New residents share what makes Morristown feel like home

Have you noticed the steady stream of traffic along 11-E lately? For many longtime residents, Morristown feels a little busier these days. New neighborhoods are appearing, “For Sale” signs don’t stay on the market for long, and more families are choosing to call the Lakeway Area home. Yet behind every moving truck and unfamiliar face is a story.

Over the past several years, families from across the country have traded the landscapes of Texas, North Carolina, California, and Nevada for the rolling hills of East Tennessee. While growth is often measured in numbers, its true impact is found in people—the talents, experiences, and perspectives they bring to our schools, churches, and neighborhoods.

As I spoke with these families, one theme surfaced again and again: the people. Beyond the mountains, they found neighbors who were quick to offer friendship, encouragement, and help when it was needed most.

I hope that these stories will inspire newcomers to embrace the opportunities around them in our town and discover the friendships that make a new place feel like home. At the same time, they highlight the kindness, generosity, and hospitality that continue to make the Lakeway Area such a special place to live.

THE RUSHLOW FAMILY-McKinney, Texas

When Adam and Jo Rushlow packed up their family and left McKinney, Texas—a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas— they weren’t looking for a change of scenery as much as a change of pace. After a decade in Texas, the couple began reevaluating their priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rushlow Family Quick Takes

Favorite Local Eats: Sweet Smuckers, Charis Coffee, Redbud Deli Favorite Shopping Stops: TJ Maxx and Rural King Where They Made Connections: Through their children’s schools, East High and East Ridge, and their church family “So much happened in the world with COVID, and we realized we wanted to be closer to our loved ones,” Jo said. “East Tennessee made sense for us. It was close to Adam’s parents, who lived here, and we knew if we needed to visit my family in Canada, we could.”

The move was also about giving their children—Maija, Zoe, and Dane—the kind of childhood both Adam and Jo experienced growing up in smaller communities. While Morristown has been a blessing to the Rushlows, they have also invested their gifts and talents here. Adam is the founder of RedRush Digital, a marketing agency that helps small and medium-sized businesses strengthen their brands, websites, and customer outreach. Jo serves as Kids Director at Arrowhead Church, where she helps lead and disciple children from infancy to fifth grade.

Looking back, Jo doesn’t hesitate when asked if the move was worth it: “Absolutely. We’ve loved watching our kids grow up in this beautiful town!”

The Gordon Family- Las Vegas, Nevada

For Zac and Tara Gordon, moving to East Tennessee meant leaving the city they had long called home. Although their roots extend beyond Nevada, both spent much of their lives in Las Vegas. But when Tara’s parents moved to Morristown, the Gordons began considering a change of their own. In 2023, the family made the decision to trade the desert landscape of the Southwest for the Smoky Mountains.

Gordon Family Quick Takes

Favorite Local Food: Akita Where They Made Connections: Through Grace’s involvement at Dance Elite, their children’s school community, and their church family at The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Family was the primary motivation, but it wasn’t the only one. The outdoors, changing seasons, and a different pace of life all appealed to them. Zac explained, “‘Tennessee reminded me of visiting a great aunt out of state as a kid, and those are fond memories.” For Tara, one of the best parts of living in Morristown has been the people. “We just love all the people here,” she said. “They are so friendly.”

While Zac continues his legal career remotely, the family’s greatest contribution to the community may be their investment in raising and supporting their four children: Grace, Dane, Ford, and Liv.

The Prohaska Family — Wilmington, North Carolina/ Midwest

For Joe and Meghan Prohaska, putting down roots meant finding a community they could serve. After Joe completed his dermatology residency in Wilmington, North Carolina, the couple began searching for a place that offered seasons, mountains, and easier access to family in the Midwest. Meghan, an avid runner, was equally drawn to the area’s beautiful trails and outdoors.

“I always knew that I wanted to live where I worked. I wanted to truly serve a community,” Joe explained. That community became Morristown in 2019 when Joe joined Health-Star Physicians as a dermatologist.

Prohaska Family Quick Takes

Favorite Family-Friendly Spots: Parrott Mountain, The Pink Pig, and Taco Tuesdays at Bravo’s Where they Made Connections: Through serving and attending Arrowhead Church Morristown in one sentence: Joe explains, “Morristown is a classic small town with Dolly Partonfriendly vibes, and it feels like home.”

Like many of the families interviewed for this article, the Prohaskas point to the people as the area’s greatest asset. The couple says that the spirit of generosity became even more evident when they welcomed their children, Tessa and Cooper.

“People set up meal trains for us when we had our first baby. It was just so kind and generous. We had not experienced that anywhere else,” Meghan said.

More than six years after arriving, the Prohaskas discovered exactly what they wanted—a place where they could both belong and give back.

THE WILSON FAMILY – Coronado, California

Few families understand the meaning of “home” quite like Mick and Lauren Wilson. Over the course of Mick’s 27-year military career in the United States Navy, the family called more than a dozen cities across the country home while raising their children, Sadie and Josh. In one of their cross-country moves, East Tennessee captured Lauren’s heart. She drove through the region with their children and found herself captivated by the breathtaking scenery and peaceful quiet. She tucked East Tennessee away as a place worth remembering.

Mick’s final assignment brought the family to California, where he served as the first non-SEAL Chief of Staff for Naval Special Warfare Command. As retirement neared, they noticed several military friends choosing East Tennessee. A visit to the area only confirmed what they had suspected—it was a place they wanted to live.

Wilson Family Quick Takes

Favorite Outdoor Spot: Running trails with their black lab, Eddie, at Panther Creek Favorite Local Eats: MadOx and Patriot Pizza The Wilsons began praying for schools, jobs, and a place where their family could finally put down roots. Those prayers led them to Lakeway Christian Academy, where Lauren now serves as Dean of Students and Mick serves as Director of Operations.

The Wilsons say one of the clearest examples of the community’s kindness came during Mick’s serious illness. Friends, pastors, and school leaders rallied around the family with prayers, visits, and support. “They truly stood in the gaps,” Lauren said. For a military family accustomed to moving every few years, those moments meant everything.

After decades of making temporary homes across the country, the Wilsons love calling the Lakeway Area their home.

As Morristown continues to grow, these families remind us that behind every new address is a story, a dream, and a desire to belong. Though their journeys began in different corners of the country, they all found something special here: a community that welcomed them, invested in them, and ultimately became home. Perhaps that’s what makes the Lakeway area such a remarkable place—not just where we live, but the way we choose to live alongside one another.