by VICTORIA ELIZABETH
Nestled in the pristine, rolling hills of the rural and small, yet legendary, Hurricane Mills, Tenn., the Loretta Lynn Ranch is a sprawling complex that offers a mix of entertainment, history, and outdoor activities, honoring one of the country music industry’s biggest and brightest stars.
The ranch, which began as a personal retreat for Loretta Lynn and her family in the 1960s, eventually opened its doors to the public as a premiere tourist attraction in the 1970s, which has subsequently hosted a myriad of guests from across the United States. Featuring an exhilarating roster of special events (including chuck wagon races, a fall music festival, and much more), a plethora of gift shops, museums filled with special Loretta Lynn artifacts, and 3,500 total acres of uninterrupted land, this ranch has cemented its self as one of the foremost family friendly attractions in the state of Tennessee.
Following a spotlight feature of the acclaimed “Twitty and Lynn” show at the Dothan Opera House a few years back, we added the aforementioned ranch to our “Travel Bucket List” and in July 2025 , this dream became a reality as we were afforded the exclusive opportunity to do a feature on the widely acclaimed and now-iconic 4th of July Celebration, featuring a VIP Meet and Greet Party, a world class concert, and a fireworks extravaganza.
Upon arrival at Loretta Lynn’s official “The Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum,” we meandered inside where we were greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable liaison Elizabeth, who diligently provided us with the “lay of the land” and walked us through the holiday weekend’s impending festivities.
Once we got acquainted with Elizabeth and other members of the hardworking Ranch Team, we made our way to the buffet spread (including a scrumptious charcuterie board, tender chicken salad sandwiches, and delectable desserts featuring warm brownies and chocolate chip cookies), provided by Mama’s Catering.
Twitty and Lynn (comprised of the award-winning Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn, real life grandchildren of the legendary Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, longtime collaborators and duet partners) warmly welcomed the crowd (mostly compiled of exclusive VIP Twitty and Lynn fan club members before launching in to perform an intimate set, specifically curated for the evening’s function.
Guests sipped on punch and swayed to the rhythm of songs ranging from old country classic covers, to original singles, and even ballads from the documentary in which they starred entitled “Twitty & Lynn: Together Again.”
The evening’s headlining performers and their talented live band took time to meet, greet, and pose for endless photo ops with their adoring fans, and attendees took time to peruse the expansive and fascinating Coal Miners Daughter Museum and to walk through the Queen of Country Music’s tour bus, which logged hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the duration of her extensive career.
The next day featured the majority of the event’s top billing festivities, and we headed back to the ranch, eagerly anticipating the adventures that lay ahead.
We kicked off our action-packed schedule with a walk through the Coal Miners Daughter museum, which was filled to the brim with artifacts, facts regarding her humble upbringing as, well, a coal miner’s daughter, and of course, a plethora of dazzling brightly colored, bold-sleeved gowns for which the performer became known and beloved.
A re-creation of Lynn’s one-room schoolhouse that she attended as a youngster in the small mining town of Butcher Hollow Kentucky is displayed toward the entrance of the museum.
Lynn, according to both curators of the museum and her family, had a charming personality quirk where “she doesn’t get rid of anything”, and one trip through her beloved museum proves this statement true as everything from family members’ wedding dresses, notes from fans and friends, even a pair of underpants from Patsy Cline have been kept, preserved, and proudly displayed.
Upon the conclusion of our museum tour, we made our way to our next scheduled excursion, the tour of Lynn’s childhood home. Featuring an exact replica of her Butcher Hollow childhood residence, nestled high on a hill in the heart of the estate, the tour-able home features a delightful combination of replicas mimicking the decor featured in Lynn’s family home, as well as memorabilia and artifacts accumulated throughout Lynn’s storied career.
Next, we loaded into the shuttle and headed toward the mansion in which the country icon resided with her husband Oliver Lynn. We were honored to participate in this guided tour of the mansion, which featured an assortment of authentic Amish Wagons (which the couple acquired through various estate sales and cherished as both collectors items and working equipment for their farm).
We meandered into Lynn’s world-famous kitchen. The 149 year old mansion features warm and inviting family and living room areas, which are decorated with an array of exquisite gowns donned by the superstar and her family in various Grand Ole Opry and television appearances.
Upon conclusion of our tours, we geared up for the headlining event everyone at the ranch had been waiting for with bated breath: the epic 4th of July Concert starring Twitty and Lynn. The concert, held on the MainStage at the ranch, featured an opening set by the duo’s world class band, a sold out audience, and a high energy atmosphere as one chart topping hit after another was performed with great aplomb by the popular duo.
A few of the many toe tapping numbers brought to life during the two-hour music extravaganza included the instantly recognizable Twitty/Lynn duet “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” and the smooth Conway classic “Tight Fitting Jeans.”
Tayla, overflowing with her signature sass and country charm takes on some of Loretta’s most massive hits including “You Ain’t Woman Enough” and “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin.’”
After the closing of the incredible annual 4th of July experience, a myriad of colors burst in the air for the fireworks spectacular, a stunning nearly 10 minute spectacle.
Special thanks to Tayla Lynn, Elizabeth, and the entire Loretta Lynn Ranch Team for your hospitality and for facilitating our visit for this spotlight feature!
WEBSITE: https://www.lorettalynnranch.net
PHONE NUMBER: (931) 296-7700
