As September approaches and the release of In These Hills gets closer . . .
RELEASING SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Christian Historical Fiction
. . . I'm receiving more reader mail with questions about Lynchburg, Tennessee, Jack Daniel's Distillery, and Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House . . .
"Is Jack Daniel's Distillery a real place?"
"Is Jack Daniel's Distillery really in a dry county?"
"Can you tour Jack Daniel's Distillery?"
"Was Miss Mary Bobo a real person?"
When I mentioned online that I would be including Lynchburg, Tennessee in our next Southern Mansion Reader Weekend, readers asked, "How far is Jack Daniel's from Nashville?"
So I thought I'd answer some of the most often asked questions—and share why Lynchburg, Tennessee holds such a special place in my heart.
Is Jack Daniel's Distillery a real place?
Yes! And the history is fascinating. Jack Daniel was born around 1848, the youngest of twelve children, and learned the art of distilling as a young boy from two men who would shape both his character and his craft in the hills of Moore County: Dan Call, a Lutheran lay preacher, farmer, and grocer, and Nathan "Nearest" Green, an enslaved man skilled in the art of distilling whiskey. Years later, Jack established his distillery at Cave Spring Hollow, chosen for its iron-free limestone spring water, which (as Jack often said) gives the whiskey its distinctive character.
Jack Daniel, founder of Jack Daniel's Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. Public domain.
In fact . . .
How Far Is Jack Daniel's Distillery from Nashville?
Lynchburg is approximately 74 miles southeast of Nashville—about an hour and fifteen minutes by car, depending on traffic. It's an easy and beautiful day trip through the rolling hills and hollers of Middle Tennessee. If you've ever thought about making the drive to Lynchburg to visit Jack Daniel's Distillery, you're not alone. It's one of the most visited tourist destinations in the state. I've made that drive more times than I can count, and it never gets old.
Is Jack Daniel's Distillery Really in a Dry County?
Yes, it is, and this is perhaps the most delightful irony in all of Tennessee. Moore County, where Lynchburg is located, is a dry county. Yet Jack Daniel's Distillery has operated there since the 1860s. How is that possible? The distillery operates under a special exception that allows limited whiskey purchases on site. And yes, this irony plays a central role in my upcoming novel, In These Hills, where my female protagonist Josephine, a suffragist committed to prohibition, finds herself working at the very distillery she opposes!
Can You Tour Jack Daniel's Distillery?
Absolutely, and it's a rich experience. Tours are available daily and take you through the historic grounds, the Cave Spring Hollow where the iron-free limestone water gives the whiskey its distinctive character, and the barrel houses where the whiskey ages. A visit to Jack Daniel's Distillery feels like stepping back in time, which, as a historical fiction author, is just about my favorite thing in the world.
Was Miss Mary Bobo a Real Person?
Yes again—and while you're in Lynchburg, be sure to eat in her home. Lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House is a Lynchburg institution—family-style Southern cooking served around big tables where strangers become friends. Miss Mary Bobo herself ran the boarding house from the early 1900s until her death in 1983, just one month shy of her 102nd birthday. Today it continues under careful stewardship, and the food and hospitality are as legendary as ever. Call ahead for a reservation—Miss Mary's is a popular place!
Miss Mary Bobo in her later years. Courtesy of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House.
Why Lynchburg, Tennessee Inspired In These Hills
I have a personal connection to Lynchburg that goes back generations. My late father was born in the Gattistown and Lois area, just a stone's throw from Lynchburg, and my great-great grandfather (pictured below) broke mules for the distillery. Growing up, Lynchburg was a familiar destination for our family, and those roots run deep. I love that some of you have already visited Lynchburg and have toured Jack Daniel's Distillery.
My great-great-grandparents, Ballard and Martha Jane Preston and their children. My great-grandmother, Agnes Preston Tripp Gattis, is on the far right.
When I recently spoke at the Lynchburg/Moore County historical society, an older gentleman by the name of Buford Jennings approached me and shared that he had actually known my parents and that he hitched a ride with my family from Atlanta to Lynchburg back in the early 1960s. He was going to school at Emory in Atlanta at the time and was from the Lynchburg area as my sweet dad was. I was too young to remember him traveling with us, but him sharing that memory blessed me so much.
I appreciate the opportunity to write "real history" in a day and age where so much of our country's history seems to be fading, and I'm excited to share the real history of Lynchburg, Tennessee with you . . . soon.
Until then . . .
LISTEN TO AN AUDIO CLIP FROM MARNYE YOUNG, THE ACTRESS RECORDING THE AUDIOBOOK. She's delivering a speech from Susan B. Anthony—fabulous!
Thanks, Marnye, for posting this clip!
So did you know the answers to all of these questions? Do you love learning about history? And are you an audiobook lover like I am? While I still really appreciate holding and reading a "real" book, audiobooks allow me to "read" so much more!
There's still time to enter my CURRENT GIVEAWAY from Miss Mary Bobo's Gift Shop!
Much love from my corner of Nashville, friends,
Tammy
JOIN ME in NASHVILLE IN NOVEMBER 2026 for READ, WRITE, RENDEZVOUS
When you register, use the code 26ALEXANDER to save $10 off reader registration!
Look who else is joining me! You'll recognize several names . . .
The Christy Award Hall of Fame and best-selling author Tamera Alexander will deliver the keynote address. Additional featured writers include Amanda Cox, Amanda Wright, Angela Bell, Ann Elizabeth Fryer, Ashley Worrell, Becky Wade, C.C. Warrens, Carrie Cotten, Carrie Turansky, Dana R. Lynn, Danielle Grandinetti, Deborah Clack, Drew Taylor, E. A. Hendryx, Elizabeth Maddrey, Gina Holder, Hannah Hood Lucero, Jayna Breigh, Jenny Erlingsson, Jessica R. Patch, Kit Tosello, Kristi Ann Hunter, Latisha Sexton, Lisa Phillips, Liz Bradford, Liz Johnson, Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Michelle Shocklee, Misty M. Beller, Natalie Walters, Nicole Deese, Pepper Basham, Rebekah Millet, Regina Rudd Merrick, Rosey Lee, Sami A. Abrams, Sara R. Turnquist, Sarah Hanks, Shannon Sue Dunlap, Stephenia H. McGee, Storm Shultz, Toni Shiloh, and more, to be announced soon on the event website.
What fun awaits!
MORE about READ, WRITE, RENDEZVOUS 2026
If you'd like to join the conversation on this post, please visit the original post at Inspired by Life . . . and Fiction. Tamera would love to see you there!
Tamera blogs every first and third Tuesday at Inspired by Life . . . and Fiction, a group blog she shares with a wonderful community of authors. If you'd like to join the conversation on this post, Tamera would love to see you there!