HIPPIE HILL - It could almost be described as a candy store — filled with all the variety of flavors that life has to offer. Some described the atmosphere as welcoming and non-judgmental, allowing them to truly be themselves.
This 40-acre community was like a song, with its large flowing trees, beautiful wood carvings, colorful paintings, and majestic views. And as Middle Tennessee grew, so did the tall tales surrounding what was once known as Hippie Hill. Keep in mind the tallest of tales came from those who had never stepped foot on the land, which really helped to add even more flavor to the area. Of course, the majority of those with amazingly woven stories would not have known how to find ‘The Hill’ - even if their life depended on it. But isn't this what makes the most unique places - - that much more unique?
Tom Maddox, better known as Hippie Tom, once said that rumors about Hippie Hill spread like wildfire — one person whispering to another, then a resident of one city telling a resident of the next. Each conversation added a new magical twist. Before long, Hippie Tom was hearing from people all around the globe, many telling him they’d be passing through the Volunteer State and wanted to know if they could swing by and stay a few nights. It seemed as if more out-of-state visitors knew about Hippie Hill than local neighbors — but that’s part of the lure and the magic of a place like this. Photo Below (Black and White) Hippie Tom (Left) and Dwight Teagarden (Right) at Hippie Hill.
Looking back to earlier years, Hippie Tom and his wife Jeanie once made their home wherever they laid their heads at night, never knowing which direction they’d head by morning. But as the years passed, change was inevitable. Their trips on motorcycle slowed when Jeanie became pregnant with their first child.
As many of us know, life isn’t always filled with endless smiles. Hippie Tom began to recognize this in his own daily walk, when struggles with drug use increased. Around the same time, he had an awakening that began with Jeanie giving birth to their first baby girl!
Sometimes life’s 'why’s' are impossible to answer and this was one of those times for the Maddox family. Their first born child died only a few months after being born. The sorrow and grief of losing a child is something no parent should ever experience, but tragically, many do. Unfortunately for the Maddox family, more hard times were ahead.
Tom and Jeanie soon welcomed another life into the world — a son. As any father will tell you, there’s so much joy and excitement in having a little one follow your every step. A dad may grow tired of the constant questions of "How does this work, Why does that happen, Who made that,"- and on, and on, and on. But dad's never tire of that pitter-patter sound of closely following feet. We’ve all heard it – the feet carefully stepping in pace with yours, so close behind – you’d swear it’s your own shadow. From room-to-room you go and they follow as if they were joined to your side. It’s a beautiful thing!
As one might imagine, it was heartbreaking for Tom and Jeanie when those little footsteps abruptly stopped following them at the young age of four. Their perfect little child had died, shortly after a trip to a medical facility to be treated for a spider bite. Needless to say, it further turned their world upside down, once again.
Life continued, as did the struggles — but moments of happiness somehow crept in and began to grow. Some of that joy came in the form of their daughter, Rose. She became the soft spot in Hippie Tom’s heart and the reason for Jeanie to keep going.
While most people might give up after such heartbreak of losing two children in such a short time-period, Tom and Jeanie only bonded closer and pushed forward stronger. A young Rose renewed their spirits in a way that friends and family could see firsthand. A longtime friend of Hippie Tom said the couple may not have thought they were making progress, but they were. He said, “Healing is not always visible to the one healing, but can shine like a light to those around us.”
As Rose grew older, Tom found new meaning in what love truly meant. He found new purpose as the years went by.
Children’s Author Dr. Seuss once wrote, “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” That line could not be more fitting for Tom and Jeanie — two souls who rode life’s highest highs and its deepest, darkest lows - - together. More times than not, they were everything to each other, with one lifting the other, when one was too tired to climb.
Life still wasn’t a walk in the park for Hippie Tom and his family. Eventually, they decided to settle down and create a home on the patch of land that would become Hippie Hill. For Tom, it was a chance to help others — to provide a warm meal and a place to stay. Sometimes, share a story and teach a trade.
But not everyone was excited about this enchanting slice of Tennessee. The Rutherford County government and a handful of neighbors voiced complaints — including people who’d never stepped foot on the 40-acre site but still found reasons to grumble. It’s human nature to fear what we don’t understand.
As R.I. Fitzhenry said, “Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don’t let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.” Hippie Hill did exactly that — it lit creativity on fire. It was a place to sit and observe, like watching waves roll in on a white sand beach fading into turquoise water. The longer you stayed, the more you saw. From the people passing through for a night to the nature that surrounded them, the Hill felt like an old folk song mixed with Janis Joplin’s raspy voice. It was a place grit, but also a place where you could paint a portrait of yourself in the mirror, yet the final image might look like it was brushed by Van Gogh and lined by Salvador Dali.
But the county didn’t see it that way. To officials, Hippie Hill looked more like a coloring book that someone had scribbled outside the lines. It was misunderstood by a handful of county leaders and elected officials. Eventually, the Board of Zoning Appeals rezoned the land as a hostel, meaning Hippie Tom had to remove campers, RVs, and other structures. Some couldn’t be moved — they were tied to memories, some happy, others unbearably painful.
These zoning issues were minor compared to the emotional burdens Tom and Jeanie carried.
Over the years, people from all walks of life visited Hippie Hill — young and old, black and white, American and Canadian — a place that welcomed nearly everyone except those intent on causing trouble. Some visitors stayed for a year, others just for a day, but they were all welcome to stop by and stay a spell. Guests came with golden pasts or with lives marked by trauma, abuse, and addiction. Hippie Hill was a haven for those who felt unloved, unheard, or unappreciated — but it was never a place for people to sit idle. It was a place of growth. Hippie Tom made sure everyone lent a helping hand.
Hippie Hill held different meanings for different people. Some stayed there to kick a bad habit; others found healing and peace while reconnecting with nature. One woman moved there to battle Lupus, telling WGNS she made the cross-country trek because she could no longer handle the pain of cold northern winters. Her doctor had drawn a line across a map and said, “If you live anywhere here — in Tennessee — you’ll feel better.”
Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Hippie Tom would have agreed.
Years later, the magical place you can’t find on a map closed its doors for good. But just as in the early days, the stories of Hippie Hill — who lived there, who passed through, who sang their songs under its trees — will only grow taller and more colorful with each telling. Those who never visited will dream even bigger tales. For those who did, the memories remain as real as the trees that once sheltered them or the drugs they left behind and overcame.
Tom Maddox followed his dream of forming Hippie Hill and followed his passion for helping others. Hippie Tom will be missed.
Tom Maddox recently lost his battle to cancer this past May. He will be remembered for the life he breathed into others and the little piece of Tennessee paradise, that thousands passed through over a 10 to 15-year timespan. And more than likely, Tom is now filled with smiles and laughter, as two little ones had been patiently waiting for dad, for years.
