but that would be a mistake. While the scenery just outside of town is mainly rolling fields and horse farms, Leipers Fork is a surprisingly sophisticated place, with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants you wouldn’t expect to find in a town of that size. Each one is unique and worth a visit.

You never know what you’ll find at Props Antiques. The store is filled to the ceiling with vintage furniture and home items, retro toys and gifts, and locally made goods, like chocolate and candles. Patina Home & Garden sparks home decor inspiration as soon as you walk in the door. Inviting living spaces and vignettes fill the store, along with giftable items like tabletop ceramics, skincare products, and books. Tucked away just off the main road in a tiny building resembling a hobbit's house is Tennessee Turquoise Company, which sells a wide range of vintage jewelry made with the bright blue gemstones. The store is owned by Morgane Stapleton, wife of country musician Chris Stapleton, and each purchase helps support the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.

The fine art scene is so robust here that you could spend an entire afternoon exploring. Leiper's Creek Gallery sells works by artists from around the country in a sophisticated yet relaxed space—you’d never guess it was once a gas station. Don’t miss The Copper Fox, which offers a thoughtfully curated collection of art (created in all media, from sculptures to felted animals to brooms) by Tennessee makers. Next door is the charming tin-roofed gallery of David Arms, an event designer turned artist best known for his lifelike paintings of birds. You can buy prints and original works, as well as vintage glassware, books, and other curiosities. 

For hearty breakfast plates and Southern-style fare, head to The Country Boy, the oldest diner in the county. Across the street is Fox & Locke (formerly Puckett's), which hosts popular live music nights and offers a menu of meat 'n' three options, burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream. If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, Red Byrd Coffee has pastries and creative espresso drinks, like the Papa Byrd, a blackberry latte. For an upscale meal, 1892 serves a seasonally-influenced menu in a beautiful old farmhouse. For a stiff drink and a bit of history, check out Leiper's Fork Distillery, which produces small-batch bourbon and whiskey from locally-grown grains. Tastings are held in a snug, carefully restored cabin dating back to the 1820s. 

It’s easy to fill a day, or even a weekend, in Leipers Fork. The hard part is resisting the urge to move there yourself.