The first home on this property was the residence of Dr. Oliver D. Mabee, who died in the early 1900s. After the 1925 death of Oliver’s daughter-in-law Marie, and a subsequent and protracted estate dispute with her siblings, Mrs. Irene Mabee Dickinson of Chicago, the daughter of Oliver’s son Charles, gained legal control of the property for a payment of $600.
Shortly after, Mrs. Dickinson demolished the original Mabee home and started construction on the present two story, ten room, fieldstone Tudor Revival cottage she first called “Castlewood” and later “RyMabee.” The cottage is an exemplary representation of the early twentieth century Tudor Revival or English Cottage Revival Style. The home fronts on the earliest east-west post road and later turnpike between Nashville and Chattanooga, which first crossed over the narrowest portion of the Cumberland Plateau in the 1840s.
Interviews with persons living in Monteagle in the late 1920s indicate that Alphonse (a.k.a. “Scar Face” Al) Capone frequented the original 1875 Mabee home. Capone, it is said, came through Monteagle on a regular basis when he was traveling between Chicago and his Florida estate in Miami. There are reportedly pictures from the late 1920s showing Capone in his car, being towed up Highway 41 from Pelham after it had mechanical problems.
In the 1950s, the home became a restaurant, operated by Clara and Tom Shoemate. During that time, RyMabee was renamed “Claramont.” In the early 1960s, after Clara Shoemate opened an event facility overlooking Lost Cove in Sewanee, the building reverted to a private residence before re-opening in the late 1990s as “High Point”, once again a restaurant in an elegant and historic setting. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
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.
Nearby...
