Plan your
PERFECT TENNESSEE
GETAWAY TODAY.
Waverly serves as a convenient base for exploring Middle Tennessee’s outdoor recreation, historic sites and musical heritage. Located in Humphreys County, this small town brings together nature, culture and Civil War history, offering visitors multiple ways to experience the region in a single trip. Use this guide to explore where to go, what to do and how to plan your stay in Waverly.
We Are Waverly
Waverly is the county seat of Humphreys County, which includes the communities of New Johnsonville, McEwen and Hurricane Mills.
Timeless Sensibilities
TRANSCEND TIME WITH THE QUINTESSENTIAL CHARM OF HUMPHREYS COUNTY.
Step into a place where the past and present merge seamlessly. Waverly, McEwen, and New Johnsonville captivate visitors with their timeless charm and inviting spirit. Meander through the picturesque downtown streets, where unique shops and welcoming locals make you feel at home. Stand in awe before the white-columned historic home of country music legend Loretta Lynn, a true icon of our heritage. Unwind by floating leisurely down the Buffalo River, renowned for its breathtaking biodiversity and tranquility. With family-friendly attractions, vibrant festivals, and outdoor adventures for all ages, Humphreys County is a place that invites you to stay a while and create cherished memories.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Johnsonville State
Historic Park
Johnsonville State Historic Park marks the site of a key Union rail supply depot during the Civil War. The day-use park features eight miles of hiking trails, river fishing access and prime birdwatching during migratory seasons. Situated on the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, Johnsonville State Historic Park is a well-known stop for recreational boaters and kayakers along the Tennessee RiverLine and Great Loop, a continuous navigable route linking the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes and Canada’s historic canal system. Pebble Isle Marina offers a sheltered cove, full-service marina amenities, seasonal restaurant and a 500-foot transient pier.
Land of Three Rivers
Waverly sits within a premier sport-fishing region, where Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River offer more than 210,000 acres of water and hundreds of fish species, including crappie, bass, bluegill, perch, sauger and catfish. These waters host dozens of fishing tournaments each year and provide extensive opportunities for boating across open channels and sheltered inlets throughout Humphreys County. The region is also home to the free-flowing Buffalo River, a 125-mile waterway known for its clear water and natural banks. Popular activities along the Buffalo include floating, fishing, birding and canoeing, offering a contrasting experience to the larger, impounded waters nearby.
Walls Art Park
Waverly Walls Art Park is a five-acre outdoor art space highlighting more than 80 paintable surfaces that evolve throughout the year. Street artists from around the world travel to Humphreys County to create a continually changing collection of large-scale murals. Visitors can explore the park year-round or attend one of the park’s free annual paint jams, when artists work live and the walls transform in real time.
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Train Explosion Memorial Museum
The Train Explosion Memorial Museum is dedicated to the 1978 train derailment that claimed 16 lives, most of them first responders. Housed inside a historic caboose, the museum displays photographs, video, and memorabilia that document the event and its lasting impact on railroad safety practices nationwide.
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch
Located in the rolling hills of Hurricane Mills, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch preserves the home and legacy of the country music icon who lived here for much of her career. Visitors can tour her antebellum, neoclassical home, view personal artifacts, and explore the ranch grounds that shaped her life and music. The on-site 18,000-square-foot museum chronicles Lynn’s life through exhibits and memorabilia she collected over decades in music. Beyond its cultural significance, the 3,500-acre property offers pet-friendly cabins, RV, and primitive campsites for extended stays, as well as a motocross track that hosts the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships twice each year.
Butterfield House
The Butterfield House Museum brings local history to life through exhibits featuring Civil War artifacts, regional heroes, musicians and artists. Housed inside the preserved Butterfield House, built in the early 1900s, the museum is surrounded by Fort Hill, an earthen Civil War fort built and defended by the 13th U.S. Colored Troops.
ARTS & CULTURE
Explore Waverly’s Most Amazing Destinations
St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic
Held each July in McEwen, St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic is one of Middle Tennessee’s longest-running community events, dating back to the 1850s. The free, family-friendly festival earned a Guinness World Record in 1988 for the largest pork barbecue. Irish Picnic serves as a fundraiser for St. Patrick’s School with live music, bingo, games, and thousands of pounds of chicken and pork barbecue prepared with the festival’s secret signature sauce.
Possadillo Festival
The Possadillo Festival combines a 5K run and ramble with a full day of community celebration in downtown Waverly featuring live music, local food vendors, artisan booths and activities. Throughout the day, the festival leans into local folklore with nods to the Possadillo, a legendary creature said to roam the hills around Waverly.
Turkey Creek Marina
A place for all ages- perfectly nestled along the Tennessee River on mile marker 85. Turkey Creek Marina has been a staple to Humphreys County for many years. Amplify your riverfront stay with a delicious meal at Bella Dockside and an ice cold drink from the bar. Get your best tan on our white sand beach while the kids swim the day away. Live music every weekend!
Where to stay in Waverly
There are a wide range of places to stay in Waverly, from cabins and glamping sites to campgrounds, treehouses, and other unique overnight accommodations.
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Humphreys County is more than a destination; it’s a feeling—a place where time slows down and every moment feels like it belongs to you. From its warm-hearted people to its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural offerings, this is where memories are made and cherished for a lifetime.