Beersheba Springs feels like stepping into an earlier time.

Anchored by the historic Beersheba Springs Assembly, this community grew as a summer retreat in the 1800s—and that legacy still shapes it. Its historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll find shaded streets, old architecture, and a sense that people come here to unplug on purpose.

The Old Brown Museum, a former country store, now serves as a community museum documenting the history of Beersheba Springs. Each year, the town hosts the Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Festival on the grounds of the Assembly.  

Beersheba is home to the Great Stone Door – the mountain’s iconic bluff vista. The overlook itself is a short and easy hike, and it’s also the launching point into the some of the wildest and most challenging hikes and back country camping.

The vibe is peaceful and reflective—part outdoor destination, part step back in time.

History

Beersheba Springs quickly gained recognition as a summer resort town after Beersheba Porter Cain of McMinnville discovered a mineral spring here in 1833. Soon after, a tavern and some cabins were added, and the area became popular with travelers along the McMinnville-to-Chattanooga Stagecoach Route. Cain’s spring was located along an ancient trail system known as the Chickamauga Trace, which was utilized by early indigenous people, as well as peoples from the Cherokee, Chickamauga and Creek nations.

In 1854, John Armfield of Louisiana bought the property and built the luxurious Beersheba Springs Resort to overlook the Collins River valley. The resort became well-known throughout the South, featuring billiard rooms and bowling alleys, French chefs and musical acts from New Orleans.

The resort suffered from pillages and abuse during the Civil War and was closed. It reopened in the 1870s but never returned to its former glory. In 1941, the United Methodist Church acquired the hotel for conferences and group retreats.