Rockwood is having a party.

When I moved here 20 years ago, it took me a while to learn that the small stone building at the corner of Pumphouse Road was the original Tennessee Highway Patrol station at this end of Thunder Road.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the film, which starred Robert Mitchum. I loved the movie when I was a kid and even taught my own children the Thunder Road blessing:

"Good food, good meat, getting late, let's eat."

Here's the last verse from the title track that let's us know that "He" never made it to Rockwood on that fateful night:

WITH G-MEN ON HIS TAILLIGHTS, ROADBLOCKS UP AHEAD
THE MOUNTAIN BOY TOOK ROADS THAT EVEN ANGELS FEAREd TO TREAD.

BLAZING' RIGHT THROUGH KNOXVILLE, OUT ON KINGSTON PIKE
THEN RIGHT OUTSIDE OF BEARDON, THEY MADE THE FATAL STRIKE

HE LEFT THE ROAD AT NINETY, THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO SAY
THE DEVIL GOT THE MOONSHINE AND THE MOUNTAIN BOY THAT DAY