Dunlap is located in the heart of the Sequatchie Valley, just off of Hwy 111 which connects Chattanooga to Tennessee’s South Cumberland Plateau. In its formative days, the town was known as Coops Creek, but was changed to Dunlap in 1858, one year after Sequatchie County was organized.

Historically, farming and coal mining played a big part in the economic development of the area. The Coke Ovens Museum in Dunlap tells the story of the coal mines and the miners who worked in them and features the largest collection of historic mining photographs in the state of Tennessee. Hang-gliding and paragliding activities take place from the bluffs above Dunlap throughout the year, operated by the Tennessee Tree Toppers Club and Flying Camp Paragliding.

Paddlers can enjoy “gentle thrills” on the Sequatchie River Blueway, which winds 116 miles through the Sequatchie Valley. A public river access site is located on Old York Hwy. From Harris Park in downtown Dunlap, visitors can stroll the Coops Creek Greenway from Pine Street to Sequatchie County Schools.

Dunlap features a number of local restaurants that draw visitors from across the region, including The Cookie Jar Café and the Dunlap Restaurant. Shopping and food options are plentiful in the commercial district just north of town.