I first set foot in the historic village a decade ago and was immediately transported into an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. On my right, an old-timey police car welcomed me into town. To my left, an artisanal craft fair bustled. The main drag was dotted with easels\u2014twenty thirty retirees painted nature scenes up and down Old Hillsboro Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leiper\u2019s Fork has changed a lot in the last ten years, but it has retained every bit of its eclectic charm. Those \u201cWelcome Cars\u201d are still there for photo ops, and every nook and cranny around town seems to be tucked with an antique to be discovered, a tune to hum along to, or a sip to be relished. If you need a few ideas on where to start, here are some of my favorite things to do in Leiper\u2019s Fork that you won\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: Natchez Trace Parkway at Milepost 438<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit the double-arch bridge along the Natchez Trace Parkway<\/a> (Milepost 438) for scenic views of patchwork Tennessee countryside you won\u2019t capture anywhere else. It\u2019s especially beautiful in the fall, where visitors can observe shades of gold, red, and orange speckling the foliage on nearby farms, fields, and forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: Natchez Trace Parkway at Milepost 427.6<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pull off the Parkway to hike up Garrison Creek Loop<\/a> trail, a dog-friendly 1.3-mile loop (the northern trailhead for the Highland Rim section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail) where you can ride horses, birdwatch, and enjoy solitude among stately trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4348 Old Hillsboro Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leiper\u2019s Fork Market<\/a> isn\u2019t just any ol\u2019 gas station. This special little corner of Leiper\u2019s Fork is part of the fabric of the community and serves up much more than gas. Walk in, and you\u2019ll be greeted by a chandelier hanging over a community dining table\u2014your first clue that all is not what it seems. Stop by the lunch counter and browse their robust selection of local beers (and some classic gas station fare, too). It\u2019ll be the friendliest fill-up you\u2019ll ever experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4136 Old Hillsboro Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located in the courtyard near Patina Home & Garden and within walking distance of the cluster of shops on Old Hillsboro Road, The Steel Pony is a renovated horse trailer that serves excellent coffee. Try a seasonal latte or classic coffee drinks, or if coffee isn’t your preference, opt for a refresher bar or customize your own dirty soda. They also offer a great London fog, chai, and nearly any beverage you could want to energize you for exploring Leiper\u2019s Fork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4146 Old Hillsboro Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever had warm, crackling pork rinds with hot chicken seasoning? Fox & Locke<\/a> is one of the best restaurants in Middle Tennessee, and it\u2019s located right in the heart of Leiper\u2019s Fork. Named for the original Fox & Locke General Store founded in 1947, the popular spot (formerly Puckett\u2019s Grocery) offers a menu full of Southern classics, from pimento cheese sandwiches to fried catfish to biscuits and gravy. But that\u2019s not even the best part: Fox & Locke hosts live music throughout the week, with Open Mic Night on Thursdays. You never know who you\u2019ll catch on stage\u2014artists like Carrie Underwood have been known to pop in unannounced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4165 Old Hillsboro Road <\/p>\n\n\n\n Picture this: sipping award-winning wines while listening to the gentle babble of a creek (with a hint of live music on weekends). Bring that vision to life at Crown Winery<\/a> in Leiper\u2019s Fork. This creekside winery offers a variety of tasting experiences\u2014from casual self-guided flights to intimate bar tastings hosted by their friendly staff. Pro tip: grab a bottle and some snacks from inside, then head downstairs to their stunning backyard. Share a table with friends, dip your toes in the creek, or cozy up by the fire pit with a glass in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 3381 Southall Road <\/p>\n\n\n\n Venture into the history books of Leiper\u2019s Fork\u2014tales that connect back to Tennessee\u2019s moonshine industry\u2014with a visit to a beloved local distillery. Every bit of the process at Leiper\u2019s Fork Distillery<\/a> is homegrown, and guests can sample the team\u2019s small-batch whiskey in a 200-year-old tasting room. Sign up for a tour to witness the distillery\u2019s authentic, low-volume, low-impact production as they celebrate the heritage behind every spirit they make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4208 Hillsboro Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you love the vintage-chic decor around Leiper\u2019s Fork, you\u2019ll want to stop in at Props Antiques<\/a>. Props is not your run-of-the-mill antiques mall\u2014it\u2019s an eclectic, curated collection of neon signs, artisan gifts, craft candies, and old-school collectibles. In addition to their spectacular taffy and hidden treasures, the shop frequently hosts community events, like Pickin\u2019 weekends\u2014antique and vintage shows with a side of food trucks. Props even has a seasonal showroom at the famous Round Top Antiques Show in Texas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4152 Old Hillsboro Rd <\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrate your visit to Leiper\u2019s Fork with a souvenir you won\u2019t find anywhere else\u2014a turquoise squash blossom necklace, a silver pill box, a hand-pulled wire cuff, a 1970s abalone lighter sleeve, a 1940s-era ring, or stamped cocktail stirrers (the list goes on). You\u2019ll find this thoughtful collection of unique items at the Tennessee Turquoise Company<\/a> by musician Morgane Stapleton and her all-female team. Purchases support the National Indigenous Women\u2019s Resource Center, an organization helping to end gender-based violence in Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200bAddress: 4149 Old Hillsboro Road <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the old town general store, experience a community gathering space unlike any other\u2014a haven of texture, color, and antiques\u2014known as Patina Home & Garden<\/a>. Patina was founded by Brooke and Steve Giannetti, an interior designer and architect power couple who relocated to Leiper\u2019s Fork and dreamed up a store that combined community, history, and nature. Patina Home and Garden also plays host to Leiper\u2019s Fork\u2019s iconic pickin\u2019 corner, where musicians can sit on antique benches, and request to play legendary instruments hung up on the old Beadboard walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: 4136 Old Hillsboro Roa<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspired by the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest, Dwell and Den<\/a> brings the calm of the woods into everyday life. Housed in a renovated barn, the store instantly feels like home. Owner Kim Rohwer thoughtfully curates each item\u2014from foraging guides and journals to vintage art, handcrafted home goods, and handmade children\u2019s sweaters\u2014displayed on warm, wood-crafted shelves. Every piece invites visitors to take a little of the forest\u2019s magic with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: Old Hillsboro Road<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBring your kids and bring your dog,\u201d says Lisa Fox, owner of Leiper\u2019s Creek Gallery<\/a>\u2014a far cry from the rules of most fine art galleries. Smack in the middle of the village, her gallery welcomes all with sculptures, carvings, impressionism, and still-life paintings. Bonus: The fire pit outside is often stocked with s\u2019mores, inviting guests to linger in the colder months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a short stroll over, The Copper Fox Gallery<\/a> features ceramics, glass, furniture, and handmade works by Southeastern artists. Across the street is David Arms Gallery, <\/a>showcasing David Arms\u2019 original pieces and art-inspired creations, with a front porch to watch the village go by and back windows overlooking Leiper\u2019s Creek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Together, these galleries offer a genuinely welcoming art experience that leaves every visitor inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those eager to explore more of this magical village, the Leiper\u2019s Fork Village Trail<\/a> offers a free, self-guided tour featuring even more perfect stops. Enjoy local shops, restaurants, and attractions while unlocking special perks along the way. Download it for free and start your adventure here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Small-town America may seem like a dream of years past. There\u2019s no way that you could stumble across an idyllic, charming town with a slower pace of life, always-friendly locals, peaceful evenings around a firepit, and impromptu musical numbers by world-class musicians\u2026right? I tell nay-sayers to take a little trip over to\u00a0Leiper\u2019s Fork. I first set foot in the historic village a decade ago and was immediately transported into an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. On my right, an old-timey police car welcomed me into town. On my left, an artisanal craft fair bustled. The main drag was dotted [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":14571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,51,25,43,358,48,239],"tags":[168],"class_list":["post-14570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-adventures","category-arts-culture","category-family-friendly","category-food-drink","category-live-music","category-shopping","category-things-to-do","tag-leipers-fork"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14570"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99954865,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570\/revisions\/99954865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"A](\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/25141319\/Image-1-1024x684.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Get to Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Outdoor Activities in Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Get a photo at the historic Natchez Trace Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. Hike along the Natchez Trace Parkway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Local Places to Eat & Drink in Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Stop by Leiper\u2019s Fork Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Pick up coffee from The Steel Pony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Grab lunch at Fox & Locke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/25144203\/Screenshot-2025-11-25-at-2.41.50-PM-1024x679.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Experience a creekside wine tasting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Three](\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/25144239\/Screenshot-2025-11-25-at-2.42.09-PM-1024x677.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n7. Tour of Leiper’s Fork Distillery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where to Shop in Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8. Go antiquing at Props<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n9. Take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir from Tennessee Turquoise Company <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n10. Step into the Pickin\u2019 Corner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
11. Walk through a forest-inspired store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore Art in Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
12. Gallery hop on Old Hillsboro Road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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