Forward, Fairview

Families find plenty of reasons to plan roots in the northwest corner of Williamson County

Next time you want to hit the road and explore a Middle Tennessee gem, make sure that Fairview is on your shortlist. Tucked into northwestern Williamson County, this home to 11,000 offers a peaceful rural escape with suburban amenities.

Lay of the land 

Almost everything one needs to see or do in Fairview can be found along a 7-mile stretch of Highway 100, officially designated as Fairview Boulevard. Businesses, schools, churches, parks, historic venues and municipal facilities are neatly lined up along the town’s main artery. 

Enjoying what Fairview offers is as straightforward as its map. The first thing to know: Start the day at town-favorite 
Fairview Deli Fresh Doughnuts.

“Their apple fritters are the absolute best, but you have to get here early because they go fast,” said Melanie Morgan, a yoga teacher at the nearby Fairview Recreation Center. 

Finding that her favorite pastries are sold out, Morgan chooses an assortment of doughnuts. They’re a sweet treat for the teens who are clearing the last remnants of Winter Storm Fern’s damage to her property. 

Fairview was the hardest-hit  community within MTE’s service territory when a rare combination of snow, sleet, freezing rain and prolonged extreme cold hit middle Tennessee last January. It took a herculean effort to restore power 
amid damage on a scale regarded as the worst in the co-op’s 90-year history. Then, residents like the Morgans faced 
months of debris removal and storm damage repairs. 

“I think we’re going to get it finished up and behind us today,” Morgan said with an optimism that seems standard in this vibrant community.

Agriculture to art

Resiliency is also a theme at the Fairview Farmers & Makers Market. “We’re here every week — even when it’s snowing,” said vendor Nancy Robinson.

Locals tour vendor booths in search of homemade breads and jellies, locally 
grown fruits and vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, meats and dairy products. Arriving early is also recommended here.

“They cleaned me out of eggs first thing,” said Caitlin Daschner, operator of Salvestone Farm with husband Nick and their family. Amid rapid changes, they’re committed to carrying on the tradition of farming in this once-agricultural community. 

“I’ve lived here since I was a teenager, and I’ve watched the farmers and farmland disappear,” Daschner said. Her family has cobbled together multiple small pieces of land to support their dairy, poultry and pork farming enterprises. 

Displaying a twinkling, sparkling selection of upcycled crafts, Fairview native Saren Shelton is among the market’s “makers.” She agrees with Daschner’s assessment about community changes. 

“When I was growing up, Fairview was a quieter, tight-knit community,” she said.

Still, Shelton is upbeat about the current suburban footprint’s positive aspects such as the emergence of a thriving creative community. There’s the nonprofit Fairview Arts Council, which supports visual artists, musicians and performers. Beyond offering well-stocked bookshelves and hosting a variety of programs for readers of all ages, the Fairview Public Library provides space for creative writing classes, craft workshops and club meetings for crochet and knitting enthusiasts. The Fairview Community Theater produces family-friendly plays and musicals.

Family friendly

Young families are driving much of Fairview’s transition. They’re settling here for the easy commute to downtown Nashville, affordable housing and family-centric atmosphere.

On Saturdays, SUVs packed with kids and coolers pull into Fairview Ball Park for games that keep the public facility’s four fields busy all day. The community’s youth recreation programs also offer basketball, cheerleading, dance, football, flag football, gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. 

Residents of all ages can enjoy outdoor recreation at Bowie Nature Park, the town’s unchallenged centerpiece. The 722-acre park reopened on Thursday, April 30, after being closed for months to repair damage from the January storm.

Embracing change

Indicators of change are everywhere along this stretch of Highway 100, which was home to a single grocery store and a couple of gas stations not so long ago. 

Signs beckon newcomers to take advantage of move-in specials at apartment complexes hidden behind tree lines. Next door to Fairview’s cupola-topped City Hall, construction continues on Fairview City Center, a walkable, multi-use development that will include homes, retail businesses, restaurants and recreational facilities. With The Thompsons Kitchen open for lunch and dinner, locals don’t have to leave town for an elevated, chef-driven dining experience, either. 

More community improvements are on the horizon with the recent announcement that two major hospital systems are building emergency care facilities. The multi-million-dollar projects will provide much-needed healthcare infrastructure in the community, eliminating the 20- to 45-minute drive currently necessary for emergency and trauma care. 

Though January’s winter weather event might have slowed things down briefly, Fairview is again marching toward tomorrow. Next on the agenda: showcasing some of the community’s best outdoor attributes at the annual Nature Fest, slated for Saturday, Sept. 19, at Bowie Nature Park. 

From farms to families, recreation to restaurants, or housing to hospitals — by any quality-of-life measure, this Williamson County city is rightfully earning its place in the spotlight.