Monteagle Mountain

Monteagle Mountain is the local name given to a stretch of Interstate 24 near Monteagle, Tennessee that passes over the Cumberland Plateau. Being part of the plateau, it is not technically a mountain, but appears that way to motorists crossing over it. It is frequently referenced as one of the most treacherous stretches of interstate in the United States, especially in inclement weather. Johnny Cash even wrote and performed a song about the treacherous nature of that stretch of road. The title song for the movie Smokey and the Bandit describes the Bandit in a harrowing journey down the Monteagle Grade in 1963. The song is entitled "The Legend" and was written by Jerry Reed.

The mountain was part of the Cherokee homeland till 1817.

The mountain was named "Eagle Mountain" by the Cherokee because of the great number of the golden eagles that roosted and nested along its ridge line. In fact, in honor of those birds, for many years a golden eagle sat in the Park in Monteagle until it was stolen as a school prank. It now sits in display at Tennessee Tech University.

The University's version of accounts differs from that of the local residents, who stated that a gold painted eagle statue sat in front of the motel. After the motel burned, it was reclaimed and repainted and placed in front of the park until one night, some thieves came and stole it. A reward was offered for its return but nothing could be proven. [interview with local resident]

The schools version of events, however, states:

"Several Tech students braved a driving night rainstorm to pilfer a huge block-tin eagle statue from the charred ruins of a resort hotel in Monteagle. They painted the creature - with a wingspan of over six feet - a glistening gold, and suspended it from the rafter for public inspection at the following day's basketball game in Memorial Gym."

After the Cherokee were removed, the area was renamed Moffit's Station in May 1870 by John Moffat, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife and children. It would later become Moffat Station and still later, the city of Monteagle.