heritage
Exchange Place
1850s living history on the Great Stage Road
Kingsport, Tennessee
Photo: Preston Farm at Exchange Place via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- City
- Kingsport
- Cell signal
- moderate signal
- Admission
- Free admission
Exchange Place is a beautifully preserved 1850s farmstead on the old Great Stage Road in Kingsport, where stagecoach travelers once stopped to swap tired Virginia horses for fresh Tennessee mounts. Today it operates as a living history farm with heritage breed animals, heirloom gardens, and historic buildings that transport visitors to the agricultural rhythms of antebellum Appalachia. Seasonal craft fairs and educational programs make it one of northeast Tennessee's most beloved heritage destinations.
The Preston family operated this farm along the Great Stage Road, the major overland route through Appalachia. The name 'Exchange Place' comes from the practice of exchanging stagecoach horses, fresh Tennessee horses replaced weary Virginia horses, and vice versa. The collection of original and period buildings represents agrarian life in the decades before the Civil War.
Visit Info
thu: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
fri: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
sat: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Open spring through fall. Check website for seasonal schedule and special event dates. Spring and Fall craft fairs are major events.
4812 Orebank Road, Kingsport, TN 37664
Parking: Free gravel parking lot. Ample space except during craft fair events.
Visitor Tips
- ›The Spring and Fall craft fairs are legendary, mark your calendar
- ›Kids love the heritage breed animals, goats, chickens, and draft horses
- ›Ask about the horse exchange story, it's the reason for the name
- ›Pair with Long Island of the Holston for a complete Kingsport heritage experience
Stay near this stop
Turn this into an overnight trip.
These places to stay are closest to Exchange Place. Use them as your base, then add nearby food, trails, and events.
Featured in Routes
Three Centuries of Sullivan County
The complete Sullivan County experience, heritage, music, motorsports, and nature
Great Stage Road Historic Drive
Follow the frontier highway through Sullivan County, free self-guided audio tour
Family Explorer Pass
Two days of adventure for the whole crew, nature, music, and discovery
What to know before you go
- Access
- Outdoor site with gravel paths and grass. Most buildings are ground-level. Some areas may challenge wheelchairs.
- Parking
- Free gravel parking lot. Ample space except during craft fair events.
- Cell signal
- Moderate cell signal — main areas covered, expect dead spots
- Tips
- The Spring and Fall craft fairs are legendary, mark your calendar
- Kids love the heritage breed animals, goats, chickens, and draft horses
- Ask about the horse exchange story, it's the reason for the name
- Pair with Long Island of the Holston for a complete Kingsport heritage experience
Pair this with
Pair Exchange Place with Boonies at Davis Marina, Patrick Henry Lake, and Warriors' Path State Park Campground.
Within 6 miles, you can chain these into a half-day without driving back.
Verified by us
Verified 2026-05-21 · next review 2026-08-19