Discover Hardeman County

Hardeman County brings together bird-dog tradition, local history and the landscape of the Hatchie River. Historical themes can be found in Bolivar, Pocahontas and Grand Junction, alongside natural attractions along the Hatchie River and in Grays Creek WMA. When choosing a vacation rental, you can first consider whether urban culture, the history of individual places, or landscapes and outdoor activities will shape your travel plans.

Bird-Dog Tradition and Competition

The National Bird Dog Museum is dedicated to preserving and continuing traditions surrounding pointing dogs, field trials and hunting. It houses the Field Trial Hall of Fame, the Sporting Dog Hall of Fame, the Retriever Hall of Fame and the Wildlife Heritage Center. The National Championship for Bird Dogs is a recurring event highlight: it is held every year on about 6,000 acres of Ames Plantation. The Plantation has been its permanent venue since 1915. In this way, a tradition preserved over time and an annual competition go hand in hand. Those interested in the history of pointing dogs will find a different perspective here than on a trip focused primarily on local history or landscapes.

Hatchie River and Nature Experiences

The Hatchie River is a slow-moving, meandering swamp river. Its banks are lined with hardwood forests, reed thickets, swamps and agricultural land; it is also designated a Class I Tennessee Scenic River. The 288-acre Grays Creek WMA is a wetland off Highway 18, a few miles north of Bolivar. In Bolivar, Pleasant Run Creek Park offers a different selection of amenities: it has trails, a state-certified arboretum, a disc golf course and a fishing lake stocked with trout during the winter months. Hatchie River Park has an operational boat ramp and a small picnic area; the park is being developed further. The nature and park amenities described here thus range from river landscapes and wetlands to trails, an arboretum and a lake.

History in Bolivar and Beyond

Bolivar’s Bills-McNeal Historic District includes elegant historic antebellum homes and the historic Courthouse Square. A historic driving tour takes visitors to 58 local sites from several different eras. APTA’s Bolivar Historic Homes Tour is usually held each year in early spring; dates may vary, so it is worth checking them before your trip. Restaurants, a movie theater and local boutiques are within walking distance of the Courthouse Square. The Bolivar Farmer’s Market takes place every Tuesday and Saturday from May through October on Lafayette Street near the historic square.

Other chapters of history are associated with different places. The Hatchie River Ferry is a significant historic ferry crossing in Hardeman County and is connected with the 1838 Cherokee Trail of Tears. Its historic site is about 2.7 miles southeast of Bolivar. The Battle of Hatchie Bridge, also known as Davis Bridge or Metamora Hill, took place on October 5, 1862. In Pocahontas, the school was built in 1924 and expanded in 1957; in addition to classes, it also hosted community events. The United Sons and Daughters of Charity Lodge Hall in Bolivar, at 322 E. McNeal Street south of Courthouse Square, is locally significant to African American cultural heritage and social history. The first “Contraband Camp” for formerly enslaved people was established in Grand Junction.

The Luez Theater is also part of more recent local history: on Friday, December 14, 2018, it officially opened as a multi-purpose venue in downtown Bolivar after four years of renovation and restoration. It was set to host movies, live music, special events and other offerings.

Choose a Vacation Rental Location That Fits Your Travel Plans

If restaurants, the movie theater, boutiques and Bolivar’s local history are your main focus, Courthouse Square is a useful reference point when searching for a vacation rental: all three types of amenities are within walking distance. For nature or history sites outside the town center, factor in their respective locations when planning. Grays Creek WMA is a few miles north of Bolivar, while the Hatchie River Ferry is about 2.7 miles southeast. This lets you consider the attractions around the square and the sites located elsewhere as different focal points for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Roane County, Dickson County, Johnson County, Shelby, Hardin County, Marshall County, Sequatchie County.

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