Fountain City is a small community located in north Knoxville, TN. It got its start when Captain John Adair created Fort Adair (aka Adair Station) in the 1780s as a military supply depot and defensive post for other European settlers against the Cherokee, whose land they were invading.
Adair’s predecessors initially called the station “Grassy Valley” and it was where the Berry-Lynnhurst Cemetery sprawls around modern-day Adair Drive. Adair and his wife are even buried beneath a tree there.
An extension of the settlement stretched out to where the Fountain City Park is today, and was often used as a religious campground. It later moved into Inskip near the railroad, for better proselytizing opportunities.
In the early 1900s, the name Fountain Head was given to the town on account of the First Creek springs bubbling through the area. In 1885- 1886, the Fountain Head Methodist Church and the Fountain Head Hotel were the first solid structures to be built in the settlement.
The hotel was situated on the hill looking out over the Duck Pond. When the post office was established in 1890, they learned the name Fountain Head was already claimed, so they opted for Fountain City. Soon after, a primitive train route was created to transport people from Emory Place and other stops in Knoxville to the hotel in Fountain City.
Today, I think one of the best ways to see Fountain City is by following the Dogwood Arts Trail. Just look for the pink lines and arrows painted on the street.
By the 1950s, Fountain City was the largest unincorporated community in the United States, and Knoxville officials began to make moves to annex it. Residents of Fountain City opposed this thoroughly and put up a good fight, but in 1962, they were absorbed.
Hundreds of angry locals and mourners flooded Broadway in a mock funeral procession. They donned all black clothing and stovepipe hats, and had pallbearers carry a real casket down the street.
Members of the Central High marching band followed, blasting somber melodies while marchers carried protest signs declaring the death of their peaceful community. Can you even imagine?
Things do seem to have settled since then. Fountain City is widely known as a community packed with cute cottages, manicured lawns, and lovely gardens.
It has a few claims to fame, too. The classroom scenes in October Sky were filmed at its Gresham Middle School. Roy Acuff, James Agree, Sgt. Thomas York and many other celebrated people claim this area as their home.
Some of these houses could have come straight out of Home & Garden magazine, especially ones located along Garden Drive, Tazewell Pike, and in the Historic Adair Gardens.
The most famous and historic house in the area is the neo-classical Dempster Mansion along Broadway. It was built in the 1920s and owned by George R. Dempster, former mayor of Knoxville and city council member, as well as a city development planner.
He was a successful inventor with nearly 80 patents, including the Dempster Dumpster, an idea that changed waste collection and management. Many people around here still refer to their trash bins as dumpsters.
Another interesting and admirable aspect of Dempster I have learned is his dedicated work for civil rights, and for employing individuals with special needs and handicaps. He passed away in the 1960s and someone else has owned the house privately since then.
So let’s talk about some of Fountain City’s most beloved features.
FOUNTAIN CITY LAKE
My family moved to Knoxville in the 1990s and I grew up calling this site the “Duck Pond” but some longtime residents would fight you if they heard you call it that. To them, this is the Fountain City Lake. LAKE!
And just like the combined geography of the twin communities of Fountain City and Inskip, the shape of the Duck Pond forms a heart.
This… lake… was created around 1890 for the aforementioned Fountain Head Hotel, and though the hotel is long gone, the lake remains.
FOUNTAIN CITY PARK
Fountain City Park has been through so many changes over the decades. It used to be so clean and was much safer than the average spot in town. I had birthday parties or attended countless parties for others there in the 90s, and often took my little brother and his friends for many years after that.
City officials have made improvements to the playground equipment and landscaping, but any progress seems to be quickly vandalized or destroyed. In more recent years, the park has become a camp for the houseless population.
There is a major problem with individuals leaving needles, drug paraphernalia, and trash all over the grounds. An increase in reports of aggravated harassment have taken place as well.
I am an ABNORMALLY empathetic person, and I do not know the one true answer to solving the housing crisis in Knoxville (I wish I did!), but I can not help but feel sad that this magical place from my childhood no longer feels safe and peaceful.
Fountain City Art Center used to be the Fountain City Library. It is located on the park grounds and offers all sorts of art classes, music lessons, and hosts exhibitions from time to time.
There is a small cluster of shops on Hotel Avenue between the Duck Pond and the Fountain City Park.
In the early 200s, I spent a lot of time at Café Noir, a coffee shop that no longer exists in the space next door. I also miss the Creamery, a restaurant that suffered a tragic fire a few years ago. Salons, bakeries, and other businesses have come and gone over the years, and I would love to see some more life breathed into this tiny strip mall.
Be sure to stop by The Station and visit my friend’s shop, Folly Boutique!
From Broadway, follow Tazewell Pike to another cluster of businesses including Pratt’s Country Store, the Corner Cottage, Sweet P’s BBQ, and Wrenhouse Bakery.
Sweet P’s BBQ is in the old Smithwood Drug Store building. For someone who does not really love BBQ, I have to say that theirs is fantastic.
They also have a second Knoxville location downtown, and sometimes host live music and other events.
Wrenhouse Bakery has a second location as well, on the other end of Tazewell Pike near the Gibbs/Corryton communities. I love the oatmeal cream pies best but they also have handmade cake pops, scones, brownies, cookies, and other delicious treats.
Fable Hollow Coffee & Bookshoppe is a relative newcomer to Fountain City. This is where you go to find all things magical, mystical, medieval, fantasy, and sci-fi.
They sell all new book releases, memorabilia, gifts, mugs, and more.
My favourite drink from the café is the Dragon’s Breath, their take on a creamy cardamom latte.
Fountain City may not have the most dazzling or flashy architecture, but look inside the old brick buildings and converted homes, and you will find all types of businesses, personal services, and awesome places to eat/drink.
Cultivate Coffee + Flowers is a coffee shop and florist located inside an old bank with a functional drive-through.
Choose from their personally arranged bouquets, or assemble one on your own while you wait for your treats.
Pasteleria Rufy is a Latin / Hispanic Bakery. I love that most of their desserts are not super sweet, and my favourite is the strawberry-peach Napoleon.
Inskip Grill is really the cherry on top of Fountain City. It used to be located in Inskip proper but kept its name after moving a few miles away.
They are known for having some of the wildest palettes and ingredient combinations ever. I have yet to eat an entire one by myself in one sitting, either sharing with friends or taking it home for the next day’s lunch.
When friends come to visit, this is on my top 10 list of places to take them for a carnivorous meal.
They have really great waffle fries and a variety of house-made sauces too. Each of their offerings are named after a Knoxville neighbourhood or icon, or some whacky outlier, with a flavour theme to back it up. Check out this menu!
The Original Louis Italian Restaurant has been in business since 1958, which means they were serving Fountain City even before it was annexed by Knoxville!
The spaghetti sauce is polarizing; most people either love it or hate it. It is not particularly “Italian” or what you would think of as a traditional spaghetti sauce, but I love it for what it is versus loving it for being authentically Italian.
My favourite items on the menu are the baked spaghetti and creamed spinach, but the spinach is usually only served on Thursdays.
Litton’s has been around forever and I think a large part of that is sheer tradition. The food is okay. They have won many awards for their burgers, but I find the food to be bland, basic, and with hardly any seasoning.
The price point is as high as the average gourmet burger downtown, but without all the boujee fixin’s or creative flavours. I do appreciate the history of the place, which first started in Inskip, and I have great respect for a business who has been open since 1981.
That dessert case though, whew! Their Italian Cream Cake alone is worth the trip.
Tequila Amigos is a festive place next to the Fountain City Social, so this is kind of the party corner of Fountain City. They have excellent burritos, margaritas, and a spacious patio.
Chef Ben and Dynasty Express are two options for Chinese food in Fountain City. About once a year when I’m feeling puny and under the weather, I get the sweet and sour soup from Dynasty Express, but any other time I find the amount of gelatin in it a little too much to handle.
Sam & Andy’s is another longtime Fountain City staple. They have killer sandwiches and the people who work there are always fun. The dining room and parking lot are often loaded with cops so the vibe can be hit or miss. UT Vols football fans will love this place and its themed décor, team colours, and wall of fame.
Fountain City Social is in the former Casual Pint location, but it is way cooler. They have an 80s retro vibe with themed costume parties and Singo nights. One of my old bands used to perform jazz and swing music at Casual Pint pretty often, so going there is like being in an alternate universe now.
Aside from the Fountain City Park, there are some other awesome parks in the neighbourhood. Beverly Park and Dog Park is a serene greenspace with a fairly flat, paved walking track and large golf course.
The park also serves the Hillcrest Healthcare facility up on the hill so do be mindful of residents, patients, and their loved ones while visiting. Most of the times I have visited, there may have been one or two other people at most on the 0.6 mile loop.
Adair Park is my favourite park in Fountain City and the one I frequent most often.
Aside from regular soccer meets, the park is quiet and fairly secluded, though surrounded by residential homes
This was always the first choice for me and my dog before he passed. He especially loved the fountain.
One of the main roads in Fountain City is Adair Drive, and it connects Broadway to the Inskip community. Along Adair Drive is the Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home & Cemetery, where Captain Adair and his wife are buried.
Savage Garden is on private property where someone lives, and it is only open during the Dogwood Arts Festival and other special events.
The historic home and Oriental gardens are located next to the Montessori School, and were first created by Arthur Savage in the 1920s.
Eventually a new couple moved into the home, restored the gardens, and opened the Montessori School in the meantime.
Savage created other gardens during his lifetime, in particularly, the Savage Garden near Rocky Top, Tennessee. You can read this blog about my visit to that one.
Baxter Gardens is another privately owned garden on private property that is only open to the public during certain times of the year. The family who created it still lives onsite.
I love spending my lunch breaks walking around the gardens when it is open, but things took a weird turn last year.
So many people began flooding in and using the private property as photoshoot locations, trampling over the plants, leaving confetti and trash and props everywhere, and being so loud that it was not a peaceful experience as intended. I can only imagine the stress, expense, and frustration this added to the owners’ already heavy workload.
The owners were literally begging people to stop, and their friends/loved ones were sharing appeals on social media, but people kept coming. I worry that the family will not open the gardens to the public anymore after how disrespectfully they were treated last season, but I hope that is not the case.
Fountain City Skate Park is a tiny space as much as it is a tiny victory, finally giving the skaters of Fountain City a place to have fun in a sea of “No Skating / Skateboarding / Biking / Breathing” signs.
In the area for a while? Follow me to Fountain City’s twin community, Inskip, or to other neighbourhoods like Happy Holler, Marble City, and Old Sevier.
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