Clarksville is an often overlooked destination when it comes to a Tennessee vacation, but Tennessee’s fifth-largest city is an easy daytrip from Nashville.
The city, located on the Tennessee-Kentucky line, is perhaps best known as the home of Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 101st Airborne Division. It is also home to Austin Peay State University, named in honor of a native son and former state governor.
Steeped in history, the downtown is quaint, but quiet, comprised of mostly lawyers’ offices interspersed by eateries and merchants. One downtown landmark – the Roxy Regional Theater on Franklin Street – served as the backdrop for Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” video filmed in 1998.
The following year, a tornado destroyed much of downtown. Since largely rebuilt, a series of interpretive panels near the historic courthouse detail Mother Nature’s impact on Clarksville throughout the years.
Blackhorse Pub & Brewery
Jeff Robinson, a former helicopter pilot for the 101st Airborne Division, had a plan when he returned home from Desert Storm in 1991. Together with his wife Sherri, they opened a small pub in downtown Clarksville, Tennessee, in March 1992. However, their vision went beyond just a restaurant. In 1995, they built their own brewery, making Blackhorse Pub & Brewery one of the earliest Southeastern craft brew houses of the 90s. They named it “Blackhorse” in honor of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, though Jeff never served in that unit. He admired their spirit and energy, qualities he hoped the pub would embody. More than 20 years later, the Blackhorse remains a popular gathering place in Clarksville.
