Connie

If you're passing through Tennessee on I-40 you will see billboard after billboard for Casey Jones Restaurant, General Store and Museum.

We were staying in Jackson so I checked out the Jackson website and they said Casey Jones had been voted the best food in Jackson the last two years so we gave it a try.

While the food was decent, the buffet wasn't worth the $12. The place is in serious need of some extensive upkeep, inside and out. While I expected rustic, this was way beyond that. It hadn't seen paint, hammers or dust cloths in years. The Museum wasn't worth the $4 it cost either

As you can tell, I was very disappointed in this road stop.

NeoPatrick

Interesting thought. Has anyone ever been thrilled with a spot that had billboards advertising it for miles along the interstate? Any Wall Drug lovers, for example? When I see the second or third billboard, I'm usually convinced it's not worth a stop if they're trying that hard to lure people in.

GoTravel

Oh come on Patrick, admit how much you love to stop at Pedro's South of the Border on I-95.

I know I do

LONG LIVE PEDRO!!

monpetit

12 $ for decent food...
Not so expensive in my opinion...What do you expect for a so small amount : a three stars restaurant ??
Erik

emd

If it the best food in Jackson the I'm not going to Jackson. I would have left as soon as I walked in and saw the condition of the place. I wouldn't have even thought of trying the food if they care so little about the appearance of the dump.

I don't eat at fast food places at home, but I think its better to stick to fast food places on those southern road trips.

Donna

If you want to know where the best food is in a small town - ask a local, or check out the number of cars in the parking lot. $12 is expensive for casual small town dining in the south. And the Cracker Barrel chain has a billboard every 5 feet - food is decent, price is OK, and oh those lovely tourist grabbing goodies in the gift shop

Connie

I too was skeptical because of all the tourist trap billboards but when I read it had been voted the best restaurant in Jackson for the last two years, I decided to give it a try. Jackson is a town of around 60K people so they have a pretty big selection of restaurants.

Connie

You know I was just trying to save some people's time and money. Now I remember why I quit coming to this board.

ekscrunchy

Well I have to admit I kind of liked Wall Drug..it was so hopelessly tacky that it was kind of fun. I DID eat there and unfortunately, the meal was not fun.

NEO..all the men in the Wall Drug restaurant were wearing jackets and ties, cause they were all GENTLEMEN!!!

gmoney

Touche' Connie! I appreciate your opinion. Too bad some people forget that opinions and information are what this board is all about.

motor_city_girl

LOL GoT! We love to eat with, sleep with, even pee with Pedro!

FainaAgain

So what's that you ate that you didn't like and why? Was it bad quality and made you sick? No, you said it was decent.

Maybe you just didn't like it? Were there others who liked it, or keep coming back? Or you felt $12 is too much?

What kind of food is there?

And what's wrong with the museum? Too dark? Rembrandt's painting was out on the day of your visit? What do they have their to make you post "wasn't worth the cost" I wonder.

What I don't understand - is this a review of a road stop? Truck rest area?

Connie, please give us more details!

Bob_KY

I lived in that area for 15 years and sort of thought it was a tourist trap type place. Although when I lived there I think alot of locals went there too. There used to be a nice restaurant in that Casey Jones complex (I had my first date with my future wife there while we were in college). The Casey Jones museum is obviously one of those places where every town has to have someone half-way famous and make a museum out of him. If you ever come to Paducah, KY you can visit the exciting Alben Barkley museum. You do know him, don't you?

coldwar27

Pedro's!!!!!!!!!! That place makes me laugh so hard - well the billboards do. I couldn't bring myself to actually pulling into the place but it seems "entertaining."

LoveItaly

Tourist spots. I would probably get kicked out of the city I live in if any long time resident reads this post but the NutTree, along I-80 was the biggest tourist trap. I hated their food. The "marshmellow" sauce on their fruit salad, yuck, lol. But it was famous and got lots of so called famous people stopping by, probably because of the airport next to it. And lots of civic and political luncheons held there. One time a group of us had gone there for a political meeting/luncheon. Everyone ended up ill by that evening. But it sure was popular. And now they are trying to "reinvent it". Yippey, they have the same train for the children and lots of the Big Box stores. I hate "touristy" spots and restaurants. End of rant!!

LucieV

OK, LoveItaly, you're in trouble now. I am one of those people who absolutely LOVED the Nut Tree. With one big fat caveat: in the 50s and 60s. It really was a roadside stop in those days, and it was genuinely delightful.

Yes, it eventually turned into a frigging Disneyland -- but I still liked it because I didn't "see" it as anything other than the place I first visited as a kid.

gail

Pedro's South of the Border makes me laugh every trip I make to Savannah - I consider it a landmark.

I actually did pull in on one of my trips - it is all that one would expect. Bought an ice cream cone and lots of fireworks (which of course I did not transport illegally across the border hidden in a suitcase). The fireworks place had enough explosive devices to level a medium-sized country.

LoveItaly

LOL LucieV, I knew I would catch h*ll from someone! And my daughter loved it, but honestly I hated their food.

Come on up, they have sorted of reinveted it. But the residents are complaining due to the cost for a family to take their children there due to the cost of the rides.

And the Redevelopment Agency told us that the the Nut Tree would have upscale stores and restaurants etc. Not yet. Best Buy, Old Navy etc. are there. Oh and Beverages and More, I do need to check that store out I guess.

mrsd2fan

Cafe Risque near the South Carolina/Georgia Border of 85. My hubby said he couldn't resist cause there were so many signs (and he's a man)he siad he paid $12 to get in and had a lousy cup of coffee and the servers were saggy....lol!

FainaAgain

"Interesting thought. Has anyone ever been thrilled with a spot that had billboards advertising it for miles along the interstate?" - yes, Patrick, yes!! On the way to Reno, NV my Mr Again noticed bill boards for "loose sluts", he was thrilled