The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly was founded in 1882 by the Sunday School Convention of Tennessee. At the time, a number of states had these congresses, often called Assemblies, all of them modelled after the Chautauqua Institution in New York, which was the first of these Assemblies. They were meant not only as a place for religious activities, such as retreats, but also as places for higher learning at a time when there were few colleges and institutes available to people.
The MSSA opened for its first summer session on July 17, 1883. The summer courses offered on the grounds attracted many students and teachers, as most southern schools didn’t offer summer programs. The thousands of yearly visitors soon encouraged the Assembly to begin building projects which led to the creation of many cottages, public meeting halls and boarding rooms.
The World Wars and Great Depression severely hindered the revenues and popularity of the MSSA, forcing it to close many cottages and discontinue many of their programs; other Assemblies were forced to shut down during this period. It was nearly 30 years before interest returned to the MSSA, leading to the restoration and refurbishing of many cottages, as well as the introduction of new programs and guest speakers.
This reawakening of interest peaked in the 1980s, when the MSSA held its Centennial Celebration and was added to the National Register of Historical Places. The MSSA is one of only nine surviving Assemblies in the United States, and still receives thousands of visitors a year.
Re-Energize Yourself in the Mountains of Adventure
How to Spend an Epic Week in the Mountains of Adventure
Explore with this Self-Guided History Tour
Food & Drink
High Point Restaurant
Built inside a 1929 mansion that presumably once was financed by Al Capone, High Point serves a menu of traditional gourmet dishes including Brie en Croute, Blackened Salmon Oscar and Black Thai Duck.
Shopping
Mooney's Market & Emporium
Located in a 1939 storefront, The Market is a Natural Foods Grocery, while the Emporium is a collection of "shops". Yarn shop, antiques, houseplants, pottery, African baskets and more.
Food & Drink
Papa Ron's Pizza & Italian Steakhouse
Local family-owned restaurant since 1992, serving a large variety of food such as pizzas, pastas, steaks and much more.
Shopping
Amish Hippie
One of the quirkiest vintage shops in Tennessee, with clothing, jewelry, accessories, gifts, nostalgic souvenirs, vintage posters & stickers, tobacco accessories, t-shirts, Amish soap and baskets.
Outdoor Adventures
Cove Creek Farm
Working farm with indoor & outdoor playgrounds and guided tours
Outdoor Adventures
ECO E-bikes
E-bike rental, sales & repair right on the Mountain Goat Trail
Spa & Fitness
Fade Medical Spa
Medical spa services by appointment: hydrafacial, dermal filler, neuromodulators
Shopping, Arts & Crafts
Hallelujah Pottery & Full Circle Candles
Locally-crafted pottery, candles and other gifts
Shopping, Arts & Crafts
Highland Bluff Studio
Subtly nerdy soy candles made with all natural soy wax, cotton wicks, and no dyes
Food & Drink
Mountain Goat Market
Killer eats, eclectic finds
Shopping
Mountain Outfitters
Outdoor equipment and apparel store with rock wall inside and permanent 50%-off outlet upstairs
Food & Drink
Mountain Top Restaurant
Bringing innovative techniques and recipes from across the globe to create an exceptional culinary experience. Open Mon-Fri for lunch, Saturday for brunch and Thur-Sat for dinner.
Music & Nightlife
Music on the Mountain at The Smoke House Patio Grill
Features some of the best artists and songwriters from Nashville every Friday night from 6:30 to 9:30 and every Saturday night from 4:30 to 9:30. Also serving hot food and cold beer, with indoor and outdoor seating options.
Shopping
Oakes & Oliver's Modern Mercantile
Cool vintage items, unique home decor and local handcrafted goods
Food & Drink
Paco's Cantina
Mexican restaurant and sports bar serving tacos, beer and more
Food & Drink
Smoke House Patio Grill
Grilled & fried chicken, grilled pork chops, pulled BBQ, burgers, sandwiches, salads, vegetables, fried pies, cold beer with live music Friday & Saturday nights, plus open mic on Sunday from noon to 4pm.
Food & Drink
The Depot Cafe
Home cooked Southern food, including burgers, Philly cheese steaks & desserts
Shopping
The Whimsy Willow
Clothing, gifts and home goods boutique with a little something for everyone
Outdoor Adventures
Fiery Gizzard State Park Visitor Center
Park info, gift shop, mini-museum and trailhead for a kid-friendly "storybook trail"
Outdoor Adventures
Storybook Meadow Trail
This is a 1-mile easy, round trip walk through a meadow with storyboards from a children's book and a forest playground made of logs and ropes -- a great way to introduce the little ones to the joys of hiking! Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard State Park Headquarters on US 41 in Monteagle.
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