If you ever go to a Farragut High School football game, you may hear the opposing team taunt the Admirals with chants of “Farragutless.” (Yes, this is the best they can come up with.)
It’s a decent slogan and has the necessary rhythm that a football cheer needs. It isn’t all that accurate though.
The town of Farragut is named after Adm. David Glasgow Farragut. Born in 1801 at Lowe’s Ferry, which is just southeast of what is today the town of Farragut, Adm. Farragut had a reputation as an aggressive naval commander. Farragut became a hero after defeating Confederates at the Battle of Mobile Bay, which shut down one of the rebel’s last ports. When told by his men that the port waters were heavily mined, he famously shouted, “Damn the torpedoes — full speed ahead!”
Farragut is west of Knoxville and south of Karns and Hardin Valley. The area was originally known by the name Campbell’s Station. It was here that the Battle of Campbell’s Station in the Civil War was fought in 1863. The town incorporated in 1980.
Today Farragut is an upscale residential town with a suburban feel. A 2007 issue of Business Week named it one of the 25 best affordable suburbs in the South. Its schools are typically top-ranked nationally.
There’s a lot to see and do in Farragut. For instance, there’s the Farragut Folklife Museum. The museum is filled with photographs and objects that tell the story of the Concord and Farragut communities. The museum houses a collection of Adm. Farragut’s personal artifacts, including manuscripts, letters, family photographs and uniform decoration. Other memorabilia includes the history of local schools, churches and the impact of the Civil War on the area. Admission to the museum is free.
The town has several parks and greenways. There is Anchor Park, the town’s first. The 15-acre park is next to the lakefront and features a playground, fishing pond, horseshoe pit and picnic facilities. Major Bob Leonard Park is a 50-acre facility that includes walking trails, volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields, playgrounds and a wetlands area at its center. Campbell Station Park is a 17-acre park next to the Farragut branch of the Knox County Library System. It features walking trails and playgrounds. Farragut’s multiple greenways include Grigsby Chapel Greenway, Turkey Creek Greenway and Parkside Greenway.
Sports are also important in Farragut. The town sponsors spring, summer and fall sand volleyball leagues. It also sponsors spring and fall softball leagues. There are also several golf courses nearby. Willow Creek Golf Club is an 18-hole daily fee golf course with Bermuda tees, and fairways and roughs with best grass greens. Avalon Landmark Golf Club is 18 holes of challenging slopes and terrains, and hosts tournaments. Fox Den Country Club is a full-service country club with golf, tennis, swimming, fitness and restaurant.
Then there’s the shopping. Nearby Turkey Creek is something of a shopping mecca. Turkey Creek is more than 300 acres of space zoned for retail. There are dozens of restaurants, banks, shopping outlets and a ginormous movie theater.
Farragutless indeed.
