Walking Horse Hotel The historic Walking Horse Hotel was constructed in 1917 and is recognized as the birthplace of the famous Tennessee Walking Horse. The weathered three story brick icon is located in the picturesque town of Wartrace, Tennessee, less than one hour outside Nashville. While the hotel has had many proprietors, the most recent shares a love story that is tugging at the heartstrings of romantics everywhere. Joe Peters moved from South Florida to Christiana, Tennessee in August 2004 with his wife, Chais, and youngest son. Peters and lifelong friend LeRoy Wells quickly formed the Midnight Special Band who made their Tennessee debut in what was then Wartace’s Whistle Stop Café. In time Chais became enamored with the old hotel and often expressed her desire to see beyond its locked doors. In September 2006 she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away six months later before having the opportunity. Four months later Peters purchased the hotel with a vision of bringing it back to life using Chais’s spirit as his guide. Renovations on the ground floor began in August 2007. In January 2008 Peters honored his wife by dedicating an intimate music venue appropriately named Chais Music Hall, which Peters describes as his proudest moment. “For 26 years Chais shared her life with me. Now I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to share a small part of hers with others for years to come.” Chais Music Hall is a stunning 2,900 square foot entertainment venue with a rosewood floor and stage, world-class lighting, rich acoustics and an incomparable feeling of intimacy. Music is not heard within its walls, music is experienced! Chais Music Hall has featured artists such as Duffy Jackson, Barbara Morrison, Kate Paradise, Don Jones, Alice Vestal, John Jorgenson Quintet, Joe Davidian Trio, Annie Sellick, Thom Bresh, Claire Lynch, Jim Hurst, Richard Smith, Julie Adams, The Midnight Special Band and more. Receive a musical massage inside Chais Music Hall. If you are interested in finding out more about this wonderful place you can contact Joe Peters at joe@walkinghorsehotel.com or phone: 931-389-7050 If you get the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership corporation Edition of the "Tennessee Magazine" be sure to check the October, 2009 issue just out as it has a really interesting article on this. It will move you to tears, excite you and you will certainly want to visit the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace, Tennessee!  **Note - I raised my children in Shelbyville, a few minutes from Wartrace and remember the hotel. I also attended the school at Wartrace when I was a young child.**      The next Celtic Country Faire will be May 22nd, 2010. I hope you all will be able to attend as the last one was full of great events.  I am leaving all the info on here in case someone would like to donate or contact the organization. Southern STARRS is a therapeutic horseback riding and animal assisted therapy program that serves approximately 30 Middle Tennessee special needs students weekly. The program provides physical and educational activities and socialization to students and adults with diagnosed mental or physical disabilities or children who have suffered a life altering trauma such as the diagnosis of a terminal illness, loss of a parent or removal to foster care due to abuse and-or neglect. STARRS is one of only a few programs nationwide who do not charge a fee to its students. Consequently, no child will be excluded from this service due to lack of insurance or financial ability. For that reason, they must depend on public fundraisers and private, corporate and foundation grants to support their volunteer driven program. If you would like to learn more about their program, please visit their website at:     www.southernstarrs.org  New students and volunteers are always welcome. Southern STARRS Mission Statement Our mission is to offer safe and enjoyable therapeutic horse-back riding classes to special needs individuals in an effort to help them achieve their maximum level of independence. Any donations will be appreciated This will allow them to expand their program to serve more therapeutic horseback riding and begin the new off-site animal assisted activities program at local hospitals, shelters, nursing homes and school special ed classes. For more information about the program please contact: Southern STARRS at 615-453-2592 or email:  starrgaitoo@charter.net Saranne Winfield at 615-668-6546 Kaysie Young at 615-443-1717 or email: kandmyoung@dtccom.net Southern STARRS, Inc. Special Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Students 4050 Cairo Bend Rd. Lebanon, Tn 37087 Southern STARRS is a United Way of Wilson County allocated member. ******Special note from Gram's Attic****** Please consider sending a donation to the address listed above for this program. Thank you.