Good morning, Cookeville.

Spring is officially here — and it’s not easing in.

The tulips are peaking right now, CRMC just added 20 beds (with 50 more coming), and after 13 years, the Upper Cumberland is finally getting a veteran’s cemetery.

Meanwhile:
A Tony-nominated thriller is playing 28 miles away…
…and a drive-in is open 20 minutes in the other direction.

You’ve got options this week.

In today’s Cardinal:
🌷 Tulips are at peak bloom (this week only)
🏥 CRMC just expanded — and isn’t slowing down
🎭 Deathtrap is running nearby
🎬 Sparta Drive-In is back
🪖 Veterans cemetery finally funded
⛳ 24/7 golf simulator now open
🎤 A Voice winner is back on national TV

Let’s get into it.

It’s the longest-running mystery play by an American playwright in Broadway history.

Time Magazine said it will “assassinate you with laughter.”

And it’s happening 28 miles away.

Deathtrap is now playing at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville — a Tony-nominated comedy-thriller by Ira Levin.

A washed-up playwright receives a brilliant script from a former student… and starts wondering if it’s worth committing murder to claim it.

What follows:
Twists. Dark humor. Moments you don’t see coming.

The Playhouse draws over 100,000 visitors a year — and this is the show worth the drive.

📍 Cumberland County Playhouse | Crossville
🎟️ ccplayhouse.com | (931) 484-5000
🗓️ Through May 2 | Rated PG-13

Fri, March 27 | 7 PM
Roland Justice live at Red Silo Brewing
Americana/indie — perfect WestSide Friday night

Midweek tip:
37 Cedar Street, Red Silo, and Roasted Hemp Co. regularly book weeknight shows.
Quick Instagram check = easy plans.

Saturday (daytime)
Little Creek Flower Farm:

The festival is over.
The tulips didn’t get the memo.

Peak bloom is happening right now — not next week.

Schedule - Little Creek Flowers

Saturday evening | WestSide

Food trucks, outdoor seating, live music.
One of the easiest “just go” nights in Cookeville.

Trackside Cookeville

Fri–Sat | Gates 6 PM

$10 adults. $5 kids.
~20 minutes away.

Old-school movie night > sitting on your couch.

Home

Cookeville Regional opened a brand-new inpatient floor this week, bringing total capacity to 309 beds.

But here’s the bigger move:

City Council is voting on a new 50-bed rehabilitation hospital — a completely separate facility.

Translation:
Healthcare in Cookeville is expanding fast.

CRMC serves 300,000+ people across the region — this week was a big one.

Closed to through traffic on weekdays (Hughes → S. Willow).

If that’s your route — reroute now.

For 13 years, veterans here had no nearby burial option with military honors.

That’s finally changing.

A $7.5M federal grant has been secured for the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery near Sparta.

25,000+ veterans in this region will now have a place close to home.

Long time coming. Finally happening.

Irrationale Kitchen + Taps

New American. Craft beer. Solid brunch.

Order the Smoked Pork & Pimento Flatbread.
Don’t overthink it.

📍 N Washington Ave
Health score: 93

The Players Club

Indoor golf. Open 24/7.

Full Swing simulators (yes, the PGA ones).
Plus: other sports + kids area.

No weather. No tee times. No excuses.

Take a step back for a second.

Right now, Cookeville has:

For a city of ~35,000:

That’s a lot happening at once.

Cookeville is building.

👀 Someone took 47 photos in the tulip field. All perfect. None better than just being there.
👀 Fishing rod in the truck. Growler in the passenger seat. Priorities clear.
👀 “Road Closed” sign already ignored by someone

Send yours in — best ones make next week.

Just outside Algood, three U.S. presidents once stayed at the same inn:

Andrew Jackson
James K. Polk
Andrew Johnson

Also connected to Mark Twain.

All from one stop along an old stagecoach route.

About | Historic Hale Springs Inn

Tennessee Tech was just designated a National Cybersecurity Research Center by the NSA.

They now hold:

Quietly becoming one of the most complete cybersecurity programs in the country.

Also:
Cookeville’s own Jake Hoot is back on The Voice.

City Lake Natural Area

Snapped this one out at City Lake this week — still one of the best quiet spots in Cookeville.

Got a shot of your own? Send it in.
We’ll feature the best.

😂 Comedy fundraiser — April 3
🦋 Firefly Festival — April 11–12
🚚 Food Truck & Arts Festival — April 11
🥒 Tennessee Pickle Festival — May 2–3

New business?
Event?
Weird local story?

Reply to this email.

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👉 https://www.cookevillecardinal.com/