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Brentwood’s first settlers were planters and farmers and came to the area in the late 1700s. Much of the land was granted to Revolutionary War soldiers by the State of North Carolina.

The original site of business activity in the area was at the Cottonport on Old Smyrna Road. The general store, the grist mill and the post office were located there. With the coming of the railroad and highway, the town center shifted.

Brentwood grew and prospered, and by the time of the Civil War, the area was one of the richest in the state. The soils were fertile and plantations flourished as was evidenced by the stately homes built. During the war, many of these homes were used for providing food and treating wounded soldiers, both Confederate and Union. By the end of the war, there were very few farm animals or growing crops left. The war left its scar on the economy, and many homes and plantations fell to ruin.

The Brentwood area recovered from the Civil War, and in the 1920s it was rediscovered. Gradually many of the plantation homes were bought and restored. With the construction of Interstate 65 in the 1960s Brentwood grew and prospered, and by the 1990s the area was prospering again. Today, Brentwood is home to more than 35,000 people and is one of the most prosperous small cities in the South.
– Based on information by T. Vance Little, city historian and local author.

Links:
Additional Brentwood History
Cool Springs House
Primm Historic Park 
Boiling Springs Academy
Brentwood Timeline

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The City of Brentwood is very proud of the relocation and restoration of the historic Cool Springs House, a Victorian farm house located in Crockett Park. The soft, yellow exterior, green shutters and welcoming front porch beckon visitors to take a peek at the house’s long and colorful history.

James and Penelope Barfield Carothers built the original two log rooms of the Cool Springs House in the 1830s located at what is presently the intersection of Mallory Lane and Cool Springs Boulevard. It was later passed to their son, Dr. Robert Carothers. The log house underwent major additions and renovations in 1856 and 1870. In 1888, the house was deeded to William A. Jordan, who lived there until 1932 when it was bought by the A.M. Grant family. In 1942, Dr. Charles Robinson, a Vanderbilt nutritionist, purchased the house and remained there for 32 years.

In 1974, the house was purchased by John H. and Karen Dunn Noel. They did extensive restoration work and turned it into a showplace. In 1993, the City of Brentwood assumed ownership when impending development in the Cool Springs area threatened the integrity of the house.

The preservation and extensive restoration of the Cool Springs House remains under the guidance of the City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Historic Commission. Although historically preserved, the house features modern facilities designed to accommodate a variety of events and activities. The City moved the house to Crockett Park, where it has become the focal point of the park’s history preservation area and a premier event venue.

Contact the city of Brentwood for rental information.

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The Brentwood Library, known as the ‘crown jewel’ of the city, was established as a city library in 1983. At that time, there were a few shelves of paperbacks in a dry cleaner’s shop. It has grown significantly.

In fact, the library, owned and operated by the City of Brentwood, has proved to be so popular that an expansion and renovation project was completed in June 2009. This expansion created a state-of-the-art 55,000-square-foot facility holding more than 150,000 collection items, 120 computers, and many welcoming spaces for readers and learners. The project included a new children’s wing that provides space for children’s theater productions and story time events. It also added a larger audiovisual area and several small meeting rooms equipped with computers and big screens for mini-conferences.

Every Brentwood resident or property owner has free borrowing privileges at the library, which in addition to books, also offers audiobooks, DVDs, music CDs and reference databases. A large collection of newspapers and magazines is also available.

The library is one of the busiest in Tennessee with more than 1,000 visitors daily. It has been recognized as one of the premier public libraries in the state and was named one of the nation’s Top 10 Libraries for Children by Livability.com.

Visit the Brentwood Library website.

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Walk, Bike, Play in Brentwood Parks

Brentwood is home to a wealth of parks – 860-plus acres of parks and greenways and 20 miles of biking and hiking trails provide plenty of room to roam – from running, biking or playing sports to just relaxing and enjoying the city’s beautiful green spaces.

Brentwood has a variety of facilities and services for recreation. In addition to the traditional park amenities, the parks and greenways offer great aesthetic beauty and numerous environmental and interpretative education opportunities.

The city encourages you to take full advantage of the active and passive recreational opportunities available in our community.

Crockett Park (biking, walking, jogging, disc golf, tennis, playground)
Concord Park (biking, walking, jogging)
River Park (biking, walking, jogging, basketball, playground)
Granny White Park (walking, jogging, tennis)
Deerwood Aboretum & Nature Center (biking, walking, jogging, ponds)
Primm Park (historic structures, bikeway entrance)
Tower Park (biking, walking, jogging)
Owl Creek Park (walking, basketball, playground)
NUTRO® Dog Park (dogs, walking, fences areas)
Maryland Way Park (jogging, walking, exercise stations)

Crockett Park

1500 Volunteer Parkway

The largest of Brentwood’s nine parks is located just off Wilson Pike on Volunteer Parkway. It encompasses more than 164 acres and is home to the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater, the historic Cool Springs House, and the Williamson County Parks & Recreation Indoor Soccer facility.

The park features:

• disc golf course
• eight multipurpose fields (two lighted)
• eight lighted baseball/softball diamonds
• seven lighted tennis courts
• concessions and restrooms buildings
• open meadows
• nature trail
• picnic shelters
• paved walking paths and bikeway
• community playground for children of all ages

Concord Park

8109 Concord Rd.
40-acre park surrounding the Brentwood Library

Situated at one side of River Park and across from the WSM tower on Concord Road, the location is a good spot for beginning a walk or jog. Connected to the Brentwood Bikeway system, the park is also a great destination for family activities.

The park features:

• walking paths
• bikeways
• practice fields
• open areas for picnics and kite flying

River Park

110 Knox Valley Drive

River Park’s 46 acres connect with Crockett Park one end and Concord Park at the other.

The park features:

• children’s playground and restrooms
• two-mile bikeway and walking path along the Little Harpeth River
• picnic pavilion with two grills
• outdoor basketball court
• walking/jogging trail along the Little Harpeth River

Granny White Park

610 Granny White Pike

The 32-acre park features:

• walking and exercise trails
• the Rotary Pavilion
• multipurpose athletic field
• four lighted tennis courts
• lighted baseball/softball fields with dugout covers
• children’s playground

Deerwood Arboretum & Nature Center

320 Deerwood Lane

Bordering the Little Harpeth River, Deerwood Arboretum showcases native trees, migratory birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Deerwood showcases more than 69 different species of trees, all identified and locatable with a Tree Identification Trail Guide. As a State Certified Arboretum, most examples of each species are within 20 feet of the trail. Most of the tagged trees are native to Tennessee. Sections of the trail connect Deerwood to Belle Rive Drive and a foot bridge over the Little Harpeth River that leads to Kingsbury Drive in Laurelwood.

The park features:

• bikeway
• jogging trails
• ponds
• wildflower meadow
• Nature Center Complex
• restrooms
• information kiosks
• small amphitheater
• visitor assistance

Primm Park

Moores Lane East

Primm Park is a 31-acre park that includes the historic Boiling Spring Academy (circa 1830) and five mounds from the Mound Builders (circa 1200 A.D.), the last of prehistoric Native Americans to live in this area. The park, designed to showcase both historic features also connects, extends and acts as an entrance to the Brentwood Bikeway. The Little Harpeth River runs through the park.

Tower Park

Heritage Way
The 47-acre park features:

• walking and biking trails
• multipurpose fields
• natural open spaces

Owl Creek Park

9751 Concord Road

Owl Creek Park is a 21-acre neighborhood park located between Concord Pass and Chestnut Springs Road.

The park includes:

• a picnic shelter
• playground
• basketball courts
• walking paths

The NUTRO® Dog Park

Located in Tower Park

The NUTRO® Dog Park consists of two separately fenced areas within Tower Park.

The park includes:

• Both areas include shaded benches, water stations, and hydrants.
• a large dog area is approximately 1.5 acres and intended for dogs over 25 pounds
• a small dog area is approximately 0.65 acres

Maryland Way Park

5055 Maryland Way

Maryland Way Park is a 7-acre park located in the heart of the Brentwood business community in the Maryland Farms complex.

The park includes:

• walking/jogging path
• 11 exercise stations

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Just eight miles south of Nashville, Brentwood offers easy access to all the tourist hotspots and nightlife in Music City. Country music’s “mother church,” the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum welcome visitors to experience the sounds that put Nashville on the map. Other tourist attractions in the city include the world’s only exact-size replica of the Parthenon in Centennial Park, Riverfront Park, the capitol and War Memorial Plaza.

Nashville also has historic sites such as The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson, and Belle Meade Plantation. The renowned Frist Center for the Visual Arts boasts both permanent and featured exhibits honoring past masters and rising artists. Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art combines the best of both sides of Nashville  — man-made and natural beauty. The Grammy award-winning Nashville Symphony performs at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

A stay in Brentwood provides access to all Nashville has to offer.

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For sports enthusiasts, Nashville is a great destination. The National Football League’s Tennessee Titans play at LP Field, and the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators can be seen at the Bridgestone Arena. Other sporting teams in town include the Nashville Sounds Class AAA minor league baseball team, which plays its summertime games just south of downtown in Greer Stadium.

Check out the following links for scheduling and ticket information:
Tennessee Titans: 615-565-4178
Nashville Sounds: 615-242-4371
Nashville Predators: 615-770-7825

The Nashville area is home to more than 20 colleges and universities that offer exciting action on nearly a year-round basis, highlighted by Southeastern Conference, Ohio Valley Conference and Atlantic Sun Conference Play. Major athletic programs exist at Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University, among others.

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If getting away from it all is your style, Brentwood is located near several large natural parks.

Radnor Lake State Park is in Davidson County in the midst of the Overton Hills, in the Oak Hill Community. This natural area provides a variety of scenic spots and diverse natural habitats ranging from the lake to streams. Wildlife and several species of plants are abundant. Radnor is a place that provides scenic, biological, geological and passive recreational opportunities not found in other metropolitan areas of Nashville’s size. Radnor also offers hiking trails including challenging inclines, moderate paths and easy strolls through the woods.

Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, collectively known as The Warner Parks, span 2,684 acres of forest and field. The parks are located approximately 20 minutes from Brentwood. With hiking trails, cross-country running courses and a nature center, the parks are enjoyed by more than 500,000 visitors annually.

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