Birthplace of Modern Mountain Dew

William H. “Bill” Jones of Marion played a pivotal role in the development of Mountain Dew, one of the top-selling sodas in the U.S. The drink originated as a clear lemon-lime beverage in Knoxville, TN, in the 1940s. Bottlers in Johnson City, TN, and Lumberton, NC, were among those who distributed early versions. In 1957 Jones became president of Marion’s Tip Corporation, at 517 N. Main Street. Tip, a formulator of flavors for soft drinks, acquired the trademark for Mountain Dew. After Jones refined the drink’s formula ca. 1961, in part by conducting taste-tests with Marion residents, sales quickly increased and distribution expanded. The Pepsi-Cola Company purchased Tip Corporation in 1964.