The Sparta House is located in downtown Sparta but with almost an acre right on the Calfkiller River, you'd never know it! It's the best of both worlds. Walk to great coffee shops and pottery studios or fish from the back yard or bird watch from the sun room. There are many amazing waterfalls and superior hiking spots all within a 15 minute drive. Fall Creek Falls, Virgin Falls, Burgess Falls, Rock Island, Sunset Rock, Lost Creek Falls and Cummins Falls are all just a short drive away.
The space
There are 3 bedrooms all on a one level home right on the Calfkiller River. The sun room looking over the river is the absolute best place for bird watching and has a perfect table to play games. The large kitchen has everything you could possibly need for a big family dinner. The 2 rocking chairs on the porch are great to listen to the water flow over the dam. We also now have a beautiful screened in porch to watch the river.
Other fun things in the area - less than 3 miles to Calfkiller Brewery, walking distance to Happy Trails Brewery, a few miles to Sparta Drive in Movie Theater, Caney River is a short drive away for canoeing. We always end up spending most of our time fishing, playing in the river, birdwatching and playing Rummikub!
We provide all the linens you will need. We are flexible with check in and check out times if we are able. Just ask. There is a gas grill available for your use. Strong Wifi. 2 TV's - one in the living room and one in the basement - access to Netflix, Hulu, Sling, etc. Coffee is provided (by the pot or Pods). Tons of games in the sun room.
We also provide fishing poles, tackle box, a hammock and corn hole. Just added a fire pit! We have a brand new ping pong table!!
Here are our favorite things to do (and eat!) in Sparta:
1. Calfkiller Brewery - 3 miles up river, fantastic outdoor beer garden
2. Lost Creek Falls - 25 minutes away and pure paradise! Beautiful drive. We go here to look for frogs and crawdads!
3. Sunset Rock - worth the 5 minute drive to check out the sunset (You'll drive past Wildcat Falls)
4. Burgess Falls - 10 min away, great playground
5. Fall Creek Falls - 35 min away (25 miles)
6. CH Donuts - OMG, do not miss this deliciousness! Honestly, this should be first! The. Best. Donuts. I've. Ever. Had. Hands. Down.
7. Virgin Falls - 20 min away
8. Cummins Falls (Cookeville) - Must have permit and dangerous for kids, 30 min away but ahhh, memories from college days...
9. Sparta Rock House
10. Sparta Drive in Movie Theater
11. Happy Trails Brewery
12. Rock Island - Hiking, Swimming area and water falls (twin falls) all 20 min away
13. Coffee Collective - You can walk there from the house. Excellent coffee and cinnamon rolls.
14. Tent graves of Mt Gilead
15. Short Mountain Distillery
16. Canoe the Caney River - Cold and clear water all the way to the bottom. My kids loved watching all the fish!
17. Window Cliffs - Strenuous hiking trails but lots of water to walk through. Stop at the first few streams and play there with young kids. The view is scary AF at the end of the hike!
18. Welches overlook past Bon Air. Keep kids on a leash but the view is outstanding! Just past Virgin Falls
19. Farmers Market in downtown Sparta
20. McCulley's Amazin' Acres - Berry picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patch, farm adventures, wagon rides
21. Stonehaus Winery
22. Holly Ridge Winery
23. White County Heritage Museum
24. Cumberland Caverns
25. Golden Mountain Park
26. Nortfield Vineyards Winery
27. Bon Air Mountain Historical Society Museum
28. Fragrant Mushroom Gallery - Local Art and Pottery
29. Kayak/canoe the Calfkiller River. The fishing is top notch! You can put in from maneuvering the rocks in backyard along river or drive up a block to the ramps.
30. Ozone Falls about an hour away in Crossville
31. Twin Lakes Catfish Farm - fish and/or eat. So delicious!
32. Mountain Sno and Salad to Go. - the best sno cones this side of the Mississippi! Salad bar open on weekdays. Plus panini’s and quesadillas!
33. Foghouse Lighthouse restaurant in Walling - fantastic food on Caney Fork River!
34. Or, ya know, just fish and swim and play in the water all day from the backyard of the Sparta House! The porch sittin' and hammock are on point. Bird watching for days!!
35. Ping pong tournaments!
The house is on the Calfkiller River and smack dab in the middle of all this fun stuff!
Absolutely no dogs!!
Other things to note
The Sparta House is right on the Calfkiller River. Please use caution and wear a life jacket when swimming. DO NOT swim or boat at the base of the low head dam. You can put a kayak in from the backyard (Use the end away from the dam) but know that there are rocks you'll have to maneuver down to the water. There are several ramps into the water all within a couple of blocks. Ask for locations.
Absolutely no dogs!
