Welcome to The Wild Horse General Store on Highway 297, about a mile from the Spruce Creek equestrian community out here by Big South Fork national park in Jamestown, Tennessee.
Known locally for years as "Willie Lees," the store is now under new management. Shelves are stocked with essentials...a few treats, too...and that's not all. The packed parking lot tells the story!
Neighbor Vicky Slaven, well known in these parts for her home cooking, is ready at 6:30am, Monday through Friday, to serve a hot breakfast. She also prepares a daily "Blue Plate Special" which has proven wildly popular (no pun intended!) On Monday it's Cabbage w/Polish Sausage, Potato and Cornbread; Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin with Pinto Beans, Greens and Cornbread; Wednesday; Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans or Peas and Cornbread; Thursday: Chili & Grilled Cheese or Chili Dog (except when it's too hot to eat chili); Friday: Spaghetti w/Garlic Bread and Saturday: Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans or Corn and Cornbread. You can tell by the number of cars and trucks in the parking lot that she sells out nearly every day!
Vicky will also have a to-go lunch ready, if you call in an order. She understands that many local workmen have limited time and she makes sure they can expect speedy service.
Vicky's husband, Robert, pitches in with his special homemade pizza on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 3-9pm and has arranged for delivery to local residents and area campgrounds! While Robert is preparing those wonderful pizzas, Vicky is busy with her own specialty, hot wings with Blue Cheese or Ranch dressing. This is especially popular with residents of nearby Spruce Creek equestrian community and with campers staying in local horse campgrounds.
The cooler is stocked with a variety of beer, including specialty brands such as Guinness, Sam Adams, Corona and Foster's Lager. Riders love a cold beer after a long day of trail riding!
There's a good selection of ice cream now that we're into summer months so tie up at the hitching rails and come on in for a refreshing Klondike bar or a cone.
You'll also find supplies for campers and fishermen as well as some basic plumbing supplies, always handy for cabin owners in an emergency. The Wild Horse also sells firewood, and this is where you come to pick up the local paper.
It isn't the kind of place where you get in and get out; the sitting area has an inviting checkerboard and vacationing riders are delighted to come in and use the new WI-FI capability. Or just sit on the new screened porch and watch the world go by.
In a few short months, this delightful little general store has developed a very loyal grass roots clientele among "the locals" and attracted a following among repeat visitors...wild horses couldn't drag them away!
For information about horse properties in this area, go to http://www.trailridersrealestate.com
Comments(0)