A long history of tradition
One of America's oldest family-owned restaurants
On this spot in 1825, Henry Hagy and his wife Polly docked their flatboat, laid claim to several acres of bottom land, and began to build a farm and a family.
Three generations on the river
Hagy's Catfish Hotel · Tennessee Crossroads
Why "Catfish Hotel"?
The shack that turned into a tradition
The shack earned its name in the early thirties, when Norvin Hagy entertained friends at cookouts and became well known for the delicious catfish, hushpuppies and hospitality he served up.
Guests who arrived by river were often forced to spend the night after becoming engrossed in the yarns spun around the fire, with darkness making it unsafe to travel the river again. Thus the nickname, Catfish Hotel.
In 1938, governor candidate Gordon Browning tasted Norvin's catfish and hushpuppies and told him to open a restaurant. With wife Dorothy and sons Jack and Bob, it became a success.
Two centuries on the river
A family tradition, year by year
- 1825
The flatboat lands
Henry Hagy and his wife Polly dock their flatboat, claim several acres of river bottom land, and begin to build a farm and family.
- 1860s
Soldiers at the shack
A rough log shack their son John built by the river to store goods for the steamboats is occupied by Union soldiers during the Battle of Shiloh.
- 1930s
"Catfish Hotel" is born
Norvin Hagy's catfish cookouts draw crowds. Guests arriving by river often stay the night, and the nickname sticks.
- 1938
The restaurant opens
A future governor tastes Norvin's catfish and hushpuppies and tells him to open a restaurant. With Dorothy, Jack and Bob, the Catfish Hotel becomes a success.
- 1975
Fire & rebirth
Fire destroys the original structure. The present building opens as the Catfish Hotel a year later.
- Today
Three generations in
A third generation of the Hagy family carries on the same quality food and hospitality that became a family tradition.
A recipe passed down
The same catfish, generation after generation
From Norvin and Dorothy to a third Hagy generation today, the recipes have barely changed. Our Lemon Rub Pie still comes from our grandmother's recipe. Come taste the history for yourself.
Hand-breaded daily
Whole catfish, cut and breaded in house
Family recipe
Grandmother's Lemon Rub Pie recipe
River cookout roots
Hushpuppies served the same way since the 1930s
Same family
Still run by the Hagy family today
Our mission
To preserve a multi-generational legacy
We provide traditional Southern river hospitality and destination dining experiences that bridge history with modern appeal.
Family first
Three generations of Hagys still run the place, and it shows in the way you're greeted.
River hospitality
Big tables, generous plates and nobody rushed out the door — the river sets the pace.
Recipes that don't change
Hand-breaded catfish and grandmother's pie, made exactly the way they always were.
Everybody welcome
Families, reunions, church groups, tour buses and clubs — pull up a chair.
Minutes away
Shiloh National Military Park
On the water
Pickwick Lake & the Tennessee River
A destination, not just a dinner
Spend the morning at the battlefield, an afternoon on the water, and finish the day with catfish and pie while the light goes down over the river. That's a Tuesday here.