News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Dale Hollow Rural Planning Organization is working to educate residents about the Cumberland National Historic Byway.
Coordinator Mark Dudney said the Byway runs through eight Tennessee counties, four of which are in the Upper Cumberland. In 2021 the federal government designated it a National Scenic Byway. Dudney said there are several outdoor tourist opportunities along the byway.
“It’s more than just something that connects places, it’s an opportunity for people to disconnect from their screentime and be part of the true American experience there,” Dudney said. “The call, the discovery and adventure from the Cumberland Gap down to the Cumberland River.”
Dudney said the organization wants to educate people about the area the byway covers, along with the byway itself. He said the byway runs East to West from Claiborne to Clay County.
“We want to highlight everything, the cultural natural resources, the businesses, the communities, the town squares along the way, but also make the byway itself a destination,” Dudney said. “So by learning the stories about this and the other scenic byways, it helps us discover who we are by understanding the landscapes by which we come.
Dudney said more information about the byway can be found on the Traveling Embers podcast, produced by Jenni Veal of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. He said the podcast includes stories about the heritage and history of the counties along the byway, along with a performance from a local musician.
Dudney said the organization is also working with TDOT and other local partners to receive grants for future projects including a possible television show about the byway.
