Tate Springs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tate Springs |
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The hotel in 1940
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| General information | |
| Status | Destroyed by fire, lost to impoundment and highway construction |
| Type | Luxury hotel |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Address | 7107-7065 U.S. Route 11W |
| Town or city | Bean Station, Tennessee |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 36°20′21″N 83°20′47″W / 36.339290°N 83.346417°W |
| Named for | Samuel Tate |
| Completed | 1865 |
| Renovated | 1876, 1898, 1900, 1905, 1924, 1925 |
| Closed | 1941 |
| Destroyed | 1963 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Grounds | 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Thomas Tomlinson |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 500 (original), 600 (replaced) |
Tate Springs was once a famous and fancy resort in Bean Station, Tennessee, United States. It was known for its special mineral spring water, which was even sent to other countries. Many rich and well-known families, like the Fords and Rockefellers, visited this popular spot in the Southern United States.
The main hotel building was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1963. Today, only a few parts of the old resort remain. These include some cabins, the pool bathhouse, and the springhouse. The springhouse is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Contents
Where Was Tate Springs Located?
The Tate Springs resort was in eastern Grainger County, Tennessee. It was part of the town of Bean Station. The resort was built along an old path called the Great Indian Warpath. This path is now known as U.S. Route 11W.
A Look Back at Tate Springs' History
The special mineral spring at Tate Springs was likely found by the Cherokee tribe. They discovered it while planning the Great Indian Warpath. The area around the spring was considered a safe, neutral place during battles between tribes. People believed the spring water could help with stomach, kidney, and liver problems.
After the American Revolutionary War, a large area of land, including the spring, was bought by Colonel William Hord in 1791. In 1865, Samuel Tate bought almost half of this land. He built the first hotel at the spring site in the same year. This first hotel could hold about 500 guests.
In 1876, Thomas Tomlinson, a veteran from the Union Army, became interested in Tate Springs. He bought the spring and hotel property from the Tate family. Tomlinson first built the springhouse, which was a beautiful two-story Victorian-style gazebo. He then built his new hotel in stages. The middle part was finished in 1898, the west wing in 1900, and the east wing in 1905. Once completed in 1905, Tomlinson's hotel could host around 600 guests.
Tomlinson's hotel had three stories with porches on two levels. It also had a fourth-level cupola that was just for Tomlinson's private use.
When the Peavine Railroad opened in 1896, it connected Morristown to Knoxville. This made it easy for many rich and important families to visit Tate Springs by private train. This was the resort's most successful period. However, the train station at Tate Springs closed in 1919. Visitors then had to stop at the Bean Station depot, which was about three miles away.
Thomas Tomlinson passed away in 1909. He left the resort to his two sons and two daughters. His son, Clem Tomlinson, took over running the resort.
In 1924, a swimming pool and bathhouse were added to the resort. They were located south of the hotel, near German Creek. A year later, an 18-hole golf course opened. It was designed by a famous golfer named Donald Ross. Many top golfers, including Bobby Jones, played there. In 1925, a row of private cottages was built. These cottages were known for lively parties and were nicknamed "Rowdy Row."
As cars became more popular and the Great Depression hit, the resort and the Peavine Railroad saw fewer visitors. The Peavine Railroad, which had brought so many guests, stopped running in 1928. The first hotel built by Samuel Tate was torn down in 1936. The main resort, run by the Tomlinson family, closed in 1941.
In 1941, before it closed, the resort lost some of its land. Its sewage plant and golf course were affected when the Holston River was dammed by the Tennessee Valley Authority to build Cherokee Dam.
The main road, U.S. Route 11W, was also moved after the Holston River valley flooded. This new road separated the main hotel from parts of the golf course and other buildings.
In 1943, the resort property was sold to Kingswood School. The school used the hotel building as a school and orphanage. In February 1963, a huge fire destroyed the resort hotel completely.
What Was at Tate Springs?
During its best years, the Tate Springs resort was a huge complex. It had the large, fancy three-story hotel and about 30 to 40 other buildings. There was an elegant ballroom, stables for horses, a swimming pool with a bathhouse, and a billiards room. Guests could also play tennis on the courts.
The resort featured a 100-acre natural park with a soft bluegrass lawn and 800 shade trees. The beautiful Clinch Mountain ridge was the backdrop.
Tate Springs even made its own electricity from its powerhouse. It also had a sewage treatment plant and a water pump station. Bath water for guest rooms and the pool came from German Creek. This water was stored in a large concrete tank behind the hotel. Drinking water was piped to the resort from a spring on top of Clinch Mountain.
The special mineral water, called Tate Epson Water, was sold around the world as a tonic. Many doctors in the late 1800s and early 1900s recommended it.
The Tate Springs Springhouse
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Tate Springs Springhouse
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| Nearest city | Bean Station, Tennessee |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001768 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1973 |
The Tate Springs Springhouse is a two-story building in the Victorian-style. It is located southwest of Bean Station, Tennessee. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is shaped like an octagon and made of wood, with a sloping red roof. Inside, there is a well that holds the mineral spring water. This is the very spring that the entire resort was built around.
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