Palmer
Grundy County, Tennessee · A coal-mining town on the South Cumberland Plateau
Overview
Originally known as Tate's Village, Palmer was eventually named in honor of landowner Clarence William Palmer (1850–1919), who owned much of the land upon which the town was established. In the 1920s, the town boasted a population of more than 1,200. Most of those residents were somehow connected to the mining operations of the Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company.
Today Palmer is best known as the gateway to Savage Gulf State Park, with the Savage Gulf East Trailhead and Ranger Station located just south of town off State Route 399. The Grundy County Miners Museum and Heritage Center, in the heart of Palmer, preserves the town's mining history.
Fun fact: Miners in Palmer sometimes were paid in company scrip — metal tokens or paper notes that worked only at the company store.
History
A summary of Palmer's documented history.
- Pre-1918 The area is known as Tate's Village, with land owned by Clarence William Palmer (1850–1919).
- 1918 The Grundy Mine Company, a subsidiary of the Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company (TCC), opens mines in the area. A company town grows up around the operations.
- 1925 The town is incorporated and renamed Palmer in honor of Clarence William Palmer.
- 1920s Palmer's population reaches more than 1,200, with most residents connected to the TCC mining operations. A spur railway line connects Sewanee to Palmer, hauling coal and coke off the mountain and bringing supplies and groceries back.
- 1962 Underground mining in much of the area is closed following labor disputes between the United Mine Workers Union and the mining companies. Strip-mining operations continue.
- 1998 Tennessee Consolidated Coal closes the last underground mine in Grundy County and relocates much of its operation to West Virginia.
- 2022 Savage Gulf, just north of Palmer, becomes Tennessee's 57th state park after decades of management as a state natural area within South Cumberland State Park.
Savage Gulf State Park
Savage Gulf became Tennessee's 57th state park in 2022, after decades of management as a state natural area within South Cumberland State Park. The 19,000-acre park encompasses rugged gorges, sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and approximately 60 miles of hiking trails. Palmer sits just south of the Savage Gulf East Trailhead, the most easily accessed entrance to the park.
Savage Gulf East Trailhead & Ranger Station
The primary east-side entry point to the park, with a paved parking area, restrooms, and a staffed ranger station offering trail maps and information.
- Address
- 3157 TN-399, Palmer, TN 37365
Savage Falls
A 30-foot waterfall accessed from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead via the Savage Day Loop and South Rim trails. A stairway descends to the base of the falls, where there is a designated swimming area. The full round-trip hike is approximately 4.2 miles and is rated easy to moderate, with two cable suspension bridges along the route.
Suter Falls and Horsepound Falls
Two additional waterfalls in the Savage Gulf system, accessed from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead (near Gruetli-Laager). The combined trail to both falls is approximately 6 miles round-trip and features cascades, creeks, rock shelters, and high bluffs along the route.
Werner Old Growth Forest
A 500-acre tract of old-growth forest within Savage Gulf — one of the few areas in the southeastern United States that has never been timbered. Accessed from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead via the park's overlook trails.
Mining Heritage
Grundy County Miners Museum & Heritage Center
In the heart of Palmer, the Grundy County Miners Museum preserves the history of coal mining on the South Cumberland Plateau. The museum houses artifacts, photographs, mining equipment, plaques honoring local miners, and a scale model of company housing. Permanent exhibits document the Sewanee Mining Company, the Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company, and the families whose lives revolved around the mines from the early 20th century until the last underground mine in Grundy County closed in 1998.
- Location
- Palmer, TN 37365 (adjacent to the Palmer Library on Main Street)
- Hours
- Please contact the Town of Palmer or check the official website for current visiting hours
Historic Coke Ovens & Railbeds
The landscape around Palmer retains visible remnants of its mining era, including the outlines of old railbeds and the remains of mining infrastructure. A spur railway line from Sewanee to Palmer once allowed coke from the local ovens to be loaded and transported off the mountain. The coke ovens in Palmer itself no longer survive intact, though similar ovens can still be seen at Grundy Lakes near Tracy City.
Food & Drink
The Southern Oven
A family restaurant owned and operated by sisters Felicia Nolan and Miranda Cleek, serving Southern home cooking including meatloaf, country-fried steak, daily plate-lunch specials, and house-made pies and cakes. The coconut cake is made from a longstanding family recipe.
- Address
- 139 TN-399, Palmer, TN 37365
- Hours
- Mon–Wed 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Thu 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Fri 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat–Sun closed
Shops & Services
Memories General Store
An online-only retailer based in Palmer, specializing in heavy-duty, USA-made enamel metal advertising signs in vintage-station and roadside-diner styles. The physical storefront is no longer open to the public, but the business continues to operate by mail order and online.
- Phone
- (931) 779-5580
- memoriesgeneralstore@yahoo.com
- Hours
- Online only; in-person visits by appointment
Palmer Public Library
The town library serves Palmer and the surrounding community with books, programs, and public computer access.
- Director
- Candace Simmons
- Address
- 2115 Main St, Palmer, TN 37365
- Phone
- (931) 779-5292
- palmerdirector@gmail.com
Important Numbers
Town government and community services for Palmer, Tennessee.
City Hall
35 School Rd · PO Box 219
Palmer, TN 37365
(931) 779-3247
townofpalmer@benlomand.net
Mayor: Daniel Crabtree
Aldermen: Justin Cannon, Vanessa Cleek, Jamie Hunt
City Recorder: Alicia Layne
Meets 3rd Monday at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall
Fire Department
2135 Main St, Palmer, TN 37365
(931) 779-3249
Chief: Jared Meeks
All emergencies dial 911
Convenience Center
2126 Main St, Palmer, TN 37365
(931) 779-4272
Household waste accepted
Public Library
2115 Main St, Palmer, TN 37365
(931) 779-5292
palmerdirector@gmail.com
Director: Candace Simmons
Police & Emergencies
All emergencies dial 911
Visiting Palmer
Practical information for travelers and day visitors.
Palmer is the easternmost town in Grundy County, sitting on TN-108 between Coalmont and the Sequatchie Valley. A former coal-camp turned quiet residential community, Palmer is the closest plateau town to the Savage Gulf trailheads at Collins Gulf and the Werner Loop, and is a short drive from Tracy City and Gruetli-Laager.
Chamber Members in Palmer
8 members of the South Cumberland Chamber of Commerce based in Palmer, organized by category.
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Palmer, TN