Mill and overlay asphalt repair work continues on the ramps to I-55 resulting in nightly closures from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Closures move as work progresses. Crews are also working from milepost 101 to 102.5 during daylight hours. More
3/19/2025 Closure update for Chisha Foka Multi-Use trail rehabilitation
All of the trail north of Old Canton Road is open. The Choctaw Agency parking lot is closed and contractors are working on the sections of trail adjacent to it. More
Mount Locust Inn/Stand and Visitor Center Closed - Grounds Open Wednesday-Sunday
Due to storm damage, the visitor center is closed. The historic inn/stand is also closed due to serious structural concerns. The grounds are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. You can still view the stand but cannot enter.
A sculpture by Joanna Underwood Blackburn at the Chickasaw Artesian Gallery. Chick on the pot to view go to the Chickasaw Nation's website and learn more about Joanna's work.
NPS Photo
The people of the Chickasaw Nation are artistic, strong and dynamic. Their warrior tradition has spilled over into the 21st century as they battle modern challenges head on, with grace. Their compassion and care for other people is enhanced by their business savvy and dedication to preserving their culture while embracing the present. Learn about Chickasaw culture from the Chickasaw people.
The brick home of Captain John Gordon and his family, built in 1818, was one of the impressive homes in the area. It was a landmark for travelers of the Old Trace, letting them know that soon they would be in Nashville, TN, where simple human comforts could be found after weeks of walking on a well-traveled but rustic trail. The Gordon family called it home, but it was a business as well. A ferry provided a safe way for travelers and locals alike to cross the Duck River.
The widow Cranfield operated an inn, known as a stand, here with her second husband, an American Indian, who spoke little English. According to legend, when travelers approached with questions about accommodations, he would only point to his wife and say, "She boss."
Unfortunately there are no remnants of Sheboss Stand visible at the site and exact location of the house is unknown.
Before 1805 the Chickasaw owned all the land in this vicinity. When the Chickasaw ceded the land to the United States in the early 1800s the Natchez Trace became a boundary. In 1837 the Chickasaw were removed from their homeland. Chickasaw Removal is the most traumatic chapter in Chickasaw history. As a result of Congress’ Indian Removal Act, the Chickasaw people were forced to remove to Indian Territory.
George Colbert used to live atop this ridge overlooking the Tennessee River. As one of the many inns that dotted the Trace between Nashville and Natchez, it provided travelers with food and lodging. At this site you can take a short walk up to the ridge where the home once sat. An additional 20-minute stroll will take you along the Old Trace to the bluff overlook of the river.
Near the bubbling waters of Buzzard Roost Spring, Levi Colbert (Itawamba Minko, "Bench Chief") built one of the many inns, called stands, along the Natchez Trace. Trace travelers no doubt talked about Levi's stand. It was nicer than most, and offered respite from the miles of footsteps that defined a Trace journey.
About 900 years ago, mound building began along Bear Creek, this site already had been used by semi-sedentary groups for thousands of years. Typical of a Mississippian period village, a ceremonial building sat on Bear Creek’s flat top, providing a focus for spiritual life.
It was a solution. Water dissolved the limestone. It was a solution. The Cave Spring provided shelter from the weather. It was a solution. The water quenched parched travelers.
800 305-7417
The Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo, MS, is open 9am-4:30pm seven days a week. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st.
