Tag Archives: State Parks

Cookeville and Putnam County have created an updated visitors guide to encourage experience-driven tourism and showcase the city’s local businesses. Tourism Director Shan Stout said the guide had not been updated since 2019 and many of the businesses listed had either moved or gone out of business. She said the new guide more closely favors a magazine, featuring articles and ... Read More »

Scientists from local parks and national agencies came together Wednesday at the Historic Rugby Visitors Center to share their findings from a year’s worth of researching local parks. Niki Nicholas is Superintendent of Big South Fork River and Obed Wild and Scenic River. Nicholas said this is the eighth year of the annual event. She said the all-day session allows ... Read More »

Edgar Evins State Park will invite volunteers to join rangers in removing invasive Japanese Privet during Saturday’s statewide Weed Wrangle. Ranger Lee Chadwell said invasive plant species are a huge problem in local state parks. He said they outcompete native plants but do not offer the same nutritional value to native animals. He said while this is a year-round battle, ... Read More »

The state parks across the Upper Cumberland are offering guided hikes this new year as a part of its signature hike series. The program schedules four ranger-lead hikes each year. Fall Creek Falls Savannah Couser said 57 state parks will participate in the First Day Hikes on Sunday. “We’re going to be offering a hike down to the bottom of ... Read More »

State Parks across the Upper Cumberland will host free guided hikes and trail building opportunities Saturday as a part of National Trails Day. Rock Island Ranger Ethan Greene said the annual event is an opportunity to discover what the park offers while connecting with nature. “This year were offering a two-process hike,” Greene said. “Our event is going to include ... Read More »

Multiple agencies continued the search Friday at Cummins Falls State Park. That is according to TDEC Communications Director Eric Ward who said the search will continue while the park is closed to the public. The search began Thursday, the unoccupied vehicle was found on Wednesday. A hiker is presumed to being missing in the park. The car of the individual, ... Read More »

The rebuilding of the Inn at Fall Creek Falls State Park remains on schedule for a fall 2021 completion. Department of General Services spokesman David Roberson said the $40 million dollar project hopes to provide guests a more up-to-date experience. “The work is going real well,” Roberson said. “The concrete slab work is in process and on schedule. That’s for ... Read More »

Cummins Falls State Park will be one of three state parks not to reopen Friday. Park Ranger Ray Kutcher said the park saw an inordinate number of out-of-state visitors prior to Governor Bill Lee’s shutdown. The large number of non-local visitors was a major reason state parks were closed statewide. In addition, Kuthcer said the park only offers one trail ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland’s 10 state parks will remain closed until further notice. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced the extension Tuesday. All 56 parks statewide are included in the order. “We want to make sure that when we do reopen, visitors and our park staff can feel confident in their safety,” Deputy Commissioner Jim Bryson said. “With health ... Read More »