Cookeville and Dale Hollow Lake area? (Livingston, Celina: coupons, 2010, hotels)

[whitewavelynn]

Hello everyone,
I was hoping to get some insight about the area. We are currently living in Southern California (YUCK) and we are thinking about this area. I've read a few things on here about the people not liking outsiders? Is this true? My husband is retired Air Force, served 20 years! He is originally from western KY and we are wanting to move back to God's country. We love the area and everything it has to offer. We are really into the outdoor activities. I guess I'm wondering about the high schools for Cookeville vs. Celina? Our son is in the 9th grade and we will probably be moving around March of 2010. Will I have to worry about him going to either of these schools? Are the people friendly? Any insight for these areas would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and hope to call TN home soon....not soon enough though!

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by whitewavelynn

Hello everyone,
I was hoping to get some insight about the area. We are currently living in Southern California (YUCK) and we are thinking about this area. I've read a few things on here about the people not liking outsiders? Is this true? My husband is retired Air Force, served 20 years! He is originally from western KY and we are wanting to move back to God's country. We love the area and everything it has to offer. We are really into the outdoor activities. I guess I'm wondering about the high schools for Cookeville vs. Celina? Our son is in the 9th grade and we will probably be moving around March of 2010. Will I have to worry about him going to either of these schools? Are the people friendly? Any insight for these areas would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and hope to call TN home soon....not soon enough though!

Do a search on here on Cookeville and you will find lots of info. We just moved here 2 weeks ago, have a daughter who is a 9th grader and a son who is a 7th grader. So far, everything has been great! I'm impressed with the schools, the people, everything. Also search for the Putman County Schools website and Cookeville HS website. Good Luck.

[JMT]

Celina is beautiful, but its schools (Clay County) are pretty bad. If education is your primary concern, you should definitely choose Cookeville over Celina. In fact, Cookeville (Putnam County) has one of the best school systems in Tennessee.

Cookeville High School is large (2300 students) and is one of a small handful of schools in the state with the International Baccalaureate Program. While the school's size might be intimidating at first, it also means that it offers a little bit of everything.

And with a mid-major university in Cookeville, there are people from everywhere living there. You would not be out of place in Cookeville.

Celina definitely offers cheaper land and is closer to Dale Hollow Lake, but Cookeville has better schools, more activities, more shopping/restaurants, and it's closer to Nashville's awesome airport with cheap Southwest flights to the west coast.

Good luck!

[whitewavelynn]

well, we are coming to the cookeville, celina area the 1st week of October to look at houses! I am sooooo excited to get back to the country life and the beauty that TN holds. Does anyone know of a good place to stay while we are there? Also what will the temps be around that time there? Thank you for your replys, we miss your great southern hospitality!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by whitewavelynn

well, we are coming to the cookeville, celina area the 1st week of October to look at houses! I am sooooo excited to get back to the country life and the beauty that TN holds. Does anyone know of a good place to stay while we are there? Also what will the temps be around that time there? Thank you for your replys, we miss your great southern hospitality!

There are lots of hotels/motels in Cookeville but I don't know of any in Celina. When I stay in a hotel in Cookeville I like to stay at the Alpine Lodge. Do a Google search for its web site which has discount coupons. It's run by an older Austrian couple, and it has great views of Poplar Grove (be sure to request a room with a view).

Or, you might want to see if there are any cabins available at Standing Stone State Park which is between Cookeville and Celina.

As far as the weather goes, it's generally warm'ish during the day and cool at night with low humidity (for around here). It's easily my favorite time of the year.

Here's the view from the Alpine Lodge in Cookeville:

[AmberFlynn]

Check out www.cookevilleweatherguy.com for the weather.

Hope you enjoy your visit, be sure to update us!

[SKYSEA]

My wife and I too are currently in So Cal (Yuck also) and will be retiring to Cookeville next year. ( We already bought a house) The people are incredible, the area if georgeous, and you will find plenty of helpful information from the people on this site. I will be sending you a DM with some realtor information that might be helpful. You really are making a move to a MUCH MUCH better place.

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by whitewavelynn

Hello everyone,
I was hoping to get some insight about the area. We are currently living in Southern California (YUCK) and we are thinking about this area. I've read a few things on here about the people not liking outsiders? Is this true? My husband is retired Air Force, served 20 years! He is originally from western KY and we are wanting to move back to God's country. We love the area and everything it has to offer. We are really into the outdoor activities. I guess I'm wondering about the high schools for Cookeville vs. Celina? Our son is in the 9th grade and we will probably be moving around March of 2010. Will I have to worry about him going to either of these schools? Are the people friendly? Any insight for these areas would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and hope to call TN home soon....not soon enough though!

I would say this notion that folks in the greater Cookeville area not liking outsiders is a myth. Cookeville is a fairly decent sized college town and a reasonably diverse population. From my understanding, Putnam County schools are pretty decent and for a while, Cookeville High School was the largest in the state.

Getting closer to Dale Hollow, you have Celina, Livingston, and Byrdstown, and out of those three, Livingston is my favorite. However I must disclose my bias as it is my county seat and I know a lot of folks in town. Livingston Academy is also a decent school and like many small towns in America, much of the community revolves around school footballs games and activities, so there is something to say for that.

In general, people in this area are quite warm and accommodating and also pretty used to new folks moving into town since there has been a wave of relocation to Tennessee in the past few years. The only advice I would give anyone wanting to move into a smaller sized town or a rural area is don't use the phrase, "back home we used to", as nothing drives folks nuts more than that. This I think would apply to any place though.

Hope you enjoy your stay.

[RememberMee]

Celina is the seat for Clay county, one of the poorest counties in TN, the area looks pretty though. I like area around Levinston more, it's somewhere in between rolling hills and small mountains, really pretty.

[Tinman313]

Dale Hollow Lake Official Tourism Information

http://www.cookevillechamber.com/

If you write the above on what your looking for they will gladly send it to you...... I would suggest using a bogus e-mail address so " You" get to decide on who and whom you contact.....