Edgewater Beach Resort

Here it is, Edgewater Beach, where we always stayed on our vacations to Tiptonville, Tennessee, at least until the Airpark Inn opened. This postcard probably dates from the late ’50s, and shows the beach much as it was during our stays. What isn’t shown here are the cabins, which faced the beach and are off to the right in this photograph. It’s probably been 40 years since our family stayed there, which could account for the nostalgia it invokes.
The description on the back of this postcard promotes tourism while also providing a brief history lesson:

REELFOOT LAKE, TENNESSEE,
a state park of 20,000 acres and uncounted miles of shoreline, was once the hunting grounds of the Chickasaw Indians. The lake was formed by a series of earthquakes, in 1811-1812. Known as the “Fisherman’s Paradise”, it is equally attractive for hunting, boating, swimming, and water-ski sports. It is patronized by sportsmen and vacationists from every state in the Union. This view, taken at Edgewater Beach Resort, shows some of the attractive facilities of the “Washout” area of the lake.

Edgewater was one of three beaches on the area of Reelfoot Lake known as “the washout”, the others being Sunkist Beach and Magnolia Beach. The early history of the beaches was nicely told by Al Hutchison, Sr., and I encourage you to read his Beaches of Reelfoot Lake. For me our vacations to Tiptonville were great fun, but it was years before I began to wonder why so little time was spent with my grandmother George Ella and uncle Bubba. When I was older I learned that, although born in Tiptonville, my mother was raised in rural Virginia by her grandmother, Mary Belle Tipton Caldwell. Because of this, mom’s relationship with her mother was an awkward one, and something she wasn’t inclined to talk about. I suppose it’s my knowledge of this uneasy family history that has kept me from returning, opting instead to remember Tiptonville through the eyes of a child.