Bush’s Baked Bean Tour, Chestnut Hill, TN

I stopped at the Tennessee visitor center upon entering the state.  I got a state map and was looking at the brochures. I saw one for Bush’s Best Visitor Center in Chestnut Hill. It is the company that makes Bush’s baked beans, you probably have seen the commercials where Duke the dog is trying to sell the secret recipe. Well, anyway, the visitor center was about 6 miles off Interstate 40 and not much of a detour on my way to Knoxville. In fact, after I left the visitor center, I took a scenic back road about 10 miles to connect to the interstate. It was a beautiful drive, on a VERY narrow, winding road. There were beautiful lakes and trees along the route.

IMG_8925When arriving at the visitor center, you pass the house where the founders lived. IMG_8978Then across the street, after parking, you enter through the General Store which has on display all kind of gift items, and historic memorabilia. After walking through the store, I was shown the entrance to several rooms that contained photographs, videos, historic information, and quiz boards.

I got to walk through a very large tin can laying on its side with the quiz boards inside. IMG_8940There was also a scale to stand on and instead of giving a persons weight in pounds, it gives the weight in the number of beans your weigh equals. Here is my weight in beans. IMG_8943  Some of the types of beans arrive from vendors packed in 1 ton plastic sacks. IMG_8942Other beans arrive in trucks and are unloaded directly into storage silos.

Visitors are able to watch 2 videos, one shows the process for making beans, from growing them in fields, having them delivered to the plant, and showing how they are cooked, how spices and sauces are mixed, and how the product and cans come down the conveyor belts, get cooked, packed, etc. It’s really amazing how this works. The other video was Dave and Duke the dog showing how the products changed over the decades, it included photos of the various decades with current event snapshots.

I was very impressed with so many things they presented in the video. This company seems very ecologically friendly, and really cares about their employees. Many employees have been there for several decades.  There are lots of tall windows throughout the plant buildings so there is natural light to work with.  Instead of having their fields mowed, they have cows in the pastures to keep the grass trimmed. They also use lots of water and they have a water treatment plant on their grounds that produces almost totally pure water which is used to operate machinery, water the fields, etc.

As I left the video theater I walked through displays of historic photographs, with stacks of cans, etc. Then I got to have a picture taken with a virtual picture of Duke the dog. IMG_8962  When walking down the ramp to go back to the general store, overhead was a pig on a skateboard overhead. Of course, before I left I bought several cans of beans.  How could I not when surrounded by so many varieties.  I also ate a hamburger in the cafe, and since they had sweet potato fries, which are my favorite fries, I ordered some. I didn’t eat pie, but I noticed they had one called Pinto Bean pie.  I posted lots of photos in a Bush’s Beans photo album on my photo gallery page.

I left after having a nice time and drove a scenic road towards Knoxville. IMG_8986

 

This entry was posted in 2013 Trip. Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to Bush’s Baked Bean Tour, Chestnut Hill, TN

  1. lorraine hawks says:

    As the mother of a firefighter, I can only say God Bless you and your wonderful giving heart.
    Lorraine Hawks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *