You may have heard the old saying “it’s all in the details,” but nowhere is this statement truer than in the small, replicated village of Corntassel. If you live in the Chattanooga area and have ever been to Greenway Farms, you may have unknowingly driven by one man’s model of the small community in Vonore, Tn., named Corntassel (located between Chattanooga and Knoxville). 

Upon first glance, you may think you are looking at a few pathways on the side of a hill filled with miscellaneous items from your childhood, or your parent’s childhood for that matter.

Yet, stop and look a little closer and you’ll be amazed at the attention to detail that was put into this tiny village by a man named Pete Snider. 

Corntassel, whose name is derived from Chief Corntassel of the Cherokee Indians, is located in Monroe County, Tennessee. Mr. Snider was born and lived there for about a year, but his mother and father were raised there. “Many years ago, TVA built the Tellico Dam and flooded Corntassel. After all the water receded or settled, they eventually sold the land and there is now a housing development there,” states Mr. Snider.  

A Miniature Corntassel In Chattanooga

 Mr. Snider bought his property on Gann Store Road near Greenway Farms in 1978. In 1981, he began building the village of Corntassel as he knew and remembered it. In addition, he spent hours looking at pictures and books of the small community. “I just got an idea that this would be a beautiful thing to create,” says Mr. Snider. “It’s the way Corntassel looked to me.”

 Mr. Snider built the village with his own hands and continues working on it today. He uses old, recycled wood from the area Home Depot and has built replicas of cabins, churches, barns, and more. The other collectibles scattered throughout the village are items that he has collected over the years or found at various garage sales and flea markets. “The village is just about done. I think I’ll finish a few other things, but then I’ll be done for good,” reflects Mr. Snider. “It’s been fun. People really do seem to enjoy it.”

Visitors Beyond Chattanooga

 Corntassel Village visitors from over 60 countries have navigated the rocks along the mossy, green paths to see the handiwork of Mr. Snider. “Now, I know they don’t come here just for this,” he says, “but they’ve heard of it and they’ll stop by.”

 He has over 20 guest sign-in books filled with visitor’s names that have come through the village, some from as far away as Yugoslavia.

Visiting Corntassel

 So the next time you are headed to Greenway Farms for a hike, jog, or just some family time, stop – free of charge – just up the road to see the tiny village of Corntassel and the imagination and handiwork of Pete Snider. Be sure you have more than a few minutes, because you may find time slipping away with all there is to see if you look closely enough. After all, the statement is usually true that “it’s all in the details.”

Holly Abernathy

info@6qCreative.com