Arda Lee had a vision from God in the late ‘70s to build a park in Cookeville on his 86 acres of land, and he got real serious about it. Problem was he had no money or materials. So he was known to bum around the city and outlying farms and various other shifty places to acquire odd junk materials for free or for trade. He built this really shifty “resort” with a wedding chapel, petting zoo, filthy man made pond, a mill wheel in the creek, etc., etc. After he built all of this himself with only his beat up Chevy pickup, he made a display of the Chevy on a rock outcropping on the side of the hill with a sign that reads, “This truck built Hidden Hollow after its owner had a vision from God. Washed only by rainwater”, or something like that. Admission is really cheap or free if he likes you, and its usually populated with some crazy characters who take their kids to swim and play.

Most unfortunately, Mr. Arda Lee died in 2004 at the age of 88.

When I visited Hidden Hollow in 2002, I spent about 2 hours chatting with Mr. Lee and observing all that he had created. When I went to him to say ‘thank you’ and bye-bye, he asked me (repeatedly) to stay and have coffee with him. I was on a rather strict schedule (I had already spent more time there than allotted) and Mr. Lee had a nasty cold so I respectfully declined his offer – regrettably. I’ve often thought of this little man since 2002 and vowed to visit Hidden Hollow again and drink as much coffee with him as he would allow. In the midst of planning a vacation for May 2006, I learned of Mr. Lee’s passing.

I still have his photograph and plan to one day write a book with a chapter dedicated to my little friend.