An East Tennessee landmark that spent decades in disrepair is getting a fresh start.
After undergoing thousands of dollars in renovations, the historic airplane filling station off Clinton Highway opened its doors this past month as John’s Barber Shop.
Inside, you’ll find John York hard at work on a trim or a shave. He’s been a barber 16 years and has been eyeing the plane for quite some time.
"Always seen it as a kid,” said York. “Driving from Knoxville to Andersonville. We'd drive by it and it would be the ‘almost there’ point.”
Now, he’s set up shop in the renovated aircraft. A vintage chair for customers sits in the middle, with his tools at the nose, and movie-theater seating in the tail end.
"I just think it's neat to be in a place like this,” said York. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had to take a chance on it.”
It’s a chance that two brothers took as well, back in 1930.
Elmer and Henry Nickel opened up the aircraft as a filling station off Clinton Highway, hoping to attract tourists on the route.
As the decades passed, the building fell into disrepair and faced a formidable future. In fear of losing the memorable building, the Airplane Filling Station Preservation Association was created.
They sold T-shirts, applied for grants, and collected donations to purchase the plane in 2005.
Thousands of dollars and years of renovations followed, leaving the landmark transformed.
Outside, the shiny exterior - complete with a moving propeller made by the Anderson County Career Technical School - makes it a head-turner.
"It's like walking in to something you don't expect,” said York.
Inside, York keeps up the antique flare.
"Pretty much anytime we go to an antique store or flea market we come home with something,” said York.
He’s brought a few favorites from his old place as well, including a miniature remote-control Harley-Davidson motorcycle, ridden by Batman.
Visitors come by the plenty, and not always in search of a haircut.
"Lots of tourists, people who have traveled this highway years ago, and used to stop here when they were young and found out that it's been restored and they stop by to actually take a look at it,” said York.
For York, the new location makes him enjoy the job even more.
"I love it, all the stories and people,” said York. “Something different every day.”
He hasn’t even been there a month, and is already learning history he didn’t know.
“I’ve had a few of the older men who worked here show up,” said York. “Had one man who was 91, who actually worked at the gas station, told me there was a cot in the tail section of the plane and they would get up in the middle of the night when somebody pulled in and service their vehicle, give them gas, change oil.”
Years have brought change to the aircraft. There’s no pumps or gas but still a chance to fill up on the memories, and York is always willing to open his door for a cut and a shave, or just to chat.
John’s Barber Shop is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The preservation association is still looking for ways to bring character back to the airplane. They would like to put antique gas pumps in the front as a tribute to its history.
You can find out ways to support the historic landmark here.