Revisiting some of our favorite state parks
A Day Away By Mike Steely
Over the years, my wife and I have visited almost all of the Tennessee State Parks. Often we’re camping there or dropping by while moving from one park to another. We often stop and take photos of ourselves at the park entrances and the campsites upon arrival. After setting up camp, we drive to nearby attractions, natural areas or the nearby towns.
One of our favorites is T.O. Fuller State Park which overlooks Memphis. The park is a rural site in the midst of the city and is a welcome break from travel. Located just off I-240 there at 1500 West Mitchell Road, the facility is just a few miles from the casinos in Tunica, Alabama, and has a surprising find.
While digging for a swimming pool on adjacent land in 1938, the site of an ancient Native American village was unearthed. Today that site, just beyond the campground, is called the “Chucalissa Indian Village” and features an archeological site and a modern museum. It’s a striking place to walk around.
Paris Landing State Park in northwest Tennessee is another favorite place to visit because of its camping, the historic nature of the old river port, and its proximity to Buchanan, the county seat of Henry County.
Buchanan has an Amish community and the downtown replica of the Eiffel Tower, standing 70 feet high inside the little city park. Located just off Highway 641 and just a few miles south of Murray, Kentucky, the Paris Landing park has camping, a lodge, and cabins for rent. We stopped at the old town site near the park and took photos of an abandoned river bridge there.
The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile ancient path stretching south from the Nashville area to deep into Mississippi. One of our memorable places along the route is the Meriwether Lewis site at Grinder’s Stand. While not a “state” park, the place has a campground and is on the “original” trace. Inside the park is the broken monument of Lewis, who was traveling to Washington, D. C., for a meeting with President Thomas Jefferson when shots were heard inside the Grinder homestead there and Lewis was discovered dead.
The Grinder Stand is replicated in the park as well as the monument that marks the grave of the famous “Lewis and Clark” personality. His death remains a mystery yet today.
Don’t be confused by the “Natchez Trace State Park” located along I-40 west of Nashville. It’s a neat park but not the site of the actual trace. There are several places along the real Trace where you can pull off and take a brief walk to see the remains of the ancient wagon and horse trail.
Fort Loudoun State Park near Vonore, south of Maryville and just off Highway 411, is a replica of the 1756 fort built by the English in the midst of the Cherokee villages there. Various events including re-enactments take place there and it’s convenient to Knoxville. The park has 1,200 acres, walking trails, picnic tables, and usually lots of parking spaces. The museum recalls the history of the old fort including artifacts and a cannon recovered long after the fort was abandoned and destroyed by the local tribe.
Just across the lake is a later fort, Tellico Block House, with the original fort site marked and a well that served the fort. Just south and across the road from Fort Loudoun is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, a place with lots of exhibits about the inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet. The museum hosts various events and has a gift shop. A day away to the two old fort sites and the Sequoyah Museum is well worth a visit. While none of the parks have camping, there are several commercial camping grounds nearby.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is conveniently located just south of Lebanon and I-40 east of Nashville. There are three campgrounds there with full hookups, a gift shop and visitor center, and a pool
The park has cabins and a lodge, lots of nearby restaurants, and unique bluffs and rock shelters just off the campgrounds. Located just off Highway 231, the park is convenient to the Nashville area. Lots of times we’d camp there, unhook the camper, and venture off into the state capitol or nearby towns.
Norris Dam State Park seems to be our favorite local state park because it is so close and has so much to offer. There are two camping areas there, some rustic cabin rentals, hiking trails, a museum and other exhibits, and miles of hiking trails along the lake and at the river below the dam. A walk across the first TVA dam on the U.S. Highway 441 bridge is interesting. There are visitor centers, lots of parking, and activities.
While in that area you may want to visit the town of Norris, built as the dam was being constructed, or the Museum of Appalachia on Andersonville Highway just east of Clinton.
These are just a few of the state parks or other interesting parks we’ve visited. Getting out for a weekend or a day with the family can be fun and educational.
