Pelham is situated at the base of Tennessee’s South Cumberland Plateau near the headwaters of the Elk River, one of the five major rivers in Tennessee. The community is believed to have been named for a family of early settlers.
Today, Pelham is home to The Caverns, a world-renowned destination for underground live music and home of the Emmy-winning PBS television series The Caverns Sessions (formerly "Bluegrass Underground"). The venue also offers tours – for a variety of skill levels – of its magical Big Room cave system.
For nature lovers who prefer to stay aboveground, spring wildflower season draws visitors from around the world. Each April, Bluebell Island, on the banks of the Elk River just west of Interstate 24, puts on a massive and vibrant display of some of nature’s most amazing flowers.
Near the center of Pelham, local businesses along U.S. Route 41, the historic “Dixie Highway,” provide visitors with opportunities to purchase crafts and gifts as well as freshly- cooked meals at family-owned restaurants.
