Oakdale is a tiny river town with a big railroad story. About 200 people live here, but the Emory River runs right through town and some of Morgan County's best outdoor country is minutes away. Come for the scenery, stay for the quiet.
This town was born with the railroad. Originally called Honeycutt after an early settler, the town grew up around a Cincinnati Southern Railway railyard in the 1880s, where steam locomotives were refitted for the steep grades north. In 1892 the name changed to Oakdale after a nearby mining operation. By the early 1900s Oakdale had a bank, five general stores, a drugstore, three schools, and a newspaper. In 1905 the railroad's Babahatchie Inn was converted into one of the largest YMCA facilities in the country, with 1,500 beds. Diesel locomotives ended the railyard era, but the railroad heritage is still the town's identity.
The Emory winds right through Oakdale (its original name was the Babahatchie, which is where the old inn got its name). The river means fishing, kayaking, and lazy riverside picnics with the hills rising on both sides. It's one of the prettiest small-town river settings in East Tennessee.
A short drive toward Wartburg puts you in Obed country. The Nemo area has a riverside picnic spot and the historic Nemo pedestrian bridge over the Emory River. Lilly Bluff has easy trails with boardwalk overlooks into the gorge. Start at the National Park Service visitor center in downtown Wartburg.
South of Oakdale, the vast Catoosa WMA is backcountry country: rugged hiking, wildlife watching, and remote camping. It's wild, it's big, and it rewards people who like their outdoors unpaved.
About 30 minutes north, Frozen Head's 24,000 acres of Cumberland Mountain wilderness offer 50-plus miles of trails, waterfalls, and the 360-degree observation deck atop the 3,324-foot summit. Free admission, open 8 a.m. to sunset.
The historic prison in Petros is an easy day trip. Self-guided tours of the 1896 penitentiary, a museum, concerts, the End of the Line distillery, and The Warden's Table for Southern BBQ. Check tourbrushy.com for seasonal hours.
Oakdale is genuinely tiny, so pack what you need. There are no grocery stores in town. The nearest real grocery and dining options are in Harriman to the south and Wartburg to the north. Cell service can be spotty in the river valley, so download maps before you head out.
The town was originally called Honeycutt. In 1892 the name was changed to Oakdale after a nearby mining operation.
The Emory River runs through town for fishing, kayaking, and picnicking, and the town's railroad history is worth a drive-through. The Obed Wild and Scenic River, Catoosa WMA, and Frozen Head State Park are all close day trips.
Diesel locomotives could handle the steep grades north of town without refitting, so the railyard became obsolete and the town declined in the mid-20th century. Oakdale now has about 200 residents.
The Emory rises on the slopes of Bird Mountain near Wartburg and flows through Oakdale on its way southwest. Its original name was the Babahatchie.
Harriman is just south, Wartburg is north, and Petros is northeast. All are 15 to 30 minutes away.
Exploring Morgan County? See Morgan County homes for sale and the Wartburg town guide from Real Estate Concepts.