Cradled between deep forest and forgotten mine shafts, Coalmont, Tennessee, is a town carved from coal, built by grit, and haunted by memory.
Born as a company town, Coalmont once burned bright with the fire of a booming industry—and like all things forged in flame, it carries the scars. Here, time runs slow. The air is thick with stories, the kind that settle in your bones. Stone buildings stand like sentinels, and the hills echo with more than just wind. Some say you can still hear the old rail lines hum, or catch a lantern light flicker in the trees where no one walks. In Coalmont, the mountain doesn’t forget—and neither do the ghosts.
Rooted in the Land | Coalmont, TN
Rugged Trails, Towering Cliffs & Coal-Carved Paths
Savage Gulf State Park
Wilderness Carved in Stone
Coalmont’s wild heart beats within Savage Gulf, a vast gorge system tucked into the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Towering sandstone cliffs, rare plant species, and over 50 miles of hiking trails make this a paradise for nature lovers. Highlights include the Stone Door, Greeter Falls, and panoramic views that stretch beyond memory.
📍Trailhead Address:
3157 TN-399, Palmer, TN 37365 (just outside Coalmont limits)
Big Creek Lake
Throttle, Trails & Tennessee Grit
The first city-owned off-highway vehicle park in Tennessee, Coalmont OHV covers over 1,700 acres of raw, rugged terrain. It’s where off-roaders come to kick up dust, climb ridges, and explore the ghost of the mining boom—one muddy mile at a time.
📍 Address: 1972 Flat Branch Rd, Coalmont, TN 37313
Explore Historical Attractions
Coal Company Relics, Stubborn Stone, and Appalachian Roots
Coalmont Bank Building (City Hall)
A Fortress of Finance, Reclaimed by the People
Built in 1921 with coal money and brick resolve, the old Coalmont Bank once housed post office, payroll, and coal company power. Now, it serves as City Hall and a public library. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s where history is both recorded—and still made.
📍 Address: 60 Taylor St, Coalmont, TN 37313
Historic Coalmont Railbed & Mining Site
Tracks That Vanish Into the Trees
The old rail lines that once fed the coke ovens now disappear into moss-covered quiet. Pieces of mining equipment, rail ties, and crumbling structures still dot the land—silent testaments to lives lived hard and fast beneath the mountain.
📍 Trail Access: Along Flat Branch Rd, near Coalmont OHV
Explore Tales from the Plateau | Coalmont, TN
Lantern Lights, Unmarked Graves, and Ghosts in the Stone
Coalmont may look like a quiet stop on a backroad map—a town of front porches, fading brick, and coal seams long since sealed—but the mountain remembers what it gave, and what it took.
Born from company plans and carved by pickaxe and flame, Coalmont was never just a place—it was a machine of men and minerals, humming with life and heavy with loss. And when the coal ran out, it didn’t go quietly. The shafts were sealed, the fires cooled—but something stayed behind.
Ask around and you’ll hear it: stories of footsteps in locked buildings, flickering lights near the old railbeds, and voices rising from places that haven’t seen daylight in decades. Some say it’s memory. Others say it’s something deeper.
In Coalmont, the dark runs deep—and the silence sometimes speaks back.
The Mine That Whispers Back
The Mountain Doesn’t Always Let Go
Old miners say there’s a shaft near Coalmont that never closed properly. At night, wind doesn’t blow—it breathes. Locals swear they’ve heard humming, like a pickaxe tapping stone deep underground. But no one’s been down there in years. At least, no one who came back.
The Light on Flat Branch Ridge
Seen, But Never Caught
Campers and off-roaders have spotted a dim, swinging lantern bobbing through the woods late at night near Flat Branch. The stories are always the same: it appears on the ridge, dips out of sight, and never makes a sound. Some say it’s a miner who never clocked out. Others say it’s just the mountain… remembering.
The Hollow Behind City Hall
Where the Records Don’t Go
Behind the old bank building is a patch of forest the town never quite developed. It’s small, but cold—even in summer. Kids used to dare each other to walk it alone. Some returned with wild stories. Some didn’t make it far enough in to find out.
Explore Coalmont, TN
Built on black rock and stubborn hope, Coalmont is a place where the seams of the mountain once ran with coal—and now run with stories. Born as a company town, it still carries the bones of its mining days: stone bank buildings, railbeds reclaimed by moss, and the quiet pride of a town that remembers what it’s made of.
Here, the landscape is carved with history. Savage Gulf cuts deep through the plateau just beyond town limits, while OHV trails twist like old legends through the hills. The past lives in every brick of the city hall, every creak of a floorboard at the old bank, every flicker of a campfire at Big Creek Lake.
This is a town of hard hands, soft echoes, and untamed wild. A place where miners once marched into the mountain—and sometimes, maybe, didn’t come back alone. Visit for the adventure. Stay for the stillness. But don’t be surprised if something follows you home.
Hometown Highlights | Coalmont, TN
Explore Places to Stay:
The Coalmont Cabin
Perched on a quiet patch of Plateau soil, The Coalmont Cabin isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s a heartfelt welcome wrapped in woodgrain and front-porch stillness. This cozy tiny home stay is thoughtfully designed, lovingly maintained, and full of little touches that turn an overnight stop into a memory worth keeping.
It’s the kind of place where the bed is soft, the coffee is strong, and the sunrise sneaks through the trees just right. Whether you’re here for a hike, a weekend escape, or just passing through coal country with a need to breathe, The Coalmont Cabin reminds you that small doesn’t mean simple—it means intentional.
📍 Location: Coalmont, TN 37313 (exact address shared at booking)
🕒 Book via Airbnb or contact through their Facebook page
The Getaway on Ranger Creek
Seclusion, Stillness, and Starry Skies
Tucked deep in the woods just outside Coalmont, The Getaway on Ranger Creek is the kind of place that feels hidden on purpose. With cozy tiny cabins, crackling fire pits, and no TV in sight, it’s designed for those who need to unplug, breathe deep, and let the forest do the talking.
Whether you're watching deer slip through the trees at dawn or stargazing by lantern light, this is a retreat where time slows down and the noise of the world falls away. The cabins come stocked with the essentials—just enough to make life easy, but not distracting. Phones go in lockboxes. Peace comes standard.
📍 Address: Coalmont, TN 37313
🕒 Book at South Cumberland Getaways
Explore with Forks on the Plateau:
Stinger's
A Buzzing Spot for Bites and Brews
Hidden just off the main road, Stinger’s is where Coalmont gathers. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be—what it lacks in neon signs it makes up for in strong coffee, hot plates, and conversations that stretch long past closing time. Burgers come thick, the fries come seasoned, and the sweet tea flows like gossip on a summer night.
Some say if you sit near the jukebox after dark, it might skip to an old country song you didn’t select. Folks chalk it up to a glitch—or maybe a regular who never really left.
📍 Address: 7694 TN-56, Coalmont, TN 37313
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Sunday: 10 AM–7 PM
Chester’s Chicken
Inside the local gas station or quick stop, you’ll find Chester’s—serving up fried chicken with golden crunch and sides that feel like Sunday supper. Perfect for folks on the go, or anyone who believes comfort food belongs in a cardboard box and eaten in your car.
📍 10172 TN-56, Coalmont, TN 37313
Los Dos Mariachis Mexican Restaurant
South-of-the-Border Soul in the Tennessee Hills
Bright plates, bold flavors, and generous margaritas—Los Dos Mariachis brings the fiesta to Coalmont. From sizzling fajitas to cheesy enchiladas, every dish hits like a celebration. Rumor has it the salsa’s got a secret ingredient: just the right amount of mountain magic.
📍 10172 SR 56, Coalmont, TN 37313
Hours of Operation:
Mon 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
Tue 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
Wed 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
Thu 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
Fri1 1:00 AM-9:30 PM
Sat 11:00 AM-9:30 PM
Sun 11:00 AM-8:30 PM
Explore Shops on the Mountain | Coalmont, TN:
Coal Dust, Craft Hands & Quiet Treasures
Rock Creek Florist
This small-town floral shop offers more than bouquets—it offers comfort, celebration, and color in a place carved from coal. Whether you're prepping for a wedding or just want to brighten the kitchen, Rock Creek delivers arrangements with heart—and maybe a hint of mountain magic.
📍 Address: 9971 SR 56, Coalmont, TN 37313
Hours of Operation:
Monday: 8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM–6 PM
Thursday: 8 AM–6 PM
Friday: 8 AM–6 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–12 PM
Sunday: Closed
Solace Farm
Heritage Roots, Handcrafted Remedies
Tucked away in the quiet hills near Gruetli-Laager, Solace Farm isn’t a storefront—it’s a philosophy. Run by hands that know both earth and healing, this online-only farmstead blends old-world wisdom with slow, intentional craft. From nutrient-rich goat milk soaps to raw fleece from rare heritage sheep, everything is made or grown with purpose—and a fierce love for preserving what others overlook.
Here, soap is a revelation, not a routine. Candles flicker with tallow and beeswax in upcycled glass, and every product—from teas to tinctures to lip balm—is shaped by care, conservation, and a healthy dose of Appalachian grit.
They raise Hog Island and Tunis sheep not just for wool, but to protect the genetic memory of endangered breeds. They gather wild elderberries, render their own tallow, and mix salves the way your great-grandmother might have—if she also shipped nationwide.
Solace Farm doesn’t do mass production. It does healing, heritage, and a whole lot of heart.
📍 Location: Gruetli-Laager, TN (Online only)
🌐 Shop + Learn More: solacefarmhomestead.com
Double A Farm
Up on the ridge, Double A Farm raises cattle the old-fashioned way—on fresh grass, clean water, and respect for the land. Their beef is hormone-free, humanely raised, and sold with a handshake. You won’t find neon signs or fancy labels here—just the kind of quality you can taste.
📍 Address: 901 Pennwood Dr, Coalmont, TN 37313 (Call ahead for pickup)
Go ahead, and place that order for some fine Tennessee Beef
More Than Just Main Street:
Citizens Tri-County Bank – Coalmont
Serving the Plateau with small-town trust and modern tools, Citizens Tri-County Bank anchors Coalmont’s financial needs with the reliability only a locally rooted institution can offer. Whether you're starting a savings account, securing a loan, or just cashing a check with a smile, this branch is where mountain money feels personal.
Additional branches are located nearby in Palmer and Tracy City, ensuring that no matter where you are on the Plateau, your bank isn't far behind.
📍 Coalmont Branch Address: 10000 SR 56, Coalmont, TN 37313
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Coalmont OHV Park
TCoalmont isn’t just a place you pass through—it’s a place you ride through, full throttle and grinning. The Coalmont OHV Park, Tennessee’s first city-owned off-highway vehicle playground, is more than just a weekend adventure spot. It’s a symbol of a town that knows how to hold onto its grit and still make room for something new.
Spanning over 1,700 wild acres of former coal land, the park offers twisting trails, creek crossings, and muddy ridgelines that beg to be conquered. Whether you’re on a side-by-side, dirt bike, or four-wheeler, the terrain changes with every turn—and so does the story you’ll tell when you get back.
Out here, the mountain doesn’t just test your wheels. It tests your nerve. And it rewards those who come ready.
📍 Trailhead: 1972 Flat Branch Rd, Coalmont, TN 37313
Open daily; permits available on-site and online
Book Now: https://www.coalmontohvpark.com/
BetterFi – Coalmont
In a town built on hard work and harder-earned dollars, BetterFi stands out—not as a bank, but as a neighbor with a plan. This nonprofit financial coaching service helps Plateau residents take control of debt, build credit, and get back on their feet without shame, judgment, or fine print.
Housed in a modest space but driven by a big mission, BetterFi offers everything from budgeting help to one-on-one coaching. Around here, they’re known for more than spreadsheets—they’re known for second chances. Because in Coalmont, community means helping each other move forward.
📍 Address: 7602 SR 56, Coalmont, TN 37313
🕒 Visit betterfi.co to schedule an appointment or learn more
Silverbait
The Quiet Giants of the Underground
Tucked just off Highway 108 in Coalmont sits a facility few locals brag about—but it's a wriggling powerhouse beneath the surface. Silverbait isn’t your average bait shop—it’s the largest worm farm in the country, churning out millions of nightcrawlers for fishermen across the U.S.
While it’s not open to the public, the operation is a point of pride for the region—proof that even in the quiet corners of the Plateau, big things are happening just underfoot. It's earthy, gritty work… and unexpectedly vital.