Awalt, Tennessee facts for kids

Awalt is a fascinating ghost town located in Franklin County, Tennessee. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left, often leaving behind empty buildings or just memories. Awalt is one of these places, now mostly covered by water.

The Story of Awalt

Awalt was probably named after John Awalt, one of the first people to settle there. It was a small community that grew around a few important services.

Early Life in Awalt

In 1845, a post office opened in Awalt, which was a big deal for communication back then. It stayed open for many years, finally closing in 1906. By the 1870s, the town had a sawmill, which cut wood, and a gristmill, which ground grain into flour. These businesses were very important for the local farmers and residents.

Why Awalt Disappeared

The main reason Awalt became a ghost town is because of Tims Ford Lake. This large lake was created by building the Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River. Construction of the dam started in 1966 and finished in 1970.

Before the lake was filled, everyone living in Awalt had to move. Even the graves from the old cemetery were carefully moved to a new place called New Awalt Cemetery, located on a higher ridge. All the buildings in Awalt were taken down so they wouldn't be underwater.

The lake took almost two years to fill up. Many of the roads that once led into the town of Awalt are now used as boat ramps, leading right into the lake! The town itself was in a low valley, which is why it ended up at the bottom of the lake. Most of the people who lived in Awalt were farmers. After the lake was created, they moved to nearby areas in Franklin County or Coffee County. Today, a large part of what used to be Awalt is now home to Holiday Landing Marina and Resort, a popular spot on the lake.