Officials launch new Top Secret Trail driving tour

Posted at 5:07 pm June 15, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Top Secret Trail Launched at Secret City Festival

Oak Ridge and Tennessee officials launch a Top Secret Trail self-guided driving tour during the Secret City Festival’s opening ceremony Friday.

Oak Ridge and Tennessee officials launched a new 465-mile Top Secret Trail—a self-guided tour across 10 counties— during the opening ceremonies for the Secret City Festival Friday morning.

The Top Secret Trail allows travelers to explore Middle and East Tennessee, touring fascinating towns from Oak Ridge, a Secret City during World War II, to Rugby, one of the most authentically preserved historic villages in America, a state press release said.

The trail has 111 points of interest highlighted in a 27-page brochure. It starts in Knoxville and has stops in Clinton, Norris, Huntsville, Jamestown, Harriman, Wartburg, and Oliver Springs, and it showcases the region’s history, culture, music, and food.

“Keeping with our goal of more visitors, staying longer and spending more, Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways is the perfect program to encourage our residents and visitors to get out and explore the state’s well-known attractions as well as our hidden gems,” said Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development commissioner. “This trail offers 465 miles of scenic beauty and wonderful sites and attractions to be discovered and enjoyed by the traveling public.”

Susan Whitaker, left, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, helps launch a new Top Secret Trail during the Secret City Festival’s opening ceremony Friday morning.

It’s the 15th of 16 self-guided driving tours in the program.

Stops in Oak Ridge include New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex, American Museum of Science and Energy, International Friendship Bell, A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge Welcome Center, Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, Jefferson Fountain, Secret City Excursion Train, and the K-25 Overlook at East Tennessee Technology Park.

Also known as “Proton Beams to Utopian Dreams,” the trail was launched in conjunction with the kick-off of the 10th Annual Secret City Festival, which continues through Saturday and includes food, music, children’s activities, history exhibits, arts and crafts, and a World War II re-enactment.

The trail travels through Anderson, Campbell, Clay, Fentress, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Roane, and Scott Counties.

Other stops include World’s Fair Park in Knoxville, Old Roane County Courthouse, Princess Theatre in Harriman, Railroad Depot Museum in Oliver Springs, Norris Dam State Park, and Ritz Theater and Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton.

For more information on Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, visit http://www.tntrailsandbyways.com/.

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