News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Virgin Falls did not receive the funding needed to become a state park during the most recent legislation session.
The White County Commission passed a resolution requesting the distinction in January. State Senator Paul Bailey said the estimated $14 million needed to fully develop the area was not approved.
“There’s a lot of maintenance that has not been done to the parks over the last several years, and they felt like we need to to take care of our existing infrastructure first,” Bailey said.
Bailey said that does not mean Virgin Falls will not get the funding in the future. Bailey said building a new visitor center and other infrastructure needed to become a state park is more of a long term plan.
“The goal is to make Virgin Falls a State Park,” Bailey said. “The state park system might decide to make it state wilderness area. There has been some discussion as to making certain areas wilderness areas, which would not require the full infrastructure that a state park has but be more primitive. But, they would provide camping sites and certain infrastructure into the wilderness area.”
Bailey said while the funding did not come, there is a movement to expand Virgin Falls. Bailey said the state park system has partnered with local non-profit groups to raise the funds.
“There are several hundred acres there,” Bailey said. “That’s from the top of Virgin Falls that also goes over into Dog Cove has been acquired. So there is some acres that kind of separate Virgin Falls and the Dog Cove area that there’s an option to buy by the Friend’s of Virgin Falls. So they are working with those groups.”
Bailey said moving forward, he has invited the state park commissioner to tour the area this summer to see why Virgin Falls should become a state park. Bailey said another financing option that would be discussed is White County to help with the infrastructure cost.
