Shady Rock School

Since 1938, Shady Rock School has served as the center for public education and as a community hub for families in Shady Valley, Tennessee. Although the school closed in 2019, residents have worked diligently to sustain and preserve the property, making it a cornerstone of this beautiful mountain community in Johnson County.

In 1992, a group of residents established the Shady Valley Cranberry Festival, which takes place at Shady Rock School each October. This signature event raises funds to maintain the property and support its scholarship fund. The two-day festival features a popular soup bean dinner, live Bluegrass music, entertainment, arts and crafts, and activities for children.

Recently, a new annual event was introduced at Shady Rock School: the Shady Valley Festival of Quilts, which debuted in April 2024. This festival celebrates the art and tradition of quilting, inviting enthusiastic quilters to submit their creations for a chance to win prize money and ribbons. The 2025 festival proudly presents “Fancy and Frugal: Quilts of the Great Depression,” featuring the esteemed Vickie Coleman of Bluegrass Quilt Appraisals. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and artistry of quilts created during this significant era.

Community and fundraising events are held throughout the year at Shady Rock School. For more information, follow their Facebook page @cranberryfestival99.

**MORE ABOUT SHADY VALLEY, TENNESSEE**

Nestled in a tranquil corner just outside the Cherokee National Forest, Shady Valley is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, located in the northeastern corner of Tennessee. The town, which shares its name with the valley, lies between Holston Mountain to the northwest and Iron Mountain to the southeast. At an elevation of 2,785 feet, Shady Valley is the second-highest community in the state. The town itself is situated at the intersection of Highway 421 and Highway 19 in the middle of the valley.

Here you will find the world-famous Snake, a scenic route popular among motorcyclists, Jeep enthusiasts, and visitors who enjoy the challenge of navigating 489 mountainous curves while taking in incredible views. The Shady Valley Country Store serves as the base for this memorable route, where you can refuel, grab snacks for the road, and find unique memorabilia.

Shady Valley is home to historic cranberry bogs, which are cold-adapted ecosystems found far south of their typical range. Once, wild cranberries thrived across the state but disappeared due to the encroachment of forests and the draining of wetlands and streams vital for their survival. The valley once contained an estimated 10,000 acres of boreal cranberry bogs. During the Shady Valley Cranberry Festival in October, visitors can see these bogs at their peak in the fall.

A unique landmark in Shady Valley is Backbone Rock, which stands at only 75 feet high and a few feet wide. It is known as the world’s shortest highway tunnel. In 1901, the Tennessee Lumber Company sought a way to transport its lumber trains from the woods to the nearest town via the shortest route, so they blasted a large hole through the rock. The rail bed eventually transformed into a lumber road, and later into Tennessee Highway 133, which still passes through Backbone Rock Tunnel.

The small notch at the top of the tunnel was reportedly chiseled by hand after it was discovered that train smokestacks were a bit too tall to pass through. The Lumber Company closed operations over a hundred years ago. The area around Backbone Rock now features picnic tables and an official Forest Service sign, which depicts a hand-drawn lumber train chugging through the tunnel.

Adventurous visitors can climb to the top and walk across the highway from above. However, be cautious of slippery leaves, the absence of handrails, and the 75-foot drop if one makes a mistake. It’s a nice detour and hike while you’re in the area.

NOTE: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND AND PAVILIONS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE.