Visit Loudon during October for history and ghosts
A Day Away By Mike Steely
Loudon County’s seat, appropriately named Loudon, is an interesting place to visit, especially during October. Around town are several historic and unique buildings, places and people.
Bo Carey, a descendant of the founding Greer family and owner of Greer’s Furniture, may be best known as a tour guide and storyteller. Carey leads groups around the historic town, and during October, the “Ghost Tour” turns into a Halloween adventure.
Loudon developed from Cherokee lands and originally was a Native American village. The Steekee Cemetery played an important part in that dispute between the founding families and the Native Americans. The cemetery was the site of a Cherokee village and burial ground. The ferry transported travelers across the Tennessee River from the north side to the Cherokee settlement in what is now Loudon.
The oldest structure still standing in Loudon is probably the two-story brick building known as either the Blair’s Ferry or Pathkiller Storehouse. No matter the name, it is one of the earliest commercial buildings, though it is unclear who actually built and owned the historic building.
A modern bridge now links the north shore to the town, and just below that bridge in Loudon is the historic Carmichael Inn, where generations of locals and visitors dined and socialized. Any photo of Loudon probably includes the historic water tower and the historic railroad depot, now the home of Monkey Town Brewing Company. Next to the depot sits a historic railroad caboose.
The town has a well-done riverside park, lots of local businesses, and a spirit still maintained by local residents. Loudon didn’t escape the Civil War as Confederate forces occupied the area for a couple of years and built a fort facing north atop Fort Hill. It protected the bridge and watched river traffic. Fort Hill now has many nice homes overlooking the scenery and the town far below.
Carey often takes his tours by the rebuilt courthouse as he walks around the town. The little town recently rebuilt its courthouse after the original suffered extensive fire damage in 2019.
If you’re planning to visit Loudon, you may want to go there by way of Kingston Pike and pass through Lenoir City with its own historic sites. Philadelphia is just south of Loudon on Highway 11 and, nearby, is Sweetwater Valley Farm’s Cheese Store.
Anyone interested in joining him for the tours may contact Carey by email at bocarey95@gmail.com or sign up at www.bocareyhistorytours.weebly.com.
