BrentVale Pavilion at Crockett Park: From Log Cabin to Landmark in Brentwood, TN
The Brentwood Historic Commission marked a milestone on June 28, 2025, with the official debut of the BrentVale Pavilion at Crockett Park. The ribbon-cutting took place at 4 pm, just before the BrentFest Summer Concert Series performance, introducing a new public space built from the preserved timbers of Brentwood’s nearly 200-year-old BrentVale cabin.
The Early Days of BrentVale Cabin
The story of BrentVale dates back to about 1830, when William Temple Sneed, the youngest son of early settler James Sneed, used timber cut from his land along Old Smyrna Road to construct a log cabin. Over time, the building was expanded, with its heavy beams reconfigured to increase living space.
After the Sneed family sold the property, the cabin passed to several owners. By the late 1900s, it was home to Country Music Hall of Fame member Larry Gatlin and his wife, Janice. In 1993, Roger and Barbara Mick purchased the land and donated the original structure to the City of Brentwood. Their gift included funding to move the cabin to Crockett Park, where it was rebuilt in 1994 between two stone chimneys.
Decline and a New Approach to Preservation
By 2021, moisture damage and improper sealing had left the cabin beyond repair. It was dismantled in 2022, but the Historic Commission looked for a way to keep its history alive. In August 2023, Vice Chair Joe Grosson recommended constructing a pavilion on the same site, incorporating the original timbers as exterior siding.
The City Commission approved the $260,000 plan, awarding construction to Homestead Timber Frames and project oversight to Majors Construction. Crews poured a concrete foundation between the chimneys in September 2024, followed by pavilion installation in October.
In November 2024, the salvaged timbers were taken to Spring Hill, where Tad Derrickson of TNTree milled them into siding. Installed in early 2025, the siding encloses three sides of the pavilion, creating the look of a traditional log cabin while providing modern amenities, including water and electricity. The structure will host Historic Commission programs, with other potential uses under consideration.
BrentVale Pavilion Opening
The pavilion’s official unveiling came on June 28, 2025, during BrentFest. The ribbon-cutting was followed by a performance from ’80s cover band Rubiks Groove, and attendees received limited-edition commemorative posters.
Brentwood Mayor Nelson Andrews called the project a demonstration of Brentwood’s dedication to safeguarding its heritage, while descendants of the Sneed family, who were present, noted that the pavilion helps keep their family’s history alive for future generations.
View photographs tracing the BrentVale Pavilion’s transformation from its 1830s origins to the present-day structure on the City of Brentwood’s website.
