THIS TIME ON TENNESSEE CROSSROADS, ROB WILDS TAKES US TO THE HISTORIC CORNER PIT BBQ IN BRYSON.

TAMMI ARENDER GETS ON BOARD WITH SOME SERIOUS TRAIN LOVERS IN NOLENSVILLE.

KEN WILSHIRE MEETS AN ATHENS ARTIST WHO HAS A UNIQUE WAY WITH GLASS AND I'LL TAKE TO YOU AN UNDERGROUND MUSICAL EXPERIENCE NEAR MCMINNVILLE.

ALL THAT ON THIS EDITION OF TENNESSEE CROSSROADS.

I'M JOE ELMORE, SURE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

♪ >> WHEN YOU ORDER SOME BARBECUE AT A RESTAURANT, YOU PROBABLY GET A SIDE ORDER OF FRENCH FRIES, POTATO SALAD OR BEANS.

WELL, ROB WILDS FOUND A PLACE IN GILES COUNTY WHERE YOU CAN ALSO GET A SIDE ORDER OF HISTORY ALL FREE OF CHARGE.

IT'S THE CORNER PIT BBQ IN BRYSON AND THAT'S WHERE OWNER BILL PFEIFFER AND HIS FAMILY SHARE THE COMMUNITY HISTORY A LONG WITH THEIR TASTY BARBECUE.

ROB>> WHEN YOU COME TO BRYSON, TENNESSEE, BETWEEN PULASKI AND THE ALABAMA LINE, YOU'LL FIND THE CORNER PIT BBQ AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

KRISTEN PFEIFFER, ONE OF THE OWNERS SAID THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

KRISTEN>> THIS USED TO BE A TOWN.

THERE WAS A BLACKSMITH SHOP OVER THERE.

THERE USED TO BE A STORE RIGHT HERE.

THERE WAS A HATERY RIGHT HERE AND I GUESS WHEN THE ECONOMY CHANGED IN THE 40S AND EVERYBODY MOVED AND LEFT THIS LITTLE TOWN JUST WENT AWAY.

ROB>> KRISTEN'S HUSBAND BILL ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE PLACE AND CONVINCED KRISTEN AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY THAT THE PIT SHOULD BE RE-OPENED AND IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR BUSINESS, YOU SEE.

BILL>> I'M A FARMER FOREMOST AND I GOT THE RESTAURANT TO BE ABLE TO MARKET MY BEEF AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE WAY TO MARKET OUR FARM PRODUCTS AND IT'S TURNED OUT WELL.

NUMBER 31, RIGHT HERE.

ROB>> NO DOUBT BUT BILL ALSO HAD ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR RE-OPENING THE PLACE, WHICH HAS BEEN HERE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION SINCE 1965.

TO SAVE SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE PIT AND OF BRYSON.

THERE'S LOTS OF HISTORY ON THIS LITTLE CORNER OF TENNESSEE.

IN FACT, THIS PLACE RIGHT OVER HERE, BEEN THROUGH A LOT, SINCE IT FIRST BECAME A BARBECUE PLACE BACK IN 1965.

IT'S BURNED, SIX TIMES.

NOW, IF YOU WERE A PESSIMISTIC MAN YOU MIGHT SAY I DON'T BELIEVE I'LL BUY THIS PLACE AND PUT ANOTHER BARBECUE RESTAURANT IN IT BUT BILL PFEIFFER IS NOT A PESSIMISTIC FELLOW.

HE'S AN OPTIMISTIC MAN.

OPTIMISTIC, BUT CAREFUL.

BILL>> WE MOVED THE PITS SLIGHTLY AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.

I THINK THAT WAS THE -- I STARTED THINKING OF THE SITUATION AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THE PITS WERE TOO CLOSE SO WE HAVE AN ENCLOSED PIT THAT ALL ARE STILL WOOD FIRED BUT WE HAVE THEM A LITTLE WAYS FROM THE BUILDING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT.

ROB>> NO MORE FIRES, EXCEPT THE ONE THAT KEEPS THE BARBECUE COMING.

BILL>> WE COOK FRESH EVERY NIGHT AND WE START OUT ABOUT 10:30, 11 O'CLOCK OR WHATEVER.

MY SON COMES IN, HE PREPS THE MEAT AND WE GET IT ON THE GRILL.

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE SMOKER NO LATER THAN 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

WE COOK IT ALL NIGHT LONG.

I COME IN ABOUT 5:30 MAKE SURE THE FIRE IS RIGHT, GET IT GOING GOOD AND THEN WE WRAP IT AND LET IT WAIT UNTIL 11 O'CLOCK WHEN EVERYBODY SHOWS UP AND WE USED TO SELL ONE BRISKET EVERY SATURDAY AND NOW WE SELL ONE BRISKET ABOUT EVERY TWELVE MINUTES.

ROB>> THERE'S SOME FIRE TOO THE BARBECUE SAUCE.

THE RECIPE FOR WHICH IS CLOSELY GUARDED FOR HALF A CENTURY.

BILL>> THIS RESTAURANT CAME WITH A SAUCE, IT'S CALLED ORIGINAL AND ORIGINAL HOT THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1965.

VERY CLOSELY GUARDED.

NOBODY WOULD EVER LET THE RECIPE.

ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S WIFE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE US THIS RECIPE AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START MAKING THE SAUCE FOR HERE AND IT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE IS THE SAUCE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COME FROM CANADA COME GET A GALLON OF SAUCE.

IT'S A UNIQUE SAUCE, IT'S LIKE NO OTHER BARBECUE SAUCE AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A BLESSING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT RECIPE.

ROB>> CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING BACK FOR THE SAUCE AND BARBECUE AND FOR THE PFEIFFER'S TOO.

BRIAN>> WE HAVE FRIENDS COMING IN.

BILL>> SO YOU NEED FOOD.

BRIAN>> NEED BARBECUE, YOU BET YOU.

ROB >> BRIAN FIELD WAS THE VERY FIRST CUSTOMER WHEN BILL RE-OPENED THE PIT LONG AGO AND HERE HE IS, YEARS LATER.

BRIAN>> YOU NEVER TIRE OF WHAT BILL AND HIS CREW DOES HERE.

THEY CONSTANTLY ARE ADDING ON TO THE MENU.

THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RUBS.

THEY HAVE THE FINEST MEATS YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON.

THEY HAVE ADDED FUDGE NOW, THE BROWNIES AND THE PIES AND SO FORTH.

I MEAN IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT GROWING -- YET IT STILL HAS THAT SORT OF COUNTRY FEEL WHERE YOU CAN COME HERE WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS, JUST RELAX AND HAVE A GOOD MEAL.

HOW DO YOU BEAT THAT?

ROB>> IT IS PRETTY HARD TO BEAT THAT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TOSS IN THE FACT THAT BILL LOVES HISTORY, AND HE SET ABOUT TO DECORATE THE PIT WITH PIECES OF THE PAST.

MANY FROM RIGHT HERE.

BILL>> ALL THE SIGNS ARE FROM GILES COUNTY.

THE GAS PUMP IS FROM GILES COUNTY.

DIFFERENT PIECES THAT I KNOW HAVE A HISTORY FROM THE COUNTY SOME PEOPLE BRING THEM TO ME AND SAY LOOK, THIS NEEDS TO REMAIN HERE.

EVERYTHING HAS A STORY.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PIECE IN HERE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BACKGROUND TO GO WITH IT.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER COME IN AND ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.

WELL, I CAN TELL THEM THE BACK STORY.

IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING WE JUST PICK UP, DROPPED IT ON THERE.

EVERYTHING HAS A STORY AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT FUN.

TOB>> TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE STORY BEHIND THIS SIGN.

BILL>> THE SINCLAIR SIGN WAS UNDER A BRUSH PILE AT A FRIEND OF MINE'S FARM.

THEY HAD PUSHED UP YEARS AND YEARS AGO, PUSHED UP A BIG BURN PILE.

THEY TOOK THE BULLDOZER TO PUSH THE BURN PILE AWAY AND THAT SIGN ROLLED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT, AND HE IS LIKE YOU HAVE GOT TO COME GET THIS SO WE JUMPED ON IT, FLATTENED IT OUT AND GOT IT RIGHT AND CLEANED IT UP AND WAXED IT UP AND PUT IT ON THE WALL.

IT'S BEEN A TREASURE HERE EVER SINCE.

ROB>> LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY USED IT FOR TARGET PRACTICE.

BILL>> THEY DID.

BUT IT FITS THIS PLACE BECAUSE THE BUILD SOMETHING A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES SO EVERYTHING IN IT HAS TO BE A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES.

ROB>> MAYBE SO, BUT THE FOOD AND HISTORY AND THE PFEIFFERS MAKE A VISIT TO THE CORNER PIT BARBECUE IN BRYSON VERY SMOOTH, AND TASTY.

♪ HOST>> RIGHT NOW YOU MIGHT BE GETTING HUNGRY AND WONDERING WHERE IS BRYSON?

THE ANSWER IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, TENNESSEECROSSROADS.ORG WHERE YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ALL OF OUR STORIES.

YOU KNOW, AMERICA'S FASCINATION WITH MODEL TRAINS GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 1930S.

FOR A GROUP OF GUYS IN NOLENSVILLE, FASCINATION WAS THE HOBBY THAT LED TO BUILDING ONE OF THE LARGEST LAYOUTS IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST.

TAMMI ARENDER GETS ABOARD TO SHOW US THEIR STORY.

♪ >> MOST OF US STARTED WITH SOME TRAIN WE GOT FOR CHRISTMAS.

IN MY CASE IT WAS AN AMERICAN FLIER SET.

>>WHEN I WAS EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OLD I WAS GIVEN SOME TRAINS BY MY COUSIN.

THAT GOT ME STARTED.

>>I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOBBY PRETTY MUCH YOU MIGHT SAY ALL OF MY LIFE.

MY DAD WAS IN IT, AND I GOT IT FROM HIM.

I HAVE BEEN TRAINING ALL MY LIFE.

TAMMI>> THE LOVE OF MODEL RAILROADS USUALLY STARTS YOUNG AND LASTS, LIKE MOST TRUE LOVES, FOR A LIFETIME.

FOR MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION, THAT LOVE AFFAIR LED TO THIS LARGE LAYOUT NICO>> THIS WAS CALLED BILL'S LAY OUT BECAUSE IT WAS HIS IDEA, AND HIS WORK.

HE WORKED SEVEN OR EIGHT DAYS A WEEK FOR EIGHT OR 10 HOURS A DAY FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, IN GETTING THIS, PROBABLY ABOUT 85% COMPLETED, AND THEN HE TURNED IT OVER TO THE CLUB.

TAMMI>> NICO YOUNG AND SEVERAL OTHER MODEL TRAIN HOBBYISTS HELPED BILL HEMERICK REALIZE HIS DREAM.

HEMERICK, FOUNDER OF THE UPPER DECK SPORTS TRADING COMPANY LOVED THE LOS ANGELES- SALT LAKE CITY ROUTE OUT WEST.

AFTER MOVING TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE HE WANTED A PLACE TO BUILD THIS LAYOUT.

HEMERICK BOUGHT THE BUILDING AND HAD NO TROUBLE RECRUIT AGO DESIGN TEAM.

EACH MEMBER HAD A JOB TO DO.

TRAIN TEAM MEMBER>> MY JOB WAS TO VISUALIZE WHAT IT COULD BE AND THEN HOW TO GET IT THERE AND THERE WERE JUST LOTS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED.

BILL WAS REAL GOOD, IS REAL GOOD AT GETTING OTHER PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT HIS IDEAS AND WORKING ON HIS PROJECTS.

>> WELL, I HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUP HERE SINCE ABOUT, ITS FIFTH MONTH, AND I DO A LITTLE BIT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SCENERY, TRACK WORK, ELECTRICAL.

DAN>>WE FILL THIS WITH A TYPE OF DENTAL PLASTER AND ONCE IT HARDENS WE POP IT OUT OF THE ROCK MOLD AND THEN WE'LL GLUE IT ON AND THEN WE'LL CARVE IN THE DETAIL TO MATCH IT.

THIS IS A PRODUCT CALLED SCULPT-A-MOLD.

TAMMI>> DAN COLE A FORMER AIRLINE MAINTENANCE MANAGER HELPED WITH THE LANDSCAPING.

FOR MODERN RAILROAD ENTHUSIASTS THE RAILROAD ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE RAIL CARS AND TRACK, IT'S ABOUT THE REALISTIC VIEW A LONG THE LINE.

DAN>> THE MAIN THING, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, WAS KEEP THE CONTINUITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALL THE WAY UP TO OGDEN, UTAH, WHICH REQUIRED DESERT SCENERY AND ALSO WE WANTED TO BUILD A BRANCH LINE AND THAT REPRESENTS UP IN THE SIERRA NEVADA RANGE, GOING UP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE LOGGING AND MINING, WHICH SOME OF US ENJOY.

AND THEN ON THIS SIDE, THIS IS ALL MAIN LINE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ENJOY THAT.

EVEN MORE.

TAMMI>> THIS DISPLAY IS IN AN APPROXIMATELY 5000 SQUARE FOOT ROOM, IT'S POSSIBLY THE LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED MODEL RAILROAD IN TENNESSEE, IF NOT THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION OF THE U.S.

IT HAS ABOUT 850 FEET OF MAIN LINE TRACK, AND NEARLY 4,000 FEET OF TRACK ALL TOGETHER.

DAN>> WE HAVE A COMPUTER SYSTEM IN ONE OF THE ROOMS HERE WITH DISPATCHERS.

WE OPERATE THIS RAILROAD JUST LIKE A REAL RAILROAD DOES, SO WE HAVE TRAIN ORDERS AND PEOPLE, WE HAVE PASSENGER TRAINS THAT HAVE PRIORITY OVER FREIGHT TRAINS.

TAMMI>> THE APPROXIMATELY 1,300 RAIL CARS, EACH HAVE A CAR CARD AND A WAYBILL.

THIS LETS YOU KNOW WHERE THE CAR IS GOING AND TRAVELING TO.

YOU PUT IT IN THIS LITTLE SLOT AND AT THE NEXT OPERATING SECTION, THE NEXT OPERATOR PICKS IT UP.

>> TIMBER!

TAMMI>> FROM A LUMBERJACK CUTTING DOWN A TREE, TO THE TRAIN WHISTLES THEMSELVES, THE SOUNDS ARE REALISTIC, ALSO, THE CARS, BUILDINGS, EVEN THE DRIVE IN MOVIE THEATER ARE AUTHENTIC TO THE 1950S.

TOM>> WE MODEL THE ERA FROM ABOUT '55 TO '63, SO ALL OF THE BUILDINGS, ALL OF THE VEHICLES, THE TRAINS, ARE ALL FROM THAT ERA.

TAMMI>> TOM SCHMIDT AND THE REST OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN, GET AS MUCH FUN OUT OF WATCHING OTHERS OPERATE THE TRAINS AS THEY DO THEMSELVES.

TOM>> IT'S JUST A GOOD FEELING TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE BUILT, AND WHEN PEOPLE COME THEY ARE JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE SIZE OF IT.

AND THE DETAIL THAT'S IN IT.

TAMMI>> THEY'RE ESPECIALLY THRILLED WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE THOMAS MOKISH DISCOVER THE TREASURES OF TRAINING.

THOMAS>> I HAVE LIKED TRAINS ALL MY LIFE BUT I HAVE GOT INVOLVED WITH ONE OF MY DAD'S FRIENDS FROM WORK.

HE SHOWED ME THIS THE FIRST TIME AND JUST LOVED IT.

TAMMI>> WHETHER IT'S AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF THE RAILROAD, WHICH OUR FOREFATHERS USED TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY, OR THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF MAKING THIS SMALL SCALE VERSION, THERE'S A LOT OF LOCOMOTIVES THAT TRANSCENDS THE GENERATIONS.

>> THIS IS FOR KIDS.

KIDS OF ALL AGES.

HOST>> IN OUR TRAVELS, WE HAVE MET SEVERAL GLASS ARTISTS WHO USE THEIR OWN TECHNIQUE TO MAKE ART.

THERE'S BLOWN GLASS, STAINED GLASS AND SO ON.

WELL, KEN WILSHIRE MET AN ATHENS ARTIST WHO CREATES WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL BAKED GLASS.

HERE'S WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

KEN>> ALMOST EVERY MORNING, EACH STEP SHE TAKES DOWN THESE STAIRS, LEADS TO AN EXCITING NEW JOURNEY FOR THIS FORMER STOCKBROKER.

PAULA>> THERE'S NOTHING I COULD SAY IS ANY BETTER THAN BEING ABLE TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, COME DOWN HERE IN MY STUDIO AND CREATE.

KEN>> WITH HER CUP OF COFFEE IN HAND AND A MINDFUL OF IMAGINATION, PAULA MARKSBURY PUTS ON HER APRON AND BEGINS A BRIGHT NEW CREATIVE DAY.

PAULA>> IT'S NOT JUST A HOBBY, IT'S SOMETHING I LOVE THAT I CAN MAKE A LIVING AT.

KEN>> ACTUALLY, PAULA'S NEW LIVELIHOOD TODAY INVOLVES A LOT OF BAKING AND WHILE PAULA'S BAKING PROCESS IS PRETTY COMPLEX, HER INGREDIENTS ARE SIMPLE.

GLASS, GLASS IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AND COLORS.

YEARS AGO SHE NOT ONLY LEFT HER CAREER IN BUSINESS, BUT ALSO ONE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN HER HOME TOWN OF INDIANAPOLIS.

PAULA>> I HAVE DONE A VARIETY OF THINGS.

I HAVE BEEN A STOCKBROKER, I WORKED IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, BUT THE DAY I LEAPED OFF THAT CLIFF AND TOOK THE CHANCE THAT I COULD DO THIS, I REALIZED I NEVER LOOKED BACK.

IT'S A VERY SPECIAL THING TO BE ABLE TO DO, TO TAKE YOUR IDEAS, TO CREATE SOMETHING, TO MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT PEOPLE LOVE, AND WANT IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

FOR ME, I MEAN I WON SOME AWARDS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY IN WHAT I DO, BUT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CREATIVE PROCESS ITSELF.

KEN>> AND THE PROCESS PAULA USES TO CREATE HER FUSED OR KILN-FORMED GLASS ART IS QUITE LENGTHY AND CERTAINLY INVOLVES LOTS OF UNBREAKABLE LOVE, PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.

PAULA>> AT FIRST YOU KNOW I MAY ACTUALLY DRAW OUT A DESIGN.

IT MAY JUST KIND OF COME TO ME A FEW PIECES OF IT AND THEN I'LL START BUILDING.

THAT PIECE GETS PUT INTO THE KILN AND IT'S MULTIPLE PIECES, PROBABLY AS MANY AS 50 TO 100.

I FIRE THAT FOR 26-28 HOURS.

I BRING THAT OUT, CLEAN IT, GRIND IT, POLISH IT, ADD A SECOND LAYER, I FIRE IT AT A LIGHTER TEMPERATURE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF DEPTH OF PERCEPTION AND JUST TEXTURE TO THE PIECE, AND THEN THE THIRD FIRING IS THE SHAPE AND THAT'S THE LEAST TEMPERATURE BUT THEY ALL GET FIRED EACH TIME ABOUT 24-26 HOURS.

KEN>> PAULA CAME FROM A FAMILY OF ARTISTS WHO WORKED IN VARIOUS MEDIUM, SO SHE HAD A STRONG FOUNDATION FROM THE BEGINNING.

SHE TOOK CLASSES IN COLLEGE, BUT IT'S WHAT INSPIRES HER THAT MAKES HER FUSED GLASS SO UNIQUE.

WHAT DOES INSPIRE YOU TO DO SPECIFIC PIECES?

PAULA>> WELL I JOKE AROUND WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME THAT A LOT AND SAY I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DREAMS OR NIGHTMARES BUT YOU KNOW A LOT OF TIMES IT'S JUST COLOR THAT I SEE.

SOMETIMES IT'S NATURE.

SOMETIMES I'LL SEE A PAINTING THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE AND I LOVE THE COLORING AND I LOVE JUST THE MOVEMENT OF IT, AND THEN I TRY TO CAPTURE THAT FEELING IN GLASS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES MY WORK LOOK SO DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE A COPY CAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THINGS THAT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD THAT HOPEFULLY MAKE OTHER PEOPLE SMILE AND BE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW, I'M A HAPPY PERSON, AND I HOPE THAT'S REFLECTED IN MY WORK.

THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE CUT AGAIN.

KEN>> PAULA'S WORKS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE FROM HER EARLIER THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURAL PIECES TO THE FUSED GLASS SHE CREATES TODAY.

PAULA>> MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS.

I USE A LOT OF DICHROIC GLASS WHICH HAS GOLD AND SILVER IN IT AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY INVENDED BY NASA AND NASA USED IT IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM FOR REFLECTIVE SHIELDS AND THEN IT WENT INTO ELECTRONICS AND OTHER THINGS BUT ALSO CAME INTO THE ART FIELD AND IT'S VERY HIGHLY REFLECTIVE.

IT JUST ADDS A WHOLE OTHER DIMENSION TO THE PIECES AND MOST PEOPLE ONLY SEE IT IN LITTLE TINY PEACE IN JEWELRY BECAUSE IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE GLASS TO WORK WITH BUT I LOVE THE WAY IT PLAYS WITH LIGHT AND MY PIECES LOOK DIFFERENT IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON, AND WITH AN EVENING LIGHT AND DEPENDING ON HOW SOMEONE DECIDES TO LIGHT THEM WITHIN THEIR HOMES, SO, THEY'RE JUST A LOT OF FUN.

KEN>> WHILE SHE SAYS THERE'S NEVER A DESTINATION, IT'S THE FRAGILE JOURNEY THAT PAULA ENJOYS MOST, PRODUCING THESE BEAUTIFUL GLASS CREATIONS.

BUT IT HAS ITS HAZARDS.

PAULA>> AND PRETTY MUCH I BLEED EVERY DAY.

A LITTLE NICK HERE OR WHATEVER.

EVERYBODY THINKS IT WILL BE THE HEAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE WATCHED GLASS BLOWING BUT MY HEAT IS CONTAINED IN THE KILNS AND IT'S REALLY THE CUTTING OF THE GLASS THAT CAUSES THE ACCIDENTS.

I'M SO USED TO HANDLING IT THAT I DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT A SHARP EDGE AND EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE IT JUST CATCHES ME.

KEN>> AND WHEN THE TIMER ON THE KILN SHOWS HER LATEST GLAZED RECIPE HAS BEEN BAKED TO PERFECTION THE ANTICIPATION OF REVEALING EACH NEW LUSTROUS PIECE IS WHAT MOTIVATES PAULA.

PAULA>> THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF EVERYTHING THAT I DO, IS OPENING THE KILN UP AND SEEING IF IT'S ALL IN ONE PIECE, IF IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL, IF IT TURNED OUT THE WAY I REALLY HOPED THAT IT WOULD.

KEN>> ALL RIGHTY.

PAULA>> ALL RIGHT.

SO IF YOU'LL PUSH ON THAT SIDE.

LIFT IT UP.

KEN>> OH, WOW.

PAULA>> OH MY GOODNESS.

KEN>> GORGEOUS.

PAULA>> YEAH, ONE PIECE, I LOVE IT.

ALL RIGHT SO LET'S SCOOT IT OUT LIKE THIS AND YOU MAY HAVE TO GET IT TO THE END SLIGHTLY.

THERE YOU GO.

KEN>> OH, WOW.

HOW MANY HOURS OF EFFORT DOES THIS REPRESENT?

PAULA>> PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

KEN>> WOW.

SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT NOW?

PAULA>> I LOVE IT.

THE COLOR IS SPECTACULAR.

THE PIECES WENT TOGETHER REALLY WELL.

I'M JUST EXCITED.

KEN>> WITH THIS PIECE READY FOR FRAMING SHE'S OFF TO HER NEXT, FRESH, ORIGINAL CREATION.

BECAUSE IT TRULY IS AN ARTISTIC ADVENTURE FOR PAULA, WHO ALWAYS MAINTAINS THIS IS WHAT MAKES LIFE, AND ART, WORTHWHILE.

♪ HOST>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WEEKEND DESTINATION THAT'S COOL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER A TENNESSEE NATURAL WONDER CALLED CUMBERLAND CAVERNS.

IT'S A SYSTEM OF CENTURIES OLD CAVES WITH A NEW REASON TO VISIT.

IT'S ALL THANKS TO A MUSIC LOVING GUY WHO STARTED A CONCERT HALL 300 FEET BELOW THE GROUND.

♪ THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU IS THE LARGEST HARDWOOD FOREST PLATEAU IN THE WORD, STRETCHING ACROSS EASTERN TENNESSEE FROM ALABAMA NORTH INTO KENTUCKY, IT RISES MORE THAN A THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY.

AFTER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS, THE AREA HAS EVOLVED INTO A LABRYNITH OF ROCKY RIDGES AND RAVINES THAT DROP INTO GORGES LACED WITH WATER FALLS, AND CAVES.

♪ CUMBERLAND CAVERNS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE CAVES IN THE SOUTH.

MORE THAN 32 KNOWN MILES WERE CREATED BY MILLIONS OF YEARS OF WATER AND TIME.

IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A SURVEYOR IN 1810, AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1956.

TEDDY>>IT WAS A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS CAVE WHICH BEFORE IT WAS KNOWN AS THE HIGGENBOTHAM CAVE NAMED AFTER THE MAN THAT DISCOVERED IT IN 1810 AND FOR MANY YEARS PEOPLE CAME OUT HERE ON THEIR OWN TO SEE THIS CAVE BUT AS WE OPENED UP COMMERCIALLY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IT WAS A GREAT TREAT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS GREAT CAVE BEFORE ONLY EXPERIENCED CAVERS WERE ABLE TO GET A CHANCE AT.

JOE>> GENERAL MANAGER TEDDY JONES KEEPS CUMBERLAND CAVERNS OPEN FOR WALKING TOURS YEAR ROUND.

THE TEMPERATURE IS ALWAYS 56 DEGREES INSIDE AND EACH TOUR IS A JOURNEY THAT REVEALS SOME OF THE CAVE'S MOST SPECTACULAR SIGHTS.

TOUR GUIDE>> DURING THE EARLY EXPLORING ALL THEY HAD WAS PINE TORCHES AND LANTERNS.

TEDDY>> IT'S ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF LONG TOUR AND IT GOES THROUGH SOME LARGEST ROOMS OF THE CAVE.

WE HAVE 32 MILES OF CAVERNS HERE AT CUMBERLAND CAVERNS WE'RE THE LARGEST SHOW CAVE IN TENNESSEE, AND WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC GETS TO SEE ON THE DAILY SCENIC TOURS IS THE LARGEST ROOMS AND SOME OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FORMATIONS WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE AT CUMBERLAND CAVERNS.

JOE>> MORE ADVENTURIST SPELUNKERS CAN EVEN TRAVEL OFF THE BEATEN PATH FOR MORE CHALLENGING EXPLORATIONS.

WELL OBVIOUSLY IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR EXPLORING ESPECIALLY WITH A YEAR ROUND TEMPERATURE OF 57 DEGREES, NEVER TOO HOT OR TOO COLD, PLUS IT HAS GREAT ACOUSTICS AND WELL, IF YOU'RE IN TENNESSEE YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

♪ BLUEGRASS UNDERGROUND IS A CONCERT SERIES THAT TRANSFORMS THE CAVE'S MASSIVE VOLCANO ROOM INTO A NATURAL CONCERT HALL.

ATTRACTING SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST BLUEGRASS PLAYERS, IT'S THE BRAIN CHILD OF TODD MAYO WHO WAS LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE VENUE TO LAUNCH A RADIO BROADCAST SHOW.

TODD>> ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD HOPED WAS THAT THE ACOUSTICS DOWN IN THE ROOM WOULD LEND THEMSELVES TO LIVE MUSIC, AND BEING KIND OF A MUSIC FAN, BUT NOT A SOUND ENGINEER, I BROUGHT DOWN A BLUEGRASS BAND TO COME AND PLAY ENTIRELY ACOUSTIC AND UNAMPLIFIED AND A SOUND ENGINEER, A GRAMMY-WINNING SOUND ENGINEER WHO WAS REALLY REALLY GOOD, AND SO WE GOT DOWN HERE AND THE SOUNDS CONFIRMED, THE LITMUS TEST OF LIVE MUSIC HERE IN THE CAVES CONFIRMED WHAT I REALLY HOPED.

IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FROM AN ACOUSTICS STANDPOINT, THE JAGGYNESS OF THE ROCKS AND OUGHT OF THE WAYS THE SOUND CAN ECHO AND DISSIPATES THERE'S A VERY LIMITED ECHO AND IT'S A WONDERFUL ROOM TO EXPERIENCE MUSIC.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S AKIN TO GOING TO SEE A LIVE CONCERT INSIDE A RECORDING STUDIO.

MC>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE TRAVELING McCOURYS!

(APPLAUSE) JOE>> THE TRAVELING McCOURYS IS AN EXTENSION OF A BLUEGRASS TRADITION STARTED BY DEL McCOURY.

HIS SON RONNIE THE FRONT MAN SEEMS TO RELISH HIS FIRST EVER GIG INSIDE THE CAVE.

RONNIE>> YOU HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WHEN YOU YELL INTO A CAVE YOU HEAR YOUR VOICE BACK SO MANY TIMES, HELLO, HELLO, HELLO.

JOE>> RIGHT.

RONNIE>> SO IN THE SITUATION WITH A SOUND SYSTEM YOU HAVE TO KEEP THINGS PRETTY LOW BECAUSE IT DOES A BIG SWIRLING EFFECT WHICH IS FINE WITH ME BECAUSE I LIKE TO HAVE IT, THE VOLUME FAIRLY LOW BECAUSE WE HEAR EACH OTHER WELL ON STAGE, AND THEN IT MAKES THE LISTENER LISTEN EVEN HARDER.

IT'S A TREAT FOR THE FANS TO COME IN AND EXPERIENCE MUSIC AND FOR THE MUSICIANS THEMSELVES TO PLAY IN SUCH A MAJESTIC AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

JOE>> UNDER A GIANT CRYSTAL CHANDELIER, 300 FEET UNDERGROUND, IT ALL ADDS UP TO A NATURALLY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE, FOR THE AUDIENCE AND THE MUSICIANS ALIKE.

TODD>> TO ME, IT OPENED US UP TO A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE, SOME THAT NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING UNDERGROUND TO SEE A CAVE, MIGHT COME UNDERGROUND TO SEE A CONCERT, AND ONCE THEY'RE IN AND SEE THE CAVE ITSELF, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL THAT HAVE COME BACK, WANT TO SEE MORE, AND SO BLUEGRASS GETS THEM HERE AND THE CAVE BRINGS THEM BACK.

RONNIE>> I HAVE KIND OF BEEN A PHILOSOPHICAL WAY, I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF MUSIC.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE MIND, IT'S GOOD FOR THE SOUL, IT'S GOOD FOR THE HEART AND NOTHING ELSE, CHILI DOGS TASTE BETTER UNDERGROUND THAN ANYWHERE ELSE SO WE HAVE THAT GOING FOR US.

(APPLAUSE) HOST>> SURE HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD TIME FOR THIS EDITION OF TENNESSEE CROSSROADS.

WE HAD A GOOD TIME BRINGING IT TO YOU AND HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE NEXT WEEK.

TAMMI ARENDER TAKES YOU TO NASHVILLE TO A MUSEUM THAT HONORS THE TOP PICKERS OF MUSIC CITY.

KEN WILSHIRE VISITS A CLEVELAND HOME OF FAMILY-OWNED FINE DINING.

ROB WILDS MEETS A MIDDLE TENNESSEE ARTIST WHOSE WORK IS LITERALLY ON THE ROCKS AND I'LL TAKE TO YOU LEBANON FOR A FLY IN FULL OF VINTAGE AIRCRAFT.

GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE, OUR NEXT TENNESSEE CROSSROADS.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN.