Gruetli-Laager
Grundy County, Tennessee · A Swiss colony on the South Cumberland Plateau
Overview
The town of Gruetli traces its history to 1869, when German-speaking Swiss immigrants were drawn to the area by the Tennessee Kolonisation Gesellschaft, a commercial enterprise that established numerous Swiss colonies along the Cumberland Plateau. Peter Staub, a Swiss immigrant to Knoxville, purchased the land that makes up Gruetli and advertised in "the old country" to attract new residents. Seeking to escape difficult economic conditions in Europe, nearly 100 families made the journey to their new home. Descendants of these original settlers gather annually for the Swiss Heritage celebration at Stoker-Stampfli Farm and Museum.
Laager, initially known as "Henley's Switch," was a railroad stopover established in 1918, part of the railroads built in the early 1900s east of Gruetli to support the coal mining operations in the area. The two communities combined as one incorporated entity in 1980.
Fun fact: In 1880, Grundy County had the largest Swiss population in Tennessee.
History
A summary of Gruetli-Laager's documented history.
- 1869 Gruetli is founded by German-speaking Swiss immigrants brought to the area by the Tennessee Kolonisation Gesellschaft. Peter Staub, a Swiss immigrant to Knoxville, purchases the land and advertises in the old country to attract new residents. Nearly 100 families make the journey.
- 1873 Christian Marugg, a Swiss settler in Gruetli, founds the Marugg Company to provide European-style scythes to area farmers. The company will later move to Tracy City.
- 1880 Grundy County has the largest Swiss population in Tennessee.
- c. 1884 The Marugg Stagecoach Inn is completed in Gruetli, serving travelers along the McMinnville-to-Chattanooga stagecoach route and functioning as a hotel, dance hall, and community meeting place.
- 1918 Laager (originally known as "Henley's Switch") is established as a railroad stopover supporting coal mining operations east of Gruetli.
- 1980 Gruetli and Laager combine and incorporate as a single town: Gruetli-Laager.
Swiss Heritage Sites
Stoker-Stampfli Farm and Museum
The Stoker-Stampfli Farm preserves the history of the Swiss settlers who founded the Gruetli colony in 1869. The Stoker family was the first Swiss family to settle on this property, and the farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings are among the few surviving structures from the original colony. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is preserved by the Grundy County Swiss Historical Society. The grounds are open for visits, and tours of the farmhouse are available by appointment.
- Address
- 328 Swiss Colony Cemetery Rd, Gruetli-Laager, TN 37339
- Phone
- (931) 235-3029
- Website
- swisshistoricalsociety.org
Swiss Heritage Celebration
An annual all-day festival held in late July at the Stoker-Stampfli Farm Museum. The celebration features farm tours, live music, Swiss food and beverages, wine and cheese tastings, craft demonstrations, and a children's area. Admission charged. Hosted by the Grundy County Swiss Historical Society with support from the Swiss consulate in Atlanta.
Swiss Colony Cemetery
A historic cemetery near the Stoker-Stampfli Farm, where many of the original Swiss settlers and their descendants are buried. A number of the older headstones are inscribed in German. The cemetery sits just off Swiss Colony Cemetery Road, a short distance from the farm museum.
Other Historic Swiss Structures
Additional surviving structures from the original Swiss colony include the Suter Farm, Pickett Farm, and the Marugg Stagecoach Inn (c. 1884). These are privately owned and not generally open to the public.
Outdoor Recreation
Gruetli-Laager sits at the edge of some of the most remote sections of Savage Gulf State Park, particularly the Collins Gulf area. The Savage Gulf South Trailhead, also signed as Collins West, offers access to a network of trails including Collins Gulf Trail, Collins Rim Trail, and the historic Stagecoach Road Trail.
Savage Gulf South Trailhead
The primary trail access point on the Gruetli-Laager side of Savage Gulf State Park. From TN-108 in Gruetli-Laager, watch for the small brown "Collins West" sign at 55th Avenue, then follow 55th Avenue to its end. The parking area and trailhead are directly ahead. Overnight parking is allowed for camping only.
- Trailhead
- 2689 55th Ave, Gruetli-Laager, TN 37339
Suter Falls
A waterfall on Rocky Mountain Creek in Collins Gulf, reached from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead via the Collins Gulf Trail. The hike to Suter Falls is approximately 3 miles round-trip and is rated moderate to strenuous, with a stone-step descent, a cable suspension bridge, and rugged sections.
Horsepound Falls
A second waterfall on the Collins River, further along the Collins Gulf Trail past Suter Falls. The full out-and-back hike from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead is approximately 5 miles round-trip and is rated strenuous, with about 600 feet of elevation change and rocky terrain.
Collins River
The Collins River runs through the backcountry below the plateau and is a designated state scenic river. Its upper stretches in and around Savage Gulf are used for kayaking and fishing where accessible.
Visiting Gruetli-Laager
Practical information for travelers and day visitors.
Gruetli-Laager lies along TN-108 in eastern Grundy County, formed by the 1980 merger of two adjacent communities. Gruetli was settled in 1869 by Swiss immigrants and the town still celebrates that heritage at the Stoker-Stampfli Farm Museum. The town is the western gateway to Savage Gulf's Stone Door and Big Creek Gulf trail areas, and a short drive from Beersheba Springs and Altamont.
Chamber Members in Gruetli-Laager
4 members of the South Cumberland Chamber of Commerce based in Gruetli-Laager, organized by category.
AGRICULTURE
Address:
30596 SR Hwy. 108 • Gruetli-Laager, TN
Phone:
(931) 779-9999
(931) 779-5431
Email:
melhorn32@hotmail.com
MUNICIPALITIES & PUBLIC SERVICE
RECREATION
Address:
328 Swiss Cemetery Rd. • Gruetli-Laager, TN
Phone:
(931) 235-3029