1. The Millington Star
City: Millington, TN
Category: Media
Telephone: (901) 872-2286
Address: 5107 Easley Street
Description: The Millington Star, with a weekly circulation of about 6,000, focuses its coverage on the northern suburb of Millington and, to a lesser degree, on the smaller towns of Munford and Atoka. The paper has adapted to the changing life of Millington; a decade or so ago it was a U.S. Navy–base town, but it is now a middle-class suburb, since the base has been replaced with the Bureau of Naval Personnel office and commuting Memphians have discovered the area. Millington Star reflects this transition and has become more of a community and lifestyle paper. The cost is 50 cents a copy on the newsstand, $22 for a year’s subscription to a local address, and $28 for a year’s subscription to an out-of-town address.
2. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
City: Millington, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (901) 876-5215
Address: 910 Riddick Road
Description: This 13,500-acre park north of the city on the Mississippi River is just half an hour’s drive from Memphis, making it very accessible for a country getaway. Two-thirds of the park consists of bottomland hardwood forests of large oak, cypress, and tupelo. The park and its museum/nature center are named for Edward J. Meeman, the conservation editor of Scripps-Howard newspapers who helped establish this park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The park contains two lakes for boating and fishing and many miles of hiking trails, as well as a boat ramp on the Mississippi River. There’s plenty of wildlife here, including deer, turkey, beaver, and about 200 species of birds. You’ll find paved bike trails, a swimming pool, pavilions and tables for picnics, a 27-hole disk golf course, and playgrounds. The park also has six two-bedroom cabins and a swimming pool that’s open during the summer months. You can rent a boat, too. Other attractions include a nature center, with exhibits of live snakes, a fish aquarium, a stuffed animal exhibit, a “touch table,” and a Native American exhibit. Special programs at the center include making bird feeders and homemade ice cream, watching nature videos, and taking pontoon boat rides. Directions: From I-40 take exit 2-A, go right, and proceed through six stoplights to Watkins Road and turn left. Drive until the road ends, turn left, and then go right at the Shelby Forest General Store. The park entrance is 1 mile on the left.
3. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
City: Millington, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (901) 876-5215
Address: 910 Riddick Road
Description: This is probably the city’s most convenient disc golf course, recently expanded to 27 holes. Shelby Forest, in addition to being open to players seven days a week, also hosts an annual tournament. Be sure to check out the general store right at the park’s entrance, where you’ll find a good selection of discs for sale.
4. Edmund Orgill Golf Course
City: Millington, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (901) 872-3610, (901) 872-7493
Address: 9080 Bethuel Road
Description: This Millington bargain is another very playable muni-type layout, located in a 442-acre park of the same name. The only course operated by Shelby County, it’s the site of regular high-school district and regional competitions. Most fairways are wide and accommodating, and the course is generally in good shape. A few holes are next to a magic lake that eats golf balls and spits out catfish! Bermuda greens and fairways mean that this is one of the few courses that allows metal spikes. Par is 70, and length is 6,400 yards from the back tees. The rates is $30 with cart included, but ask about junior, senior, and twilight discounts. Lessons are available. There is a driving range and modest clubhouse, and walking 18 holes is common at this course, situated near a naval base. Directions: From downtown take I-40/I-240 east to the Millington exit and continue north on US 51 for 11 miles. At the second light turn right onto Navy Road and proceed 3.3 miles to Bethuel Road and turn left. From there the course is 2.5 miles on the right.
5. Top Brass Sports
City: Millington, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (901) 873-2264
Address: 4788 Navy Road
Description: In addition to its indoor handgun range, this place also sells and even rents firearms for use at their facility. No membership is needed, training is available, and range rates are only $10. Open seven days a week.
6. Millington Family Ymca
City: Millington, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (901) 873-1434
Address: 7725 East Navy Circle
7. Bayless Greenhouses
City: Millington, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (901) 353-4721
Address: 6155 Walsh Road
Description: It’s a good drive from most parts of Memphis to Bayless, located near Shelby Forest, but well worth it for the huge selection. Bayless, which has been around for more than 30 years, grows all its own plants (except for large trees and shrubs) and is the largest grower of bedding and potted plants in the area. In spring you’ll find thousands of items, including hostas, daylilies, roses, grasses, and lots of other perennials. Be sure to wear your walking shoes, because it’s a big place.
8. Memphis Motorsports Park
City: Millington, TN
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (901) 358-7223, (866) 407-7333
Address: 5500 Taylor Forge Drive
Description: The area’s racing fans can listen to the roar of the engines, smell the gas fumes, and see the races at the Memphis Motorsports Park, located 7 miles north of Memphis in Millington. The Motorsports Park is often ranked among the top 10 attractions in the state by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Some of the featured races are the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Memphis 200 in June, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in September, and the NASCAR Nationwide Series in October. In addition, Memphis Motorsports Park hosts the Major League of Monster Trucks event. On the last Friday of the month, the park holds an “Open Test” on its road course to let experienced course drivers have a chance to maneuver the road in their own cars in a pseudo track day. Each Thursday the park’s quarter-mile drag strip becomes a drag-racing haven for its popular Test-N-Tune event. This gives the serious drag racer a final chance to tune his car before the weekend’s competition and gives the novice a chance to come out and put his personal car to the test.Saturday night at the park features the finest drag racing in the area as the E.T. Bracket Racing Series takes center stage. Drivers from all over the Mid-South converge on Memphis to compete in four different classes—Super Pro, Pro, Junior Dragster, and a Trophy Class—as the racers vie for weekly titles. The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday events continue into fall. Gates open about two hours before race time. Ticket prices vary, depending on the event.