The holidays are upon us and there’s no better place to get into the spirit of the season than at a Tennessee State Park! Below are several upcoming events in your area – celebrating the holidays with a variety of fun, family opportunities. In addition to a reminder about the traditional Thanksgiving meal our state park restaurants will be serving, we also are including an upcoming natural areas hike / volunteer effort – be sure to RSVP for this great outing!
South Cumberland State Park
Work off that extra helping of pumpkin pie at South Cumberland State Park’s Gizzard Day Hike on Friday, November 27. Join the ranger at 9 a.m. (CST) at the Grundy Forest parking lot for a 13-mile trek on the Fiery Gizzard Trail. Participants should pack a lunch and plenty of water, in addition to dressing in layers and wearing good hiking boots.
Located near Monteagle, South Cumberland is one of the newer Tennessee State Parks. Almost the entire park lies atop the Cumberland Plateau and, unlike most state parks, South Cumberland is made up of ten different areas located in four different counties. The Visitor Center is located between Monteagle and Tracy City on Highway 41. For more information about this upcoming hike or other activities at the park, please call (931) 924-2980 or visit www.tnstateparks.com/SouthCumberland.
David Crockett State Park
David Crockett State Park will kick off the holiday season with its Christmas in the Park celebration, slated for Monday, November 30, and Wednesday, December 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. each night (CST). The park will be illuminated with simple holiday lights and candles, and will have stations at several shelters throughout the park. Transportation between shelters will include walking and hayrides – alternative transportation will be available for those who require assistance. All activities will be held outside – so visitors are asked to dress for the weather. This year’s Christmas in the Park theme will mirror the park’s 50th anniversary, featuring a history of the park. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the park at (931) 762-9408.
David Crockett was a pioneer, soldier, politician, and industrialist and was born near the town of Limestone in northeast Tennessee in 1786. In 1817, he moved to Lawrence County and served as a justice of the peace, a colonel of the militia and as state representative. Along the banks of Shoal Creek, he established a diversified industry consisting of a powdermill, a gristmill and a distillery. David Crockett State Park was dedicated in May of 1959, in honor of one of Tennessee’s most famous native sons. For more information about David Crockett State Park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/DavidCrockettSP.
Rugby State Natural Area
There are several more days left to RSVP for the Woodland Weeding at Rugby State Natural Area, slated for Saturday, December 12, beginning at 9 a.m. (EST). Volunteers will get a chance to see this beautiful area, while pulling Japanese spiraea from the natural area’s woodlands and helping preserve this important region. Plans are to continue downstream from a previous “pull” and checking on any of the plants missed. The project is expected to last approximately three hours. Participants are asked to meet at the Rugby Visitors Center in Historic Rugby and bring a pair of leather work gloves, water and food. Volunteers also should dress in layers and wear a sturdy pair of shoes.
Reservations are required and the deadline to reserve a spot for this outing is Friday, December 4. For more information or to RSVP, please call Lisa Huff at (865) 594-5601 or e-mail Lisa.Huff@tn.gov. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled. For more information about the area, including descriptions, directions and maps, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/rugby/.
The Woodland Weeding at Rugby State Natural Area is part of a series of monthly, guided trips to Tennessee State Natural Areas offered by the department’s Resource Management Division. Tennessee has 80 designated natural areas throughout the state. More information about Tennessee’s natural areas program, including a complete list of all natural areas, maps and scheduled field trips, can be found at www.tn.gov/environment/na.
Thanksgiving Day Feast at State Park Restaurants
Just a reminder that all eight Tennessee State Park restaurants will be open Thursday, November 26, serving their annual Thanksgiving Day Feast. Thanksgiving turkey and all the traditional trimmings, along with an assortment of desserts, will be available beginning at 11 a.m. until closing at state park restaurants across Tennessee. Selections and prices will vary depending on location, ranging from $10.95 to $14.95 (excluding drink and gratuity). Group reservations are recommended.
The Tennessee State Park restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day dinner are:
- Cumberland Mountain State Park – (931) 484-7186
- David Crockett State Park (Lawrenceburg) – (931) 762-9541
- Fall Creek Falls State Park – (423) 881-5241
- Henry Horton State Park – (931) 364-2222
- Montgomery Bell State Park – (615) 797-3101
- Natchez Trace State Park – (731) 968-8176
- Paris Landing State Park – (731) 642-4311
- Pickwick Landing State Park – (731) 689-3135
Tennessee’s 53 state parks offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free 1-888-867-2757. For additional information, visit our Web site at www.tnstateparks.com.
