Pelham
Grundy County, Tennessee · A farming valley beneath the Cumberland Plateau
Overview
Pelham has the distinction of having been part of three different counties over its history. It was originally part of Franklin County, then became part of Coffee County, and lastly was delineated as being part of Grundy County when the county was established in 1844. Unlike the other communities highlighted here, Pelham is located below, rather than atop, the Cumberland Plateau.
The Caverns, Pelham's underground performance venue, brings thousands of music lovers to the area each year and is home of the Emmy-winning PBS television series The Caverns Sessions (formerly Bluegrass Underground).
Fun fact: The Gilliam Family daffodil field in Bell's Cove attracts tourists and locals annually in spring.
History
A brief outline of Pelham's documented history.
- April 4, 1832 The Pelham post office opens, establishing the community's official date of record. The settlement is believed to have been named for a family of early settlers.
- Early years Pelham is originally part of Franklin County, then later assigned to Coffee County.
- 1844 Grundy County is established, and Pelham is delineated as part of the new county — making it part of three different counties over the course of its history.
- Late 19th – early 20th c. Pelham sits along regional trade routes connecting the plateau communities of Tracy City and Monteagle with the valley below, with coal, timber, and goods moving through.
- 2018 The Caverns opens in Pelham as the new permanent home of the Emmy-winning PBS concert series Bluegrass Underground, later rebranded as The Caverns Sessions.
The Caverns
The Caverns is Pelham's signature attraction: a naturally occurring subterranean amphitheater at the base of the Cumberland Plateau, paired with an outdoor amphitheater on the surface above. The venue is home to the Emmy-winning PBS concert series The Caverns Sessions (formerly Bluegrass Underground) and hosts touring acts across a wide range of genres throughout the year.
In addition to concerts, The Caverns offers daily guided walking tours of the cave system and adventure cave tours for more experienced explorers. On-site overnight accommodations include yurt rentals and event-day camping.
- Address
- 555 Charlie Roberts Rd, Pelham, TN 37366
- Phone
- (931) 516-9724
- Website
- thecaverns.com
Outdoors & Seasonal Attractions
Gilliam Family Daffodil Field
A long-loved local tradition: every spring, the Gilliam family's daffodil field in Bell's Cove bursts into bloom with thousands of old-fashioned daffodils originally planted by Harris and Samantha Gilliam. The field is open to the public on an honor-system basis for picking flowers during the spring bloom. The location is reached from US-41 by turning into Bell's Cove just as you reach the valley floor below Monteagle Mountain.
- Location
- Bell's Cove, Pelham, TN 37366
- Season
- Spring bloom (typically February–March)
Payne Cove & Bell's Cove
Pelham sits in Payne Cove, a fertile valley framed by the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. The surrounding coves — including Bell's Cove and Payne Cove — offer scenic backroads, springs, and small caves used by Indigenous peoples and early settlers. Payne Cove Road and the area around Bell's Cove Road are popular routes for slow drives and roadside views of the plateau wall.
Clay & Clay Farms
A working family farm operating in the Pelham valley. Clay & Clay participates in seasonal community events, hayrides, and harvest gatherings open to the public on select dates.
Visiting Pelham
Practical information for travelers and day visitors.
Pelham sits at the base of the Cumberland Plateau on US-41 in Grundy County, just off Interstate 24 at Exit 127. Pelham is the most direct gateway to The Caverns, the underground concert venue at the heart of the South Cumberland music scene, and is also the closest town to Shelton Farms and the Pelham RV Park & Mini Storage area.
Chamber Members in Pelham
15 members of the South Cumberland Chamber of Commerce based in Pelham, organized by category.
AGRICULTURE
BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE
CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING
Address:
1738 Paynes Cove Rd. (PO Box 146) • Pelham, TN
Phone:
(931) 581-0412
Email:
job19251@gmail.com
ENTERTAINMENT
EVENTS & VENUES
FOOD & BEVERAGE
HOME SERVICES
INDIVIDUALS
Pelham, TN
Pelham, TN
Pelham, TN
Pelham, TN