15 Best Things to do in Gallatin, Tennessee

By VacationIdea Staff on October 26, 2022 - Updated

Gallatin City Government

Gallatin is a city in Sumner County, Tennessee, on the banks of the Cumberland River. Bledsoe Creek State Park in located on the west shore of the Bledsoe Creek and is popular with fishermen and hikers. Douglas-Clark House is a historic house built around 1786, which was used as a courthouse between 1788 and 1790. The Palace Theatre is the oldest silent movie theater in Tennessee, today a movie house. Rose Mont is a Greek Revival style house built in 1842. The Sumner County Museum founded in 1975 is home to Native American and African American displays, antique toys, cars and trucks, quilts, period clothing,, military and gun collections and more.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Bledsoe Creek State Park

Bledsoe Creek State Park is a 169-acre state park near Gallatin, in Sumner County, Tennessee. The park includes the west shore of the Bledsoe Creek embayment of Old Hickory Lake. The lake is an impoundment of the Cumberland River, created as the result of building of Old Hickory Dam in 1954. Bledsoe Creek State Park was developed as part of the Old Hickory Dam project, mostly for recreation. The park maintains two boat ramps, a 57-site campground, two picnic pavilions along and several playground areas. Old Hickory Lake is regularly stocked with bluegill, crappie, catfish, and bass and is very popular with fishermen. The park has several wildlife observation points and organizes various environmental programs. There are about six miles of hiking trails that wind through the forest and along the lakeshore.

400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-452-3706

2.Douglas-Clark House, Gallatin, Tennessee

Douglas-Clark House was built around 1786 as a home for Elmore Douglas and his family. Between 1788 and 1790, it was used as one of Sumner County’s earliest courthouses. Many area’s earliest residents visited the house for court hearings. In his early career, between 1789 and1790, Andrew Jackson, who later became president, tried several cases in this courthouse. In 1831 the house became home to the Clark family. The Douglass-Clark House documentation listed enslaved persons living at the property as early as 1790. .The house is today a house museum that tells the story of families that lived in it and shaped the history of the area. The house is open to the visitors.

2115 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-991-5119

3.The Palace Theatre, Gallatin, Tennessee

The Palace Theatre in Gallatin, Tennessee is the oldest silent movie theater still in its original location in the State of Tennessee. The Palace Theatre thrived as a community theater from 1913 until 1977 under the ownership of Bill Roth. During all these years, the Palace was a dominant point on the historic downtown square. After Mr. Roth’s death in 1990s, the theater was purchased by Johnny and Sonny Garrott who later donated it to Greater Gallatin, Inc., now named Historic Downtown Gallatin, Inc. In November 2000, the renovated Palace Theatre opened the doors once again with the movie Kid and continue to function to thisday as a family theatre. To this day The Palace Theatre is a local favorite, showing movies, concerts and stage productions.

146 N Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-452-5692

4.Historic Rose Mont, Gallatin, TN

Rose Mont is a Greek Revival style house in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee. It was built in 1842 for Judge Josephus Conn Guild and his family . The location of the house was once the site of the largest thoroughbred horse farm in the area. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993 the house and the property were purchased by the City of Gallatin and the Rose Mont Restoration Foundation. The house historic significance is in its architecture. It is a blend of Greek Revival and Palladian styles not commonly seen in Middle Tennessee homes of the era. Judge Guild was influenced in his house design by the Creole-style houses in Louisiana. Creole elements he incorporated in Rose Mont are loggias and galleries that connect separate wings, wide porches, large windows, open-air halls and staircases, a raised basement, and an overhanging roof. The house is open to the public for guided tours from April 15 through October 31.

810 S Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-451-2331

5.Sumner County Museum, Gallatin, Tennessee

The Sumner County Museum was founded in 1975 in Gallatin, Tennessee, in a historic 19th-century building. It is home to Native American and African American displays, antique toys, cars and trucks, quilts, period clothing,, military and gun collections, music and entertainment items and more. Over the years, many people have donated various items to the Museum. Some are unique to the area, such as the first pumper fire engine of Gallatin, a full tinsmith shop, a blacksmith shop, a music exhibit, the military area that covers War Between the States, WWI, WWII and Vietnam, and much more. The museum also had the travel trunk project, bringing the exhibits to the Sumner County school kids.

183 W Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-451-3738

6.Starr Ranch Grill, Gallatin, Tennessee

Located in the heart of Gallatin, Tennessee, north of the Historic Downtown Square, Starr Ranch Grill is a spacious, rustic spot with a friendly family vibe and cattle skulls on the walls. Renowned chef James Lampley focuses on contemporary southern cuisine, combining traditional favorites such as Fried Green Tomatoes with superb cuts of meat and his own twist on traditional comfort food such as meatloaf wrapped in bacon and Smokestack, house smoked pulled pork on “hot from the griddle” corncakes, served with hand cut cider slaw and BBQ sauce. Full bar offers just about anything guests desire, innovative cocktails and ‘create your own mule.” There is live music every Friday and Saturday night.

170 N Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066, Phone: 615-451-6961

7.Trousdale Place

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Trousdale Place is a beautiful house in Gallatin, Tennessee that was once the home of Governor William Trousdale. Visitors can take a tour of the historic home whenever there is enough staff or visit during one of the Open House times that usually take place four times during the year in November, April, July, and September. While the Trousdale Place house itself may not always be open to the public, the grounds are open every day from dawn until dusk. The house is situated two blocks from the Gallatin Public Square.

183 W Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-452-5648

8.Triple Creek Park

Triple Creek Park is the largest park in the city of Gallatin, Tennessee, measuring approximately 185 acres in size and featuring several playgrounds, walking trails, dog parks, softball fields for both adults and youth, soccer fields, tournament-worthy sports complexes, and more. The park also features an 18-hold frisbee disc golf course that’s considered to be one of the area’s most technically challenging disc golf experiences. The greenway of Triple Creek Park connects to Gallatin’s Town Creek Greenway.

1333 Touchdown Dr, Gallatin, TN, 615-451-5911

9.Lock 4 Park

Lock 4 Park is a lakeside park boasting approximately nine miles of scenic trails for mountain biking, as well as good opportunities for boating, fishing, and picnicking. In addition to the mountain biking trails, amenities at the Lock 4 Park has three different access areas and includes playgrounds, a model airplane landing strip, picnic areas, boat ramps, and fishing piers. The park closes at dark, except for boat launching and fishing. Lock 4 Park is also noted for having one of Middle Tennessee's most popular mountain biking courses, providing a great mountain biking experience by the lake.

1598 Lock 4 Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-451-5911

10.Tommy Garrott Pool

Located at the Gallatin Civic Center, the Tommy Garrott Pool has the claim to fame of being the first zero depth pool in Gallatin, Tennessee. Open seven days a week, the aquatic center features three water slides, a splash pad for younger guests, two concession areas, large umbrellas, spray toys, a water tower, a children's train slide, and a party area. The three water slides at the Tommy Garrott Pool complex include a 167-foot slide, a 134-foot slide, and a 57-foot speed slide. Concession areas offer fare like nachos, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries, soft drinks, and freezer pops.

210 Albert Gallatin Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-451-5911

11.Long Hollow Golf Course

The Long Hollow Golf Course was established in Gallatin in 1983 to offer more affordable and accessible golfing opportunities to the golfers in Middle Tennessee. The regulation 18-hole golf course has a course rating of 66.2 and features 6,100 yards from its longest tees, offering a par of 70. Open daily, the Long Hollow Golf Course also consists of a putting green, a driving range, and cart sheds, and also offers concessions and tournaments. The golf course hosts private group events as well.

1080 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-451-3120

12.Cumberland River Cruises

Based out of the Gallatin Marina, Cumberland River Cruises offers an array of boating excursions throughout most of the year. The main cruises offered are the Sunset, Homes, and Nature Cruises. While tours depart daily, Monday through Wednesday is by reservation for private parties. Cumberland River Cruises also offers scenic, kid-friendly pontoon boat excursions on Old Hickory Lake, which take place Wednesday through Sunday, or any time with reservations for parties of one to six people.

727 Marina Pvt Dr, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-451-4001

13.Nat Caldwell Park

A federally regulated park, Nat Caldwell Park is a smaller park compared to others in the area, but still offers a great waterfront setting for visitors to relax. The shoreline provides opportunities for fishing, while other amenities include open grassy areas, a grill, and a group picnic shelter that can be reserved. Located in the Station Camp Creek headwaters on Old Hickory Lake, Nat Caldwell Park is also a good spot for launching canoes and kayaks. Visitors can also take a walk on the Old Hickory Lake Nature Trail, a 1.1 mile-trail with three loops that’s located near the park.

14.Swaney Swift's on the Square

Swaney Swift's on the Square is located on N Water Avenue on Gallatin’s Historic Square and has been one of the Square’s staples since the 1950’s. Originally a drug store featuring a soda fountain, Swaney Swift’s soon became a popular place for friends to hang out and enjoy fun beverages and milkshakes. Reopened in 2015, the menu at Swaney’s today includes milkshakes and malts, the pimento grilled cheese, sweet potato fries and fried pickles, the buffalo chicken sandwich, and gourmet burgers with a wide variety of toppings. Live music and other entertainment is regularly hosted here as well.

118 N Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-675-4366