The true legend of Bucksnort? (Memphis, Fayetteville: how much, motel, houses)

[fragments38]

Alrighty...

If you're an avid Tennessee traveler, particularly between Memphis and Nashville, you have seen the signs for Bucksnort, TN in Hickman County. Exit 152 has a gas station with supposedly with quite good sandwiches. I even bought a t-shirt at this stop, which has the supposed legend of Bucksnort on the back of it.

I have a couple of questions surrounding Bucksnort, though, and its legend.

I recently got off the interstate at exit 152 at Bucksnort and drove north up that highway until I reached the county line of Humphreys. I then concluded there was nothing in Bucksnort and proceeded home. However, a map I have looked at tonight suggests that to get into the town of Bucksnort, you go north off of the exit and turn left on Bucksnort road, and go west a little ways.

One thing I'm wondering is, is there anything in the town of Bucksnort?

The next thing I am wondering is... is there any known history of Bucksnort and is there any known truth to the current legend?

The legend of modern-day Bucksnort is this. In the late 1800's a settler... particularly a trader by the name of Buck lived in the area. Among other things, Buck supposedly sold Moonshine. Therefore, locals would say they were going to "Buck's to get a snort".

As intriguing as this is... I am not sure exactly how much fact there is to it... and I'm at this point not even sure there is any history to modern-day Bucksnort. There is no US census data at the site and no post office. However, a couple noted wrestlers seem to call Bucksnort home.

One thing that throws me off is that today's Bucksnort, TN is not the original Bucksnort, TN.

The original site Bucksnort, TN is nearly a hundred miles away in Lincoln county, just outside of Fayetteville, TN. The town of Bucksnort at this site was renamed to Mimosa, TN in 1898.

The legend of the original Lincoln county Bucksnort is that a man named William "Buck" Pamplin lived in the area before the civil war. William was an avid whiskey drinker, and would get "soused to the ears" with the stuff. Before you knew it, he was roaring and snorting until everyone around could hear him. Thus, a frequent saying around town was "just listen to Buck snort". Eventually people would run the words together, and when a post office was added in July of 1887, the surrounding community became "Bucksnort".

Funny thing though, the two legens are similar. Yet, not the same location. The Bucksnort in Lincoln county is now named Mimosa, TN, and I do not know why it was renamed. The post office was renamed to Mimosa on October 28th, 1898. In 1902, the post office was discontinued and the mail sent to Fayetteville. To this day the area is still named Mimosa.

So my question is this.

Is modern-day Bucksnort, TN in any way related to the original Bucksnort, TN?

Why was the original Bucksnort renamed?

Is there any known history to modern-day Bucksnort, TN?

Is there any truth to the legend of today's Bucksnort?

It is a puzzeling subject. If you have any information, feel free to contribute!

Thanks.

[LauraC]

I heard it cost a buck for a snort.

[JoAnn5]

Wow... I always figured it had something to do with the sound a male deer makes...

[JMT]

I've been camping all over that area and have bought probably dozens of sandwiches at that BP next to the Bucksnort exit. But I have never seen any actual town of Bucksnort, nor have I heard anyone around there ever refer to a town of Bucksnort. There might be a couple of churches named Bucksnort, though ("Bucksnort Church of Christ" or "Bucksnort Baptist Church" or something like that).

[studedude]

My map shows Bucksnort as a wide spot in the road at the intersection of Eppersdon Hollow, Sugar Creek and Bucksnort roads. Goggle Earth shows there may be 5 or 6 buildings there.

[fragments38]

Thanks for your replies! weird stuff huh?

JMT, I also have heard stories of some churches in the area. One of the fellas I sing with had showed up at a church in Bucksnort for a concert that the group had scheduled there, but when he got there the pastor that had booked the show was no longer at the church.

Thanks for the information though, I will keep researching the subject. Anyone else with insite feel free to reply.

Originally Posted by JMT

I've been camping all over that area and have bought probably dozens of sandwiches at that BP next to the Bucksnort exit. But I have never seen any actual town of Bucksnort, nor have I heard anyone around there ever refer to a town of Bucksnort. There might be a couple of churches named Bucksnort, though ("Bucksnort Church of Christ" or "Bucksnort Baptist Church" or something like that).

[hawkster]

We drive past it often and I always slow down and my wife, kids and I laugh about the name. That said.....did you get the T-Shirst right at that gas staion off the i-40 exit? If so I'll hit it up this weekend...headed to Gattlinberg

[Capt. Dan]

In the 50's and 60's Bucksnort was the transfer place for moonshine heading from Nashville to Memphis. Lately the only thing there was a semi truck repair shop. I dont think it is open anymore.

[fragments38]

Sir, I'm a little late getting back to you and I apologize. But yes I got the t shirt at that station.

Originally Posted by hawkster

We drive past it often and I always slow down and my wife, kids and I laugh about the name. That said.....did you get the T-Shirst right at that gas staion off the i-40 exit? If so I'll hit it up this weekend...headed to Gattlinberg

[cuzincletus]

Well.i just returned from Bucksnort Tennessee.long story, i will try to keep it short...
I am from the Netherlands, Europe...I am a musician, and i wrote a song.. Bucksnort Tennessee..
Why? Because this is a REAT name for a song..... (it's on youtube by the way, just look it up Trailer Trash Tremblers, Bucksnort Tennessee.) ANYWAY. i thought it might be a great reason to go on a road trip....
So i left the Netherlands to go to Chicago, i have friends there, spend some time there.Then i left for my road trip.From Chicago to Huntington (West virginia) to see my friends play (New Duncan Imperials, they also sing a lot about Bucksnort), from there on over the smokey mountains, from there on to cleveland, to nashville, to my goal BUCKSNORT TENNESSEE.
ofcourse, using as many old routes as possible instead of the interstates.So the last part i did on the I 40... and there it was. exit 152.. Bucksnort...
So I took the exit, took a right at the exit.... (like googlemaps told me to) and drove on .Hm, no signs.... drove back, to see if i overseen it..... hm. nopes. nothing. back again , but a bit further..... no signs of a town called bucksnort.As i was driving around the area, i saw a man sitting in front of his house, siling at the cars that came by.
i turned around and asked him how to get to bucksnort....."Well, did ya get off at exit 152?" yes i did... "Well, there ya go... that's bucksnort right there,..."After I explained him where I was from and that I came all the way here to see the town.. his reaction was:
'You came all the way from Holland to see Bucksnort???? Well, you drove a wholelotta miles to see a wholelotta nothin'".
And then he told me the story of the town. how it started back in the days, but also what happened.As you see on google maps, it gives you the spot right on the I-40. on bucksnort road.That is because that is the place where the town was untill the I-40 came along....
When the interstate came, they moved the whole town. basicly, they moved the town to the exit. that's all there is left.A restaurant, a gas station, a motel and an adult store on the other side of the I-40.....
The garage is still there, but empty, same as the bar.When you want to go to the original bucksnort place, take exit 152, take the highway north and take the first dirtroad on your left. That is bucksnort road.
go up there, it will go along the hill upwards, and at a point it will be next to the I-40, there is a bridge, that is where bucksnort used to be.
Still some houses around though, people living there. but it ain't bucksnort anymore.
I had a HELL of a trip and Bucksnort Tennessee will always have a special place in my heart.Whenever i am near it, i will visit again !