News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A new natural area off of Virgin Falls will help alleviate overcrowding in trails and other popular state parks.
That according to the Board Chairman of the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Chuck Womack.
“It will take some pressure off the trail that goes off from where you have to turn on East Love to get to Virgin Falls at present,” Womack said. “And a lot of people from all over the state and all over the nation come to Virgin Falls. This will be a new way in and it will be a new state natural area. ”
Various groups will dedicate Dry Creek Headwaters and Interior Dog Cove this Saturday. (Photo: Tennessee Parks and Greenways Facebook)
Womack said Dry Creek Headwaters and Interior Dog Cove will serve as new entry trails for Virgin Falls.
The Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation acquired the land earlier in the year through grants and private donors, Womack said.
Womack said the new 582-acre natural area can draw visitors from overcrowded parks.
“We have had a lot of people come to Cummins Falls which is a state park that Tennessee Parks and Greenways was involved with acquiring that several years ago. And they have over 400 thousand visitors this calendar year,” Womack said. “We need more state natural areas with beautiful scenery to get people to go to them rather than congregate at one or two state parks and completely overuse them.”
The Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation plans to transfer jurisdiction to TDEC tomorrow. Womack said the transfer allows the land to connect Virgin Falls and Lost Creek State Natural Areas.
Once the foundation transfers the land, Tennessee Parks and Greenways will continue enlarging the area, Womack said.
“Well, we are always trying to acquire some scenic properties that are adjacent to TWRA, TDEC areas, and state park areas,” Womack said. “An enlargement so there is more room for people to spread out in. So we will be looking for more areas and applying for more grants.”
Kayaking and hiking are available at Dry Creek Headwaters and Interior Dog Cove. Womack said he hopes to add more activities in the area.
“I think at some point we are going to have horseback riding available in the cove. Right now there is an old Colonel Wallace house that is way over a hundred years old at the beginning,” Womack said. “There is a barn there we have also purchased. And that is the beginning of the cove that you can walk back into.”
The Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation, TWRA, and TDEC plan to dedicate the land Saturday at 10:30 AM.
