Tennessee Backroads:  US 411

US-411 parallels the Great Indian Warpath, a major route for travel long before Europeans arrived here. 

In the early 1900s the L&N railroad built a line from Atlanta to Cincinnati, starting the small farming communities along this route on a path to prosperity.  Freight and passengers rode between these small towns and the larger cities along the route.  When railroads began to be replaced by highways, many of these towns faded.  Today CSX runs freight trains along the route, but, alas, no passenger trains. 

Glimpses of the old grandeur -- like Etowah's Gem Theater -- can still be found today. 

In addition, the towns along US-411 are gateways to outdoor recreation and tourism fun. 

Beginning at the southern end of US-411 and driving north,

here are the towns:

Ocoee

Benton

Delano

Etowah

Englewood

Madisonville

Vonore

Maryville