Food - News

Here's What Happened To The Very First Cracker Barrel
By AMBERLY MCKEE
The very first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — which included a gift shop and a gas station — got started in 1969 on State Route 109 in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee. However, the original restaurant closed in 1984, and was moved to Wilson County Fairgrounds for restoration.
Unfortunately, after transporting it to Wilson County Fairgrounds with an original plan to restore it for Fiddlers Grove Historic Village, the building was pronounced irreparable. After years of weather exposure and general use, the building had severely deteriorated.
Luckily for fans of the restaurant, the legacy of the original Cracker Barrel won’t be completely lost. According to a 2019 Cracker Barrel press release, portions of the building will be stripped apart and used for a different project in the future.