Southern Living
What To Do In Leipers Fork
Take The Scenic Route
There are small towns, and then there is Leipers Fork. Depending on how fast you drive along the winding two-lane road, it would be conceivable to get distracted by the scenery and miss it on the way to Franklin or Nashville. Don't make that mistake—it would be a shame to bypass this gem of a place, especially in the fall. The main street, Old Hillsboro Road, is about a mile long with no traffic lights and serves as the location for a dozen or so small businesses, including stylish boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.
Arrington Vineyards is a popular spot for groups on weekends. STACY K. ALLEN
Buy Unique Gifts
Props Antiques is filled to the ceiling with fascinating finds plus retro toys and gifts. Tucked away just off the main road in a tiny building resembling a hobbit's house is Tennessee Turquoise Company, which features an exquisite collection of vintage jewelry made with the bright blue gemstones. The store is owned by Morgane Stapleton, wife of country musician Chris Stapleton, and each purchase helps support the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.
Enjoy a peaceful spot behind the main drag in Leipers Fork; free family movies are shown here in the summer. STACY K. ALLEN
The fine art scene is so robust here that you can spend an afternoon exploring. The Copper Fox Gallery is a beautifully restored 1888 house filled with a thoughtfully curated collection of art (created in all media, from sculptures to felted animals) by Tennessee makers. Next door is the charming tin-roofed gallery of David Arms, an event designer turned artist best known for his lifelike paintings of birds. Just a short walk from there, Leiper's Creek Gallery has artists from around the country in a sophisticated yet relaxed space that shows no traces of its former life as a gas station.
Leipers Fork has several art galleries, including David Arms, which is housed in a barn. STACY K. ALLEN
Dig Into A Hearty Meal
Restaurant options are limited but surprisingly varied in Leipers Fork. The Country Boy, the oldest diner in the county, serves up hearty breakfast plates and Southern fare like fried chicken and catfish. Across the street is Fox & Locke (formerly called Puckett's), which rebranded, keeping the same live music and updating the menu to include meat 'n' three options, burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream.
Wines in the Fork is a shop and tasting room specializing in local vino that you can enjoy while overlooking the Harpeth River. A quick drive away is Leiper's Fork Distillery, which produces small-batch bourbon and whiskey from grains grown nearby. The tastings (which take place in a snug, carefully restored cabin from the 1820s) feel like stepping back in time.
Leiper’s Fork Distillery offers tours and tastings of its whiskey. STACY K. ALLEN
Stay A Night
Consider booking a stay in the village at White's Room and Board in a revamped 1892 cottage complete with a front porch swing and Gibson guitars in the event that musical inspiration strikes. For larger groups, House and Sanctuary offers 18 rental properties, including a treehouse, cabins, and a mini farm with donkeys and goats.
The picturesque property has tables and firepits for gathering, and picnicking is encouraged. STACY K. ALLEN
