Spend the Day in Alcoa, TN 

Written by: Emily Huffstetler 

Located next to Maryville and home to McGhee Tyson Airport, Alcoa has miles of connected greenways and local places to eat and shop. Here’s how to spend a day exploring the city. 

Start the Morning at SpringBrook Farm 

Begin at SpringBrook Farm, a growing shopping and dining development on the former site of ALCOA’s West Plant, which operated from 1920 to 1989.  

Just Love Coffee Cafe serves specialty coffee and breakfast dishes, including its waffle-iron creations. 

Later in the day, SpringBrook Farm has more dining options, including The Chop House, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Texas Roadhouse, Kickback Jack’s and Asia Cafe Xpress. Swig serves specialty sodas and sweet treats. 

Spend Some Time Outdoors 

Alcoa’s parks and greenways connect much of the city, with miles of paved trails for walking, running and cycling. The trails pass through wooded areas and along Pistol Creek, with enough to explore that outdoor recreation alone could fill an entire day. 

Springbrook Park is a good starting point. The 62-acre park has a 1.4-mile walking trail, playgrounds and picnic areas. It also has tennis courts, basketball facilities and a shorter Family Wonder Trail. 

From the park, the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway leads to the Alcoa Duck Pond. The 7.7-acre pond has a fishing pier and paved paths. Keep an eye out for ducks and herons along the water’s edge.

The greenway continues along Pistol Creek and into Maryville, linking several parks and neighborhoods.  

A longer walk or bike ride can include the Pistol Creek Trestle Bridge. The former railroad bridge opened to greenway traffic in 2022 and connects the Alcoa High School area with Marconi Boulevard and East Edison Street. Another recognizable crossing is the red Alcoa Highway Pedestrian Bridge, which spans Highway 129. 

Dogwood Arts also displays rotating sculptures in public spaces around Alcoa through its Art in Public Places program. 

The Clayton Disc Golf Course offers a free, public 18-hole course on the Clayton Homes property, with wooded and open fairways. Bassel Courts on Joule Street has eight outdoor pickleball courts. 

Shop and Grab Lunch Along Calderwood Street 

New Midland Plaza and nearby Calderwood Street offer a variety of restaurants and specialty shops. 

Subs & Such has served steamed sandwiches since 1983. The Soup Kitchen offers homemade soups and fresh bread, while The Shrimp Dock combines a fresh seafood market with a casual restaurant. 

Glenstone Galleries & Gifts on North Calderwood Street carries an extensive collection of artwork by Robert A. Tino, along with other local art and gifts. 

On Gill Street, Mountain Creek Quilt Shop stocks fabrics and quilting supplies and hosts classes throughout the year. In the same shopping complex, Bigfoot Popcorn sells gourmet popcorn. 

Nearby on Sanderson Street, The Grotto specializes in houseplants, including rare varieties, and plant-themed gifts. 

Hamilton Crossing and Hunters Crossing have national retail options. 

Make Time to Play 

Back at Springbrook Farm, The Back Nine Golf has indoor golf simulators for virtual rounds and practice sessions. Golfers can book bays year-round, regardless of the weather. 

Families with young children can visit Maryville’s Play Station in Hunters Crossing for an indoor playground with slides, climbing structures and obstacle courses. Despite its name, the playground is in Alcoa. 

Go for a Historic Drive 

Alcoa owes its name and much of its early development to the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). In the 1910s, the company built an aluminum plant and a planned community for its workers, complete with homes, schools and parks. Alcoa incorporated as a city in 1919, and many of its streets still bear the names of scientists and inventors. 

The City of Alcoa’s self-guided historic driving tour explores early company neighborhoods, including Bassel and Springbrook. The route follows Glascock Street, where some of the earliest employee homes stood, and passes the former Bassel School site on Joule Street. 

One of Alcoa’s more unusual landmarks is a stone castle on North Wright Road. William Andrew Nicholson and his wife, fair, began building Millennium Manor in the late 1930s, hoping it would stand for centuries. Visitors can admire the castle from the road year-round or arrange a tour in advance for a closer look. 

Sit Down for Dinner 

Dinner comes with an experience at Hot Rods 50’s Diner on Hannum Street. Neon lights, vintage decor and pinball machines bring the 1950s to life, with classic burgers, fries, onion rings and milkshakes on the menu. Grab a stool at the counter, settle into a booth or kick back on the outdoor patio. 

Hatcher’s On Target BBQ serves smoked meats with traditional Southern sides. 

Other options include Blue Moose Burgers & Wings for casual American dining and Yassin’s Falafel House for Mediterranean cuisine. Chapulines Street Tacos on East Hunt Road serves Mexican street food, including tacos and tortas. 

Finish the Evening with a Local Brew 

Blood Stripe Brewing on Gill Street is a veteran-owned craft brewery that serves its own beers and hosts food trucks and live music on select dates. 

At Blackhorse Pub & Brewery on North Hall Road, craft beer comes with a full restaurant menu. The brewery occupies a former ALCOA garage built in 1941, and its beer garden hosts live music. 

On Regal Drive, Hot Rod Distillery showcases classic and custom cars alongside its Tennessee moonshine. Visitors ages 21 and older can enjoy free tastings. The distillery opens Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. 

For additional places to visit, check out our Alcoa restaurant, shopping and entertainment directories. 

Born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, with roots tracing back to Cades Cove, Emily Huffstetler is a proud Maryville College graduate and storyteller of the Greater Smokies region. She holds a Master of Science in Conservation Education from Mississippi State University.