In the 1880s, a grand resort hotel stood on this property. The first version of the “Mont Eagle Springs Hotel” was built by investors from Nashville. That hotel burned in 1929, but was quickly replaced. The second version of the hotel was built by Tennessee real estate investor John Harton; however, it, too, met a similar fate, burning to the ground in 1950. After the second fire, Harton decided not to rebuild.
The Eagle statue stood in front of the charred remains of the hotel, and was noticed by a Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (“TPI”) student in 1952, while working a summer job in this area. TPI’s mascot was also an eagle, and so the student and his cohorts conspired to “relocate” the Eagle to the TPI campus in Cookeville as part of a pep rally, ahead of their ’52 rivalry football game with Middle Tennessee State University.
As the now-legendary tale recounts, three students arrived in Monteagle on a rainy night in November with nothing more than a pair of tin snips, hoping to free the Eagle from its rocky perch. After several tense minutes of work – cutting away the half-globe beneath the Eagle’s feet – the statue came free and was whisked off to Cookeville, where it received a clandestine coat of gold paint before its unveiling at the big pep rally.
Upon seeing the Eagle unveiling at the pep rally, TPI President Everett Derryberry, who knew John Harton, is reported to have said, “Mr. Harton will never believe that I knew absolutely nothing about this!” Ironically, Derryberry had previously met with Harton on a return trip from Chattanooga, had noticed the Eagle in front of the hotel ruins, and, having the same [but more legitimate] idea as the mischievous students, had made Harton an offer to buy the statue. But the students beat him to it.
In 2016, the school, now known as Tennessee Technological University, made amends for the “relocation” by returning a full-scale replica of the Eagle to Monteagle, where it now proudly sits in Harton Park.
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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