Historic Rugby

07/14/2026

Looking for a weekend getaway? Historic Rugby has you covered!

There's lots happening in the village this weekend, and lodging is still available if you'd like to stay for a few days.

-Thursday through Sunday, our Visitor Centre, Print Shop, Commissary, and Gallery will all be open. Take a guided historic tour, browse handmade arts and crafts by local artisans in the Commissary (don't miss the antique booths upstairs!), or learn how our antique printing press works at the Printing Works.

-Yoga is offered in Hester Hall (located behind the Visitor Centre) on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm ET.

-Feeling hungry? R.M. Brooks Store is just down the road and open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. And this Friday night only, Brooks will be open late, featuring live folk and string band music and food cooked on site!

-Summer in Rugby isn't complete without a swim! Cool off at the Gentlemen's Swimming Hole (the trailhead begins at the end of Laurel Dale Cemetery Road) or take a short drive to Colditz Cove, where you'll find a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole.

-Ready to explore? Pick up one of our new hiking trail maps outside the Visitor Centre. Every trail is easily accessible from the village and filled with scenic views, interesting history, and natural surprises. (Don't forget the bug spray!)

-Historic Rugby After Dark offers two evening tours of the village Thursday through Sunday. Advance reservations are recommended.

Want to make a weekend of it? Check out available lodging at the link in the comments.

We can't wait to welcome you to Historic Rugby this weekend!

07/11/2026

The forecast tonight isn't looking great, so we are sadly cancelling tonight's Irish road bowling game. We'll play again July 25th at 6pm ET.

BUT! You can still join us for tonight's Muses & Magicians Variety Show at 7pm ET, which will now be held in Hester Hall, located behind the Visitor Centre on Rugby Parkway. Hope to see you there!

07/07/2026

We've got July covered for you in Rugby. Check it out.

Email from Historic Rugby Cool time for a summer visit     Happy July! Cornet Band concert July 19. Painting finished at founder's home. Flea market items sought for fund-raising sale. It's a busy mon

07/07/2026

UPDATE: Due to the threat of severe weather, the July 11th Irish road bowling game has been canceled. The Muses & Magicians Variety Show will now take place at Hester Hall, located behind the Visitor's Centre.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Join us in Historic Rugby! There's plenty going on here to keep you busy, and lodging options are still available.

Thursday - Sunday, our Visitor Centre, Print Shop, Commissary, and Gallery will all be open! Take a historic tour, shop for arts and crafts from local artisans in our Commissary (and don't miss the antique booths upstairs), examine beautiful antique quilts on display in our Gallery, or learn how to operate our antique printing press at the Printing Works.

Feeling hungry? RMBrooks Store is right down the road and open 10am-5pm ET Tuesday-Saturday.

Swimming in the river is a summertime tradition here in Rugby! Head down to the Gentlemen's Swimming Hole (the trailhead starts at the end of Laurel Dale Cemetery Road) or hike to the swimming hole beneath the waterfall at nearby Colditz Cove - It's just a short drive away.

We have brand new maps of our hiking trails available outside the Visitor’s Centre. All trails are easily accessible from the village and contain lots of surprises and natural wonders. Don’t forget the bug spray!

Historic Rugby After Dark offers two different tours of our village Thursdays-Sundays. You'll want to book these tours in advance on their website. (Link in comments.)

Friday night, Rugby's own Robb Goldwire will host karaoke at Sawbriar Brewing at 6pm CT.

Then on Saturday, he'll be making his famous Savannah Shrimp Boil at Sawbriar at 4pm CT. Tickets for this event are available on Sawbriar's page and should be purchased in advance.

Irish Road Bowling happens Saturday at 6 PM ET. We meet beside the Printing Works. Teams are chosen at random. Anyone can play and anyone can win! Bring a beverage if you’d like.

And you definitely won't want to miss our Muses & Magicians show here in Rugby on Saturday night at 7pm ET. This lively variety show will feature locals performing live music, dance, and spoken word, and it's FREE (although tips are appreciated!).

Check out available lodging at the link in the comments of this post! We hope to see you this weekend!

06/29/2026

Congratulations to Jason Lavender on an incredible Irish Road Bowling victory!

Lavender, who lives in Lansing and frequently bowls with us here in Historic Rugby, won his division at the Irish Road Bowling Singles State Championship, held this past weekend in Ireland, West Virginia.

He competed alongside Robb Goldwire of Rugby, Shane Latimer of Sunbright, and Tommy Jackson of Coalfield. Thanks to his win, Jason has earned a spot in the North American Regional Finals this August in West Virginia, where he'll face some of the nation's top road bowlers from New York, Boston, and beyond. Best of luck, Jason!

Tennessee's first-ever official Irish Road Bowling Team was sponsored by the Morgan County Tourism Alliance, thanks to Rugby resident DeAnn Kirgan's tireless efforts promoting the sport.

If you're not familiar with Irish Road Bowling, it's a centuries-old sport in which players throw a 28-ounce iron ball along a designated road course, with the fewest throws winning the match. The sport has a strong following in West Virginia, where more than 20 tournaments are held each year.

Now, organizers are working to grow that same enthusiasm here in Tennessee, where our scenic rural roads provide an ideal setting for the game.

West Virginia organizers are also encouraging more women to qualify and compete, and Historic Rugby plans to include both men's and women's divisions in future events. Local organizers are also building what will become the Tennessee Irish Road Bowling Series (TNIRBS), with plans for a larger opening tournament next year featuring both a fun, family-friendly game and competitive opportunities for future state qualifiers.

Want to give it a try? Irish Road Bowling takes place in Historic Rugby every other Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. The next game takes place July 11th. Everyone is welcome and anyone can play! Teams are chosen at random when players arrive, making it easy for beginners and experienced players alike to join the fun.

Learn more and see upcoming dates at the events tab on our page, or head to historicrugby.com/events.

06/27/2026

Irish Road Bowling has been cancelled due to rain. Sorry everyone! Join us for our next game on July 11th.

06/22/2026

Planning on looking for treasures during the World’s Longest Yard Sale? Make Historic Rugby one of your stops — OR donate treasures of your own to the sale! All proceeds go to the non-profit Historic Rugby, Inc.

Our annual Historic Rugby Yard Sale takes place the same weekend as the Hwy 127 Yard Sale, Friday & Saturday, August 7-8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET in Hester Hall.

You’ll find an ever-changing assortment of treasures, including:

✨ Furniture
✨ Antiques
✨ Collectibles
✨ Books
✨ Glassware
✨ Kitchen goods
✨ Lamps
✨ Vintage items
✨ Electronics
✨ Household goods
✨ And plenty of unexpected finds!

If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, this is the place for you. You never know what treasure might be waiting for you to claim it!

Want to donate? Household items, antiques, collectibles, glassware, books, furniture, and more are welcome. (Please, no clothing.) To donate items, contact [email protected].

Mark your calendars and add Historic Rugby to your Yard Sale adventure. We can’t wait to see what treasures you’ll discover!

(Photo credit: Jaime Vaughn)