Across America, small towns quietly exist among forests, across prairies, and in the mountains. These communities were established by individuals seeking land, a future, and to build a life. Long before highways were constructed and train tracks were laid, people arrived on horseback, in buggies, and in covered wagons.
Their journeys were perilous, and many never reached their destination. Nonetheless, others continued to explore, search, and build the nation we call home today.
In 1750, Dr. Thomas Walker, a physician and explorer from Virginia, was commissioned to find a route to the American West. He and his team successfully located this path, which they named the Cumberland Gap, located at the borders of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Daniel Boone and his axemen created the Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap in 1775, enabling wagon travel. This expansion helped grow U.S. borders to the Mississippi River, with around 300,000 settlers using the trail from 1775 to 1820.
By 1796, Avery’s Trace in Tennessee had become an important route for westward travelers. When families arrived at Standing Stone, they discovered a flat plateau at an elevation of 2,200 feet, which provided a convenient resting place. The cool mountain air and refreshing mineral springs helped to rejuvenate their spirits before they continued their journey.
A few people chose to stay, including my ancestors, who built a small inn on the land that appears to touch the sky. This marked the beginning of what would later become Monterey, Tennessee—the gateway to the West.
By the late 1800s, Monterey became a thriving and bustling tourist
destination. Dusty roads, worn by wagons and horses, lay alongside elevated wooden sidewalks with hitching posts in front of the general store, bank, and post office.
When the railway arrived in 1893, seven hotels operated in town. Lumber and coal production flourished, and tourism boomed.
Thousands of visitors boarded trains to ascend the mountain, eager to experience the refreshing, scenic beauty of this historic location, which had only 1,100 permanent residents in 1910. They hiked to Bee Rock to gaze over the crest and take in the expansive view below.
Bee Rock possesses a timeless tranquility that captivates anyone who ventures out onto its weather-worn stone. Formed over millennia, the rugged cliff face stands as a silent sentinel over the Upper Cumberland. disconnected from the rush of the modern world. It remains a rare, breathtaking slice of wilderness—pure, powerful, and utterly unforgettable.
But the trains wouldn’t run forever. The Tennessee Central Railroad, which once proudly carried passengers and heavy freight up the mountain, began a gradual decline as demand for coal decreased and automobiles dominated American life. Passenger service quietly ended in 1955, and by 1968, the sound of the train’s whistle had faded away.
Just as the automobile replaced the train, carpeting played a role in the closure of the main lumber plant in town. Despite its vibrant tourism and thriving businesses, the small town felt forgotten. Like many American towns, Monterey gradually experienced a decline in prosperity, losing one train service and one successful business at a time.
When I visit my birthplace, it feels like a gateway to history. I find myself in tears as I gaze at the only remaining hotel; it stands empty, awaiting the return of visitors who seek a slower pace, fresh air, and the echoes of the past.
How often do we overlook history because we are eager to reach our destinations? Just beyond the exits lie places that played significant roles in shaping America. Some continue to struggle for survival as countless textile mills have closed, steel production has declined, and other once-thriving businesses have ended. For many of these communities, these industries were the primary sources of income.
Those of us who grew up in small-town America remember the dignity of hard workers who took pride in their contributions, not only to their hometowns but also to our nation.
Just beyond the exits lie the stories of families who fought to
save a country, explore new horizons, and make a difference. The big cities are noisy, but the small communities across our country provide America’s heartbeat.
The spirit of innovation is alive in Monterey, largely thanks to Rafferty Cleary, who has fallen in love with the town. Together with local historian Dale Welch, he transformed the old depot into a museum and repurposed a railcar as an event venue. Their efforts, along with renovations on Main Street, the establishment of new restaurants, regular band performances, and the lasting appeal of Bee Rock, are revitalizing the town while preserving its rich history.
Every small American town has its own story and a yearning to reinvent itself.
Towns like Monterey never truly disappear; they wait for someone to remember them. On this mountaintop, where the hilltops kiss the sky, their story is being told once again.