Scott’s Gulf Not Officially Open But Closer

TWRA and the Nature Conservancy continue to work on final details to officially open the new Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park.

Tennessee State Parks Area Four Manager Kenny Gragg said the park is open and people can still visit the park. Gragg said new signage still being prepared for property around the park, so visitors can understand the boundary.

“We don’t necessarily have firm lines drawn so guests know where they are going to be,” Gragg said. “People are going to need a little bit of direction when they come into that because all these different agencies and the nature conservancy have different rules and regulations.”

Gragg said the park has not received a notice to proceed from the central office to launch the park but he hopes the park will be launched soon. Gragg said the park is still in the process of placing direction signs and various services within the park to meet the expectations of a state park.

“We are currently working on it,” Gragg said. “We don’t necessarily have a timeline but just working as fast as we can to get it completed.”

Gragg said directional signage is a must-have for the park as the park covers a large area.

“We would have a lot of lost hikers and our park managers and park rangers would be spending a lot of time out in the woods and out on the roads trying to find people,” Gragg said. “It is really a massive area and that’s just something that is extremely important.”

Gragg said the park once officially launched will be a big boost to tourism in White County.