Blue + Red Trail

Marcella Vivrette Smith Park is a relatively new park owned by the City of Brentwood. It opened to the public only six years ago in 2014, but this land is much richer in history than you might think. In 1825 James Hazard Wilson II and Emeline Wilson settled here and built a home - the Ravenswood Mansion. James II also purchased hundreds of acres of land around their home to establish a plantation. He became a prosperous businessman and landowner, even acquiring a steamboat line along the Mississippi River. By the mid 1800s he was one of the wealthiest men in Tennessee.Many years passed and eventually the historic home and 500 surrounding acres were sold to Reese and Marcella Vivrette Smith Jr. in 1961. The home was restored and eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009 the Smith family decided to sell the estate to the City of Brentwood. In 2014 the area opened as a park and contains 400 acres of land, several miles of hiking trails and of course, the historic Ravenswood Mansion.Blue + Red Trail Hike:Combining the Blue and Red Trails forms a 3 mile perimeter loop of sorts through Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. It begins at the parking area just past Ravenswood Mansion. Follow the road up to the first trail sign, then take a sharp right just past the sign onto the Blue Trail. The trail finds its way into some beautiful forest and you'll soon forget that you're in a city park. The trail then climbs its way up to a junction, and then descends via a rocky path. Eventually you'll come to a large open field area with fantastic views of the nearby hills.The trail follows the edge of the field for a while before climbing toward the Red Trail. Just before the junction you'll find another fantastic viewpoint. Once on the Red Trail follow it until you reach Enid's Eyrie Point. At the top of this hill is a great place to rest or picnic, although summer foliage blocks any views.Descend from Enid's Eyrie Point and connect back with the Blue Trail. From here it is a short distance continuing counterclockwise until you reach the trailhead. There are restrooms and a drinking fountain at the trailhead.