Raccoon Valley RV Park (Heiskell)/Comfort Inn (Oak Ridge)

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We planned this trip around a Navy Reunion for Mike.  When he was in the Navy, one of the ships he was on was the USS Oak Ridge.  Have you seen the movie “Oppenheimer”?  Oak Ridge is known as the “Secret City”.  It was established in 1942 as a production site for the “Manhattan Project” - the massive American, British, and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb.  Lots of history!! 

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Last year when we attended the reunion, we toured areas that are no longer “active”, along with several museums. 

Close by is the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.  It opened in 1896 and closed its doors in 2009.  Quite interesting and creepy at the same time……..It sits exactly as it did when the doors closed with the exception of a Distillery that is now on the property.  They distill their own Moonshine and Vodka, using all local grains and fresh mountain water.

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All in all, it was a great trip – we had tons of fun seeing old friends once again……