Ot: Message For Stebo

RaiderInTheZone · March 29, 2008

Stebo,

I live in Manchester, Tennessee where Bonnaroo is held. I would suggest getting to Manchester early in the week. If you have a camper, you could always pay to camp out at Manchester's KOA which is actually down the road to the entrance to Bonnaroo off I-24 Exit 114. I think the closer accomodations you can get to Bonnaroo, the better off you are. I would recommend against staying in Murfreesboro as you mentioned on the Sun Belt board because festival goers have had to wait hours in traffic and you want to get as close as you can get. The local authorities don't open the gates until Wednesday I think, but you want to be at the front of the line. You may still have a long wait, but not nearly as long as waiting in 10-mile long traffic.

The downside about Manchester is that it is a city of around 9,000 residents. It is not a college town. It doesn't even have a movie theater. There is very little to see or do. Bonnaroo has put the small town on the map. The upside to being in Manchester as the days to the fesitval approach is that you can get a heads-up on beating traffic into the festival to get to the head of the line. People from all across the country and Canada start filing in around Monday and Tuesday of the week of the festival. That may be something for you to think about.

There aren't very many restaurants to choose from in Manchester, but if you do find yourself interested in grub in the land of Bonnaroo here's a breakdown of my top choices:

Coconut Bay Cafe--Traveling I-24 from Nashville toward Chattanooga take Exit 110 and turn left off the ramp. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Interstate Drive. Going straight for about 0.2 miles if that you'll see the restaurant on the right. Incidentally, the owner of that restaurant has a Murfreesboro chain and is supportive of MTSU athletics. That place is packed at night. They have two margaritas for $6. They have fried zucchini. Their motto is "Work Hard. Play Hard." It's the place to be in Manchester.

O'Charley's--Traveling I-24 from Nashville to Chattanooga take Exit 114 and turn left at the traffic light coming off the ramp. Go straight through the first traffic light beyond the overpass. The restaurant is located on the left after you pass Arrowhead/Aerospace Museum. They have good food and their own bar in case you want to set for a drink.

Cracker Barrel--Traveling I-24 from Nashville to Chattanooga take Exit 110 and turn left off the ramp. Turn left at the first traffic light onto Interstate Drive. The restaurant is on the left just after the Hampton Inn. Good country food with a neat store with all kinds of different things for sale.

Gasthaus German Restaurant, El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant--Traveling I-24 from Nashville to Chattanooga take Exit 114 and turn right at the traffic light coming off the ramp. Go straight for about 2-3 miles on Hwy 41 Hillsboro Bouelvard. You'll travel through I believe 4 traffic lights after the interestate light. Just beyond the Clover Lane intersection at Family Dollar you'll see Gasthaus on the right and El Molcajete on the left. Both have unique fixings and great service. If you are one of those people that enjoys trying new cuisines, I'd suggest these two places.

Stebo, I hope you have a great time at Bonnaroo this year. The festival has some really good talent coming in this year with Metallica, Pearl Jam, and Chris Rock doing stand-up. My girlfriend got a free pass from a friend who lives in the vicinity of the festival. Lucky her. I will likely work at this year's festival. Despite nearly 100,000 people being around, I may still see you around.

If you need any more help, feel free to call me. My cell number is (931) 841-0927. The name is Scotty.

stebo · March 30, 2008

Thank you sooo much, that is definitely the most information that I have gotten about it so far. I put your cell phone number into my phone and I will def give you a call. It is weird, My girlfriend just likes this band Vampire Weekend and we were looking for a place to go see them... The closest venue was Bonerroo - so I started looking into it and WOW! Like Woodstock or something, lol. So I bought two tickets and it is good that we did because I think that only VIP is available now. I had no idea that I would get that great of a reaction from my g/f - she freaked out when I told her. If you want to erase your number, you can - I have it in my phone now and thank you so much. I just need to figure out some way to get a hotel or camp there. Can't decide how to pull all this off.

edcollopy · March 30, 2008

at least you'll get to see Pearl Jam...lucky dog...hoping they come to texas this summer / fall.

PerryG2480 · March 30, 2008

Definitely some good acts at that festival this year, enjoy.

Spaceraider · March 30, 2008

Stebo,

while you are there for Bonnaroo, and if you have the time, you are near two of my favorite sites in Middle Tennessee, the University of The South (Sewanee) on top of Monteagle Mountain down I-24 towards Chattanooga, a beautiful campus (use to take picnics there near The Memorial Cross - a giant cross on the campus placed in memory of students who didn't return from WWI - overlooking a beautiful valley to the west), one of the original members of the Southeastern Conference, Sewanee was a football power in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN. Both are easy drives and no more than 30 miles from Manchester.

I understand this wll be the best Bonnaroo yet. The promoters bought the property where Bonnaroo has been held and have made lots of improvements to make it even more enjoyable to the fans. Enjoy and have a safe trip to what is truly God's country, Middle Tennessee.

MeanMag · March 30, 2008

How Ironic. Some friends and I were actually thinking about making it out to Bonnaroo. Good stuff.

RaiderInTheZone · April 3, 2008

Stebo,

I received your message a few days ago. I apologize for not getting back in touch with you sooner. If you are looking to stay outside of Manchester and are looking at Tullahoma, Shelbyville, and Murfreesboro, I would suggest Tullahoma because the traffic on that side doesn't seem as bad and because Tullahoma is positioned better to gain backdoor entrances to the festival grounds. Murfreesboro I-24 access is the worst in my opinion as is Murfreesboro Highway (State Hwy 41). State Hwy 55 out of Tullahoma gets backed up, but not as bad.

You have two options:

The make-shift Exit 112 (a road leading straight to the fesitval grounds from the interstate though is not an interstate exit) is only accessible coming out of Chattanooga. It may only be for those with handicaps though. I would check into that, or I can try to find out. The traffic was backed up on that route for a couple miles but it was steady moving. That may be a good way to go if you can get in.

You can also gain entrance to the festival by taking AEDC Road out of Tullahoma. AEDC Road is a straight shot that ends at Hwy 41 out of Hillsboro which gets backed up pretty good as well, Rather than turning left toward Manchester and getting stuck in traffic, you can turn right toward Hillsboro and then turn left at the only traffic light in Hillsboro. That road leads to Ragsdale Road which is where Bonnaroo sits. I don't know how bad the traffic gets through there. I've never driven through there during festival time. I would be surprised if non-residents knew of those backdoors.

I actually drove through there this past weekend. You could see that rainbow-shaped Bonnaroo sign sitting in the middle of the field off in the distance. It's weird seeing it back there and no people. I'll probably do some more driving around that area over the next couple weeks to give you a more detailed mapping of the back roads.

UNTLifer · April 3, 2008

Stebo,
I received your message a few days ago. I apologize for not getting back in touch with you sooner. If you are looking to stay outside of Manchester and are looking at Tullahoma, Shelbyville, and Murfreesboro, I would suggest Tullahoma because the traffic on that side doesn't seem as bad and because Tullahoma is positioned better to gain backdoor entrances to the festival grounds. Murfreesboro I-24 access is the worst in my opinion as is Murfreesboro Highway (State Hwy 41). State Hwy 55 out of Tullahoma gets backed up, but not as bad.
You have two options:
The make-shift Exit 112 (a road leading straight to the fesitval grounds from the interstate though is not an interstate exit) is only accessible coming out of Chattanooga. It may only be for those with handicaps though. I would check into that, or I can try to find out. The traffic was backed up on that route for a couple miles but it was steady moving. That may be a good way to go if you can get in.
You can also gain entrance to the festival by taking AEDC Road out of Tullahoma. AEDC Road is a straight shot that ends at Hwy 41 out of Hillsboro which gets backed up pretty good as well, Rather than turning left toward Manchester and getting stuck in traffic, you can turn right toward Hillsboro and then turn left at the only traffic light in Hillsboro. That road leads to Ragsdale Road which is where Bonnaroo sits. I don't know how bad the traffic gets through there. I've never driven through there during festival time. I would be surprised if non-residents knew of those backdoors.
I actually drove through there this past weekend. You could see that rainbow-shaped Bonnaroo sign sitting in the middle of the field off in the distance. It's weird seeing it back there and no people. I'll probably do some more driving around that area over the next couple weeks to give you a more detailed mapping of the back roads.

Now what kind of festival is this???

(more fun with editing)