Rich in history and Southern culture, our community is just the right size to know your neighbors yet large enough for retired individuals to maintain an active lifestyle. It truly is a charmed existence.
Paris is famous for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry with its week-long hometown celebration and catfish feast. The area is also known for its annual Helping Hand Radio Auction that incorporates the whole county and raises funds for various charitable organizations and civic groups. Known as the “Volunteer County in the Volunteer State,” Henry County has many outlets for the civic-minded individual. Whether it’s being a club member, hospital greeter, or bass tournament helper, volunteering is an excellent opportunity to meet new friends.
Henry County is proud of its deep heritage in the arts. Lee Academy for the Arts has an active schedule for learners of all ages with classes in painting, drawing, photography, voice, and music. The newly restored facilities house studios for artists and musicians and a large classroom used for ballroom dancing, tap, and ballet.
For those interested in higher education or just taking a class of interest, three regional institutions–Murray State University, Bethel College, and the University of Tennessee at Martin–offer a variety of courses and degree options.
The Paris-Henry County Arts Council has strived to bring the fine arts to our community for forty years. The council sponsors several annual events including the community holiday musical, artist and photo showcases, and stage shows featuring regional to international performers. The city’s 600+ seat Krider Performing Arts Center has the ideal atmosphere for stage productions, such as the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, United States Air Force Band, and symphony orchestras from Nashville and Memphis, TN.
For those craving the outdoors, West Tennessee offers a bounty of scenery and activities. Defined seasons with moderate summer temperatures and mild winters make for year-round enjoyment. The beautiful Kentucky Lake Area, well known as a hunting and fishing paradise, has miles of premier walking trails and campgrounds. If wildlife viewing is more your interest, the National Wildlife Refuge provides hundreds of acres of public access. Nothing compares to a day trip to the Land Between the Lakes to experience the colorful autumn foliage.
Kentucky Lake is also the backdrop for the picturesque 18-hole Paris Landing State Park Golf Course. Within a 25-mile radius of Paris, there are six courses to hone your golf skills. Paris Landing State Park is also noted for its lovely inn and dining room with a breathtaking view of the water–a perfect setting for family reunions or weekend getaways.
Professional sports fans are not far from the action either. Within a short two-hour drive, sports lovers can attend Titans football, Predators hockey, and NASCAR racing in Nashville or Grizzlies basketball and Red Birds baseball in Memphis. SEC sports are just as exciting with rousing football and basketball games at the University of Tennessee, University of Memphis, and Vanderbilt University.
Providing excellent and cost-efficient health care to our community is paramount. The county-owned and operated Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated health care organization committed to serving the health care needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Comprised of a 142-bed hospital, the 174-bed Henry County Healthcare Center, an emergency medical service, an off-site wellness and rehabilitation center, a cardiac rehabilitation center, a sleep disorder center, and a home health and hospice service, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services as well as inpatient care.
The Paris Civic Center also has fitness in mind with its indoor Olympic-sized pool, weight & aerobic room, gym with a full-size basketball court and elevated walking track. Two on-site certified trainers provide fitness, nutrition, weight, and cardiovascular consultation. Among the popular classes taught at the center are water aerobics and scuba diving.
Paris has a wide range of shopping opportunities. From the shops along the court square to the major shopping and dining areas, most buyers find exactly what they need right here in the county. But for the adventurous shopper, Paducah, KY, Jackson and Clarksville, TN, are just an hour away.
Affordable housing is also an asset in Henry County. Whether you choose a newly-built patio home, a quaint fixer-upper, or a lakefront home with acreage, you will be sure to find the perfect place to call “home.”
Over 250 churches in the area invite you to make them your church home. Most major religions have established churches in the area and offer a variety of worship styles and worship hours.
From our natural beauty to the hometown, friendly atmosphere, we hope you’ll find Paris and Henry County to be the “charmed life” you’ve dreamed about for your retirement years.
