Best friends say they found ‘heaven' — and a racist landlord ruined it
The two friends had been inseparable since they were 16-year-olds working at Harris Teeter and when the coronavirus pandemic hit, they saw an opportunity to bring their families together in the secluded outdoor area. Mills would be in one camper with her family; Smith would be in one nearby with her husband, Damien Smith, who is Black, and their 8-year-old son, who is biracial.
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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fairs have a long history at Chilhowee Park, but it was amusement hub even earlier
Even before it became home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, Chilhowee Park was a top amusement destination in Knoxville. Since 1887, the park has attracted visitors with its options for recreation, from live music to fishing to walks around the grounds − and in later years, roller coasters and a playground. The many decades of fun since are thanks to F.C. Beaman, who opened the park in the late 19th century, a move met with tremendous excitement from many Knoxvillians. Back then, it was called Beaman's Park and had a lake, dancing pavilion and refreshment stands, the Journal and Tribune reported in 1887. In those early days, the lake was called Lake Ottosee (get it?), which had a resurgence later on, but around the turn of the century, it was called Chilhowee Lake, which soon became Chilhowee Park. Chilhowee Park's first fairs In 1910, Chilhowee Park was the site of the Appalachian Exposition, a month-long spectacle visited by 350,000 people. The event featured pyrotechnic displays, blimp rides and dog shows. An extravagant stucco building was constructed, President Theodore Roosevelt attended, and not far from the fairgrounds, some lucky visitors witnessed East Tennessee's first plane flight. Another Appalachian Exposition was held the following year, and in 1913, the National Conservation Exposition was held at Chilhowee Park. The first version of the Tennessee Valley Fair, called the East Tennessee Division Fair, was held at the park in 1916, according to the website for today's fair. Chilhowee Park in the early 20th century As early as 1915, Chilhowee was called "The South's Most Delightful Amusement Park," charging 10 cents for entry and boasting attractions such as boating, swimming, dancing, roller coaster rides, concerts, moving pictures and a merry-go-round, according to an ad in the Journal and Tribune that year. In 1921, the park gained an "airplane swing" and a new merry-go-round. That same year, the park was purchased by Col. J. G. Sterchi, who sold the park to the city in 1926 for $100,000, the Knoxville Journal reported that year. Between 1939 and 1948, the Eighth of August, a day in East Tennessee that commemorates Black freedom, was celebrated at Chilhowee Park and was the only day out of the year that Black residents were allowed to use the park. In 1938, the park's main building that had been constructed for the 1910 Appalachian Exposition was destroyed in a fiery blaze. A replacement was completed in 1941 and dubbed the Jacob Building in 1954 after veterinarian and former College of Agriculture Dean Moses Jacob, who was at one time president of the fair. This year marks the 105th Tennessee Valley Fair, which will run Sept. 5-14. Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Fairs and amusement have long history at Chilhowee Park Solve the daily Crossword
National Geographic
13-08-2025
- National Geographic
This Illinois city should be the first stop on your Route 66 road trip
World-renown Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago. But you'll want to motor west to Springfield, roughly 200 miles from the Windy City, to find the best of the Mother Road. 'The big cities don't have as much of a Route 66 feel because they don't rely on something like that for tourism,' says author Joe Sonderman, who has written 13 books about the iconic highway, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. Sonderman adds, 'Chicago has its Route 66 spots, but when you get to Springfield, you really feel it.' The Illinois capital boasts dozens of sites linked to the Main Street of America, from old diners and vintage gas pumps to new attractions, like a quarter-mile stretch of the original road that debuted as a walking trail this summer. Vigango, sacred wooden memorial statues of the Mijikenda people of Kenya, can be found at the Illinois State Museum, one of several attractions road trippers will find making a detour off U.S. Route 66 in Springfield, Ill. Photograph by Richard Barnes, Nat Geo Image Collection Travelers seeking nostalgic things to do can catch a movie at the Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield, Ill. Photograph by Richard Brown, Alamy Stock Photo 'We have about 60 Route 66 attractions in Springfield. That's a lot,' says Scott Dahl, director of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. 'We want to keep building on that leading into next year's centennial.' Here's how to get your Route 66 fix in Springfield, an ideal road trip from both Chicago and St. Louis. (This is the loneliest road in America) Head for the fairgrounds Some 300 miles of historic Route 66 slices through the Land of Lincoln from Chicago to the Mississippi River. Take a stroll through a scaled-down version of Illinois's portion of the federal highway at the Route 66 Experience. Opened in 2023, the free exhibit at the Illinois State Fairgrounds includes kitschy billboards, a drive-in movie theater screen and a tribute to 'muffler men,' the huge statues businesses put up to grab the attention of Route 66 motorists. (One of these fiberglass giants still stands outside Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service. A tornado took off his head nearly two decades ago, but he's back to normal now.) The walking path meant to loosely mimic Route 66 leads to a series of sheds filled with photos from the 92 Illinois communities along the legendary road. 'If anybody wants a quick history of Route 66, that's the place to go,' says Dwight Cannon, president of the Route 66 Association of Illinois. The fairgrounds are also home to Legends Neon Park, a collection of replicas of roadside signs that once cast their colorful glow on Route 66. For the full effect, go at night when the signs are lit up. If you're itching for more, take a tour of the museum at Ace Sign Co., a long-running business whose neon creations flanked the iconic road. Learn about Black history An old Texaco gas station has been transformed into a classroom of sorts, with exhibits and technology telling stories of the Black experience on Route 66 during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras. Book an appointment in advance at the Route History Museum for a 20-minute virtual reality session. You'll don a headset to travel back in time to Illinois cities featured in The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide directing Black travelers to safe businesses in the racially segregated Jim Crow era, as well as 'sundown towns' that were dangerous for Blacks after dark. 'It's a unique Route 66 story you don't find being told in a lot of places,' Dahl says. (Life after the 'Green Book': What is the future for Black travelers in America?) New kicks on 66 Mother Nature had almost reclaimed a section of Springfield's original Route 66 alignment, a 16-foot-wide concrete ribbon wending through the woods. As of July, it once again started welcoming traffic—foot traffic—when it reopened as a walking trail in Carpenter Park. 'It's a quarter mile of untouched pavement,' Cannon says about this segment of the route, which was abandoned in 1936 in favor of a four-lane alternative. 'Now you can see what people first drove on: this little, narrow road, the original superhighway,' he adds. Another new Route 66 attraction revolves around former Springfield resident Bob Waldmire, a nomadic hippie and artist whose detailed maps, postcards, and murals are known around the globe. 'For a lot of people, Bob Waldmire epitomizes Route 66,' Cannon says. The Fillmore character in Disney-Pixar's Cars movie franchise was modeled after Waldmire and his 1972 Volkswagen van. The yellow VW Microbus is on display at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, about 100 miles northeast of the state capital. An exhibit showcasing the late artist's work—and his eccentric personality—debuted this summer at The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space in Springfield. It runs through Dec. 19, 2026. (Route 66: America's most celebrated road trip is going electric) Drivers may catch a glimpse of the Illinois State Capitol building when passing through Springfield. Photograph by Jim WEST, Report Digital-REA/Redux History buffs can visit this statue of Abraham Lincoln located outside of his tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Ill., and a short drive from the historic Route 66. Photograph by Joel Sartore, Nat Geo Image Collection Fill up on food—and more Waldmire's father, Ed, was a Route 66 institution, too. Not because of his art, but because of his cooking. In the 1940s, Ed Waldmire Jr. created the cozy dog, a battered, deep-fried hot dog on a stick. He sold the crunchy concoction at his Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66. More than 75 years later, the Waldmire family still uses Ed's batter recipe to make its requisite Route 66 treat at Springfield's retro diner, where you can wash down a cozy dog with a bottle of Route 66 Root Beer. You also can stock up on plenty of Mother Road merch, including Route 66 postcards designed by Bob. (Fun fact: Bob was a vegan.) As you might guess from its name, a lot more than food is on the menu at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, Museum and Entertainment Complex. The sprawling compound is tricked out with neon signs, memorabilia, classic cars and what claims to be the world's largest Route 66 emblem. Save room—lots of room—for Motorheads' spin on a Springfield staple, the horseshoe. It's an open-faced sandwich of thick slabs of toasted bread topped with meat, fries, and cheese sauce. The horseshoe name stems from the shape of the cut of ham used in the original sandwich, first served in 1928 at a now defunct hotel on Route 66. Some of Motorheads' Route 66 artifacts were salvaged from Shea's Gas Station. The old filling station was turned into a beloved museum by its owner, auto enthusiast, and collector Bill Shea. After Shea's death in 2013, the building was sold, and its contents were put on the auction block. But like other treasures on Route 66, Shea's is making a comeback. The exterior has been restored and the formerly fenced-off grounds reopened to the public in 2024. 'We've added some gas pumps and keep enhancing it,' Dahl says. 'We can't guarantee it, but we're hoping to have the interior open for the centennial year.' Getting there Springfield is about a three-hour drive from Chicago and roughly 90 minutes from St. Louis. We recommend travelers slow down to see the Route 66 sites, including the American Giants Museum in Atlanta (don't miss the pie at Country-Aire Restaurant) and the welcoming West End Service Station in Edwardsville. Where to stay The 288-room Crowne Plaza Springfield-Convention Center has all the amenities of a large hotel, with overnight rates starting around $125. For a more intimate stay at a similar price, the Inn at 835 is a B&B on the National Register of Historic Places. It has 11 rooms in the main building and two suites in the nearby Bell House. When to go Simply put, Springfield's winters are cold, and the summers are hot. Spring and fall are ideal times to visit. Every autumn, Springfield hosts the Route 66 Mother Road Festival, featuring classic cars and live entertainment. Keep in mind that the capital can get busy in mid-August, when it's the site of the annual Illinois State Fair. Lori Rackl is the former travel editor of the Chicago Tribune whose work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Texas Highways, Midwest Living and many newspapers. Follow her on Instagram.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
Discrimination in travel: What does the law say, and what actually happens?
'It's made us feel unwelcome, disrespected,' said Jemma Louise Gough, 38, after the host of an Airbnb in Manchester cancelled a booking for her and a friend because they are from Wales. 'We just wanted a bed for the night 'she told Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live. 'It's also made us feel judged for something unrelated to our character or intentions as a guest. 'I was so shocked that this is still happening in this day and age. If this was about race or religion, there would be global outrage. It comes in many forms, discrimination. But it all warrants attention. It's all unacceptable and it deserves to be spoken out about." So how widespread is discrimination in travel? These are the key questions and answers. How bad were the olden days? Shamefully for an industry that celebrates freedom and is devoted to bringing people together, travel has a long history of discrimination based on nationality, skin colour, sexual orientation and other factors. After the Second World War, some British hotels advertised the fact that they banned guests from Germany and Austria, and did not employ people from those locations. South Africa codified racial discrimination with the apartheid laws, restricting the movements of Black citizens and excluding them from better forms of transport. In 1953 the South African minister C R Swart claimed that segregating whites and Black people on the railways and in accommodation was essential. He warned: 'If they are continually to travel together on the trains and sleep in the same hotels, eventually we would have racial admixture.' Segregation was also enforced across much of the US. For three decades until 1966, African Americans wishing to explore their own country had to rely upon the Negro Motorist Green Book to find motels, restaurants and service stations that would serve them; a film about the book later won an Oscar. As recently as 2018, two gay men aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles were asked by cabin crew to move so that a heterosexual couple could sit together. In the same year, the Pontins holiday park chain instructed staff to decline or cancel bookings in the names of people who might be Irish travellers, including Gallagher, Murphy and Nolan. The firm has since said it is committed to comply with the Equality Act 2010. It's 2025: Anyone can go anywhere, right? The UK government says: 'It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex [or] sexual orientation.' The statutes are augmented by case law. In 2011, a gay male couple were refused accommodation by B&B owners who said it was against their religious beliefs to allow two men to share a bed. The appeal court eventually decided in favour of the couple. Unfortunately, what the law requires and what actually happens can a long way apart. Consider a situation where somebody walks into a hotel and asks for a room for the night. It is possible that the person behind the desk may not like the prospective guest's accent, skin colour or T-shirt proclaiming a particular political view. They could simply say, 'Sorry, we are full'. Unless someone next in line without the same characteristics is immediately given a room, it would be impossible to prove discrimination. What do the accommodation platforms say? Both Airbnb and say they have zero tolerance for discrimination. reminds property owners that they are hosting people from different cultures and backgrounds who have different perspectives on acceptable behaviour. The firm tells owners: 'It's crucial that staff working at your property – especially guest-facing employees – are trained on what discrimination is and how to avoid it.' Airbnb concurs: 'Hosts may not decline guests based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While your views may be different than those of your guests, please remember that being an Airbnb host does not require that you endorse how your guests live. 'Our dedication to bringing people together by fostering meaningful and shared experiences rests on the principles of respect and inclusion.' Same-sex group bookings are sometimes banned. For example Butlin's says: 'Butlins is a family resort and in keeping with this caravans may not be let to persons under the age of 18 or to groups of the same sex.' The aim is to keep a lid on rowdy behaviour. Where else does discrimination take place? Many disabled people feel airlines discriminate against them. 'We want to make sure everyone has fair access to air travel' – so says the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Yet some disabled travellers feel they get a raw deal. Disability Rights UK says: 'The CAA's current regime of oversight for accessible air travel is limited and ineffective.' Airlines can refuse to carry disabled passengers 'if the size of the aircraft or its doors makes the embarkation or carriage of that disabled person or person with reduced mobility physically impossible'. Campaigners say that aircraft should be redesigned to accommodate the needs of disabled passengers. There are also all-too-frequent reports of special assistance failing at airports. Carriers say they do all they can to facilitate aviation for all, but the nature of aircraft means they cannot deliver the same degree of support as terrestrial transport is able to provide. What about age? Many holiday companies impose age limits, usually out of concern for other customers or simply because they feel they are offering trips for which older or younger travellers would not fit in. At the Hans Brinker hostel in Amsterdam, for example, dormitory beds have an age restriction of 18-40 years. Car-rental firms exclude young drivers, especially for high-end cars, and some impose upper age limits as well. Adventure travel companies often have age restrictions. These are among the key ages for travellers: 8: Minimum age for the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb – but you must also be at least 120cm tall. 16: You can stay in a UK youth hostel without an adult. 23: Avis will rent you a car in the UK. 30: Hertz UK will now rent you a Ford Mustang, a Bentley GTC or a Lamborghini. 40: You are too old for G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours. 80: Explore will 'discuss the itinerary with you' before booking you on a trip and may ask 'additional questions about your health and fitness'. 99: Many car rental firms will no longer hire you a vehicle (but Europcar will from most locations in the UK). Discrimination based on your travel history Some nations may use evidence in your passport against you. A previous visit to Israel could prevent you from visiting a number of countries, including Iran. The United States insists that travellers who have visited countries designated as 'State Sponsors of Terrorism' must apply for a visa to travel to the US, rather than the usual online Esta. The rule applies to anyone who has been in: North Korea, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011. Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. Prospective visitors in the UK must attend an interview at the US Embassy in London or Consulate General in Belfast. They face a wait of at least two months for an appointment.
