The Storytellers

Located a short drive from the Hideaway Farm. This is a loving restoration of a building that Johnny Cash once owned. He was the benefactor of the creation of a little stage here, and supported small intimate concerts for the community – including the “Saturday Night In Hickman County” guitar pulls.

From the 1800s, this building was a general store, next to the railroad tracks, supporting the area, and supplying goods for visitors from throughout the Southern states who were on their way to the cabins in the Bon Aqua Springs Resort.

In the 1960s, independent record producer Red Wortham used the building as a recording studio, and sold the building to Johnny Cash in the early 1970s.

In 1973, Johnny’s Song Catalog Manager, songwriter Loney Hutchins, Mel McDaniels, and several other young musicians were looking for spaces to play and to gain experience in performing. Hutchins asked for Johnny’s backing in renovating the abandoned, tumble-down building. Johnny gave his full support, including some financing. The young men used their own volunteer sweat-equity, and the rough building soon housed The Little Stage and began picking for the community.

“When the sun goes down in nashville, go out that Memphis highway… Saturday night in hickman county”

Loney started Saturday Night in Hickman County concerts, bringing out young singer/songwriters, as well as welcoming well-known artists, including Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and various Cash and Carter family members. By advertising on Dickson’s radio, locals found out who was playing when, and the studio in Bon Aqua became a Saturday night date-night destination, as well as fun family evening outing.

Later that year, Johnny wrote and recorded Saturday Night in Hickman County. The only time he released it was on Johnny Cash and His Woman, in 1973.

One of the most significant events that took place at this location was the 20-year anniversary of Johnny Cash being in the music industry. Friends and family members gathered to celebrate Johnny’s impact on music. June Carter even washed his feet with her hair.

“You have a heart as big as you are…”

- Carl Perkins at the anniversary party

In the middle 1980s, Johnny sold the Little Stage back to Red Wortham, who converted the building into his studio Sur-Speed. He owned the building until his death, at which point, the building was once again abandoned.

When Storytellers Hideaway Farm owners purchased the building in 2016, it was months from collapse. 

Within a year, the building was restored to its architectural beauty, and now the heart of Saturday Night in Hickman County is coming back to life, with a twist. The Storytellers opened for country music fans from around the world and regularly has concerts and songwriter nights open to the public.

Check out our events page for upcoming shows here at this location where history comes to life.