Gorge at Cummins Falls State Park to Re-Open

The Gorge at Cummins Falls State Park will reopen Wednesday.

State Representative Ryan Williams said new safety policies will be in place as visitors return to the popular swimming destination.

“If they bring children 12 years or under that, they be required to have a life vest on them. They can bring their own or there are some down in the gorge that they can utilize,” Williams said. “We also have safety videos at the trailhead on 52-inch TVs so people can watch those videos before they traverse down into the falls.”

Williams said the state park website also warns potential visitors of the dangers and new policies.

“We are encouraging those who want to take family members that they be at least five years old. It is very difficult to police, but we are encouraging people not to go down there unless they are five years or older,” Williams said. “We are really excited about opening back up. This is definitively one of our state’s treasures, enjoyed by many people across the south, but it is inherently dangerous.”

Williams said the Gorge also has designated refuge areas in case of flash flooding.

Williams said the state will continue to work on water gauge warning systems.

“Of course those are still under study between the park, and the hydraulics company, as well as Tennessee Technological University,” Williams said. “Even though we have those monitoring systems they are not necessarily connected to daily use at the park.”

The Gorge at Cummins Falls closed in June after the drowning of a 2-year-old Kentucky boy. Williams said the Gorge will reopen pending fair weather on Wednesday.