What’s as American as apple pie? Bush’s® Baked Beans! Whether you’re having an outdoor picnic or dinner at home, chances are good that Bush’s® Baked Beans are on the menu. But do you know how they are made? Or even where they are made? They’re made right here in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

In 1908 a schoolteacher and his wife, A.J. and Sallie Bush, wanted to provide jobs for their family and their neighbors. There weren’t many jobs to be had in rural Appalachia. So they started a factory canning tomatoes in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, a small community 15 miles east of Sevierville on Rt 411.

Now, 115 years and four generations later, the Bush family is still supporting their community with their canning factory; only now they are canning beans baked with Bush’s Secret Family Recipe. And their factory has grown. Using state-of-the-art technology, they process 1,000 cans/minute!

Stop at the Bush’s® Visitors Center across the street from the actual factory, and learn first-hand the history of an inspiring family, an amazing business, and a nourishing bean. Newly renovated in 2022, the Bush’s® Visitors Center includes a museum, a cafe, and a general store. Admission to the museum is free and well worth making the 30-minute drive out of Sevierville on Rt 411. It just might be the highlight of your trip to the Smokies!

The Bush’s® Museum has three parts. First is a movie theater with a video tour of the plant. You’ll see that the beans are pressure-cooked just like how your grandmother used to can vegetables. You’ll learn that only high quality natural ingredients are used, so your family can enjoy a tasty, healthy food.

Second, the museum’s historical section showcases how the Bush Brothers & Company business was born and the challenges it faced as the company grew. The third section is dedicated to the bean itself. What types of beans? Where are they grown? It includes interactive displays that are fun for adults and children alike. Wouldn’t you like to know your weight in beans?

That’s not all you’ll experience at Bush’s® Visitors Center. Plan to stay for lunch and enjoy some good ol’ home cookin’ and Southern comfort food at Bush’s® Family Cafe. Order a side of - you guessed it - your favorite beans. For a delicious dessert, try a slice of their famous Pinto Bean Pecan Pie.

Before you leave, stop in at Bush’s® General Store. Take home a Bush’s® souvenir like a stuffed toy of Duke, the Golden Retriever made famous by the Bush’s® commercials. You can also purchase any of the 120 Bush’s® Beans products, including Bush’s® new Zero Sugar Added Baked Beans.

For more information about Bush’s® Visitor’s Center, visit their website at www.bushbeans.com. You’ll even find a host of great bean recipes there! To schedule groups of 30 or more, call 865-509-3077.