Knoxville has embraced Thunder Road because of the spectacle crash of a notorious Kentucky moonshiner named "Tweedle-o-twill." According to a local historian, Thunder Road emptied into Knoxville along what is today called Kingston Pike. This was because of the loud, low rumbles of the booze-running vehicles that were heavily modified to outrace the authorities. Look for Tennessee state routes 33 and 25, which were the routes heaviest trafficked by moonshiners and the actual byways nicknamed Thunder Road. These Appalachian roads lead to the General Longstreet Museum (Russellville), the Andrew Johnson Tailor Shop (Greeneville), Clinch Mountain Overlook (Tennessee), Bush Beans Visitor Center (Dandridge), Jefferson Country Courthouse (Dandridge), town of Cumberland Gap (Tennessee) or the Little Congress Bicycle Museum (Cumberland Gap). The stops today are neither stills nor forest hideaways but rather state parks, historic homes, unique eateries, churches and cemeteries, museums and even wineries. These old dirt roads are now main travel corridors and highways and are no longer dangerous and unknown. When I was in Knoxville, I picked up a self-driving guide called "White Lightning: Thunder Road to Rebels Trail," noting that "Rebels careened around the curves of Thunder Road transporting illegal homemade corn whiskey under the cover of darkness." At the center of the brochure was a map of the four-state (Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina) corner of Appalachia known for its moonshine, and the Thunder Roads were delineated. The moonshine-running corridors of the region were known as Thunder Road, hence the title of the movie. "Thunder Road" was the epitome of cheap, teen-oriented films known back in the day as a "drive-in movie." It was about a famous moonshine-runner during the Depression, when alcohol was illegal and the best that could be had was made by Appalachian backwoodsmen. No, the house manager was looking forward to watching "Thunder Road." Decades before "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was the mainstay of late-night moviegoers "Thunder Road" was the late-night standard for drive-ins from one end of the country to the other - but especially in the South. However, in the coming months, the Paramount would be showing classic films, and for one movie she said she was going to break her own rule and just sit and watch. No matter the Broadway show or how famous the musician, she never breaks to sit with the audience to watch as if she were a civilian. Make the Log Cabin Motor Court your jumping off spot for any adventure in Western North Carolina.The house manager of the beautifully restored movie palace, the Paramount, in Bristol, Tennessee, is very strict about her position. Other area attractions include the quaint town of Weaverville, a few miles to the north, the 435 acre North Carolina Arboretum and the Pisgah National Forest. Picnic along the French Broad River at just 2.6 miles or cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, just 10 miles away. Take a leisurely stroll around Beaver Lake, less than 3 miles away, or Lake Louse at just 6 miles. Less than six miles to the center of downtown Asheville, with its abundant shopping, dining, arts and entertainment, the world famous Biltmore Estate less than 8 miles. Located between US 25 and US 19-23, it is a natural haven, but close to urban areas. Many of our cabins have fireplaces and kitchens, all have air conditioning. Our one and two-bedroom cabin rentals are conveniently located to downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Accommodations consist of beautifully aged historic cabins originally built in the 1930s. Located just six miles from downtown Asheville, North Carolina we offer the best cabin rentals on our side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A rustic stopover that time forgot will be a treat you'll long remember.
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