Fountain City | Garden Side (EAST)

Trail begins at 2800 Gibbs Drive 37918

The Garden Side of the Fountain City Trail begins on Historic Gibbs Drive, the definition of a story-book neighborhood, noted since the early 1920’s for its double row of pink dogwoods. With its linear street pattern, broad sidewalks, and spacious façade lawns, this Historic Neighborhood District reflects the characteristics of an early streetcar and automobile suburb in Knoxville. The houses are mainly Craftsman in style but all are unique featuring bungalows, Minimal Traditional, and four squares, an outstanding example of the early twentieth century tread away from elaborate Victorian-era styles to a more simplified appearance.

Stone Columns mark the entrance to another historic neighborhood, Harrill Hills, which dates back to the early 1920’s and is an interesting mix of architectural styles including everything from stone cottages to mid-century ranchers. This charming neighborhood enjoys lots of mature trees with beautiful gardens around every corner.

Colorful plantings of mature azaleas, perennials and wildflowers are abundant along Garden Drive, Dogwood, Crestwood, and Briarcliff Roads.

The Trail climbs halfway up the steep side of Black Oak Ridge to enter Beverly Acres, where handsome houses blend into their forest setting and acid-loving azaleas flourish in the rich woodland loam. You might catch a glimpse of a lovely “weeping dogwood” which is unique to the Knoxville area. Its slender, pliant branches sweep down from the top of the trunk. Wherever it chooses to grow, a weeping dogwood must be left undisturbed; it cannot be transplanted.

The route continues across Broadway at Hotel onto the Panaramic side of the trail.

For more information, please visit dogwoodarts.com/dogwoodtrailsnorth