THOMPSON'S STATION, Tenn. - Thompson's Station has only had one main road through its city's center, and on that road, just a couple of businesses.
It's what surrounds this quaint town that has made it beautiful.
"I like to say we have to say we have 3,000 souls and 5,000 cows, and we kind of like that ratio," joked Mayor Corey Napier.
However, soon the peacefulness of the country will make way, every now and then, for music and celebration.
Just a few miles from the center of town construction has gotten underway for the Graystone Quarry Events venue. Once completed it will house a mountain lodge, two venue buildings, and an amphitheater that will seat up to 5,000 people.
"We want to be part of the landscape, and I think everything that we're doing supports that," owner, Rick McEachern said.
Rick and his wife, Nancy, bought the property with the intentions to build an event venue, but once they saw the abandoned quarry in the back their idea took a more musical turn.
"We could look beyond that and we saw something that was really unique," said McEachern.
Unique, yet just what this small town has been ready for.
"I think it's a great opportunity to have something here instead of driving all the way up to Nashville," Karen Beathard said.
Beathard has been one of four stylists at the only salon in town. "It's just peaceful here, love the people here. We used to visit here for about 20 years and then we decided to move here," she said.
They know the new venue will bring more people into the city. Their best kept secret will soon be found as the mayor attempts to preserve what's so special about Thompson's Station with its inevitable growth.
"You can envision more retail and shopping, all that helps the tax base, creates jobs," said Napier.
The construction was being done in two phases, with the fist phase taking a year to complete. The McEacherns have planned to begin booking the event space in the next few months.
