Nestled along the winding Natchez Trace Parkway, Leiper’s Fork feels like a place lost in time—but in the best way possible. Victorian cottage-style storefronts lean into each other, guitars hum from open porches, and strangers chat with you as if they’ve known you forever. Today, this tiny village outside Franklin, Tennessee, is one of the South’s most beloved creative communities. But not long ago, it was nearly forgotten.
That rebirth began with one man’s vision.
Aubrey Preston & the Heartbeat of a Community
When Aubrey Preston first discovered Leiper’s Fork in the 1990s, it was, as he puts it, “a ghost town, like Telluride before they fixed it up.” Once a quiet rural village with empty buildings and fading charm, it was teetering on decline. But Preston saw something others didn’t back then: a place with soul.
Related Posts
He bought one of the first properties—for about $35,000—and began bringing life back to Old Hillsboro Road. Artists and dreamers followed. What grew wasn’t a tourist attraction, but a community built around creativity, connection, and care for the land that held them all.
Rooted in Music
Music has always been in the soil of Leiper’s Fork. From songwriters and vocalists to guitarists and producers, both world-renowned artists and those just beginning their careers have drifted here to escape the noise of Nashville.
Fox & Locke, the legendary music venue at the heart of the village, became the community’s beating pulse. What began as a country store hosting impromptu jam sessions has evolved into a stage where Grammy winners, rock legends, and rising stars share the mic. On any given night, you might hear a young artist nervously strum their first song—and then watch Carrie Underwood step up for an unplanned set.
That’s Leiper’s Fork magic; where ego disappears, and the music does the talking.
Preserving More Than Music
As Leiper’s Fork grew, Preston turned his focus to safeguarding the surrounding countryside. With Nashville’s expansion pressing closer, developers began targeting the area’s scenic hills, threatening the rural charm that made the village unique.
In the early 1990s, plans for State Route 840 included an exit in Leiper’s Fork. Concerned residents organized a grassroots legal effort against the Tennessee Department of Transportation, arguing that the state had failed to conduct a proper environmental review.
After nearly a decade of persistence, the court ruled in favor of the community. The proposed exit was prohibited, protecting the rural landscape that remains central to Leiper’s Fork’s identity today.
Preston’s solution wasn’t to fight growth, but to protect what made growth meaningful. He began purchasing parcels of land, working with neighbors and then-Governor Phil Bredesen to form a land trust that would preserve the area’s rolling hills and small-town charm. That local effort eventually inspired a statewide movement: The Land Trust for Tennessee, which today protects more than 137,000 acres across the state.
“We saw this land differently,” Preston recalls. “We realized you could build community and preserve beauty, if you put heart first.”
What Visitors Feel When They Leave
Leiper’s Fork is more than a destination—it’s an experience that stays with you. Whether you’re admiring a painting at Leiper’s Creek Gallery, sipping wine with friends at Crown Winery, or enjoying live music and barbecue at Fox & Locke, something about it feels elevated.
Visitors come for the charm but leave with something deeper. Maybe it’s the way time seems to slow down just enough to remind you of what matters, the taste of a Southern comfort meal savored on a porch swing, or a conversation with a shop owner that feels like catching up with an old friend. It’s a place where everyone is welcome and comes together like a backyard gathering, with neighbors and visitors alike sharing stories, laughter, and music.
That’s what makes Leiper’s Fork special: it’s a place that asks you to pause, connect, and maybe even dream a little. Because the real story of Leiper’s Fork isn’t just about what was saved, it’s about what continues to grow.
For those looking to explore the magic of this little village, the Leiper’s Fork Village Trail from Visit Franklin offers a free, self-guided tour of the perfect stops. It makes it easy to enjoy local shops, restaurants, and attractions while unlocking special perks along the way. Download for free and start exploring here.
