Events

Sycamore Shoals (east) hosts Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals  on July 11-13. Tennessee’s official outdoor drama is presented against the backdrop of Fort Watauga. See the Revolution as told by the Overmountain Men: colonists who defied British law and settled on Cherokee lands. These settlers formed an independent government, made treaties with the Cherokee, defended their homes, and fought a British army at the epic battle of King’s Mountain. Bleacher seating is available in the amphitheater. Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Additional dates: July 18-20, and 25-27. Sponsored by Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. Admissions fee. For more information call 423-543-5808.

News Updates

Do you want to make a difference to Tennessee's natural resources, spend time outdoors, and make new friends? Then consider participating in one of the many volunteer opportunities we offer individuals, families, and civic groups. Opportunities range from spending a few hours helping maintain a trail, to on-going support by joining a Friends Group to seasonal projects like being a Seasonal Interpretive Host at a park museum or visitor center. Learn more about volunteer opportunities

Event Spotlights

Henry Horton hosts 4th annual Golf Classic on June 21. The Friends of Henry Horton State Park invite you to the 4th annual Golf Classic at the Buford Ellington golf course at Henry Horton State Park. This challenging course is heavily treed with hardwoods and contains 37 bunkers. All proceeds from the tournament go to the Friends of Henry Horton State Park, a 501c3 organization. Entry fee must be submitted with completed registration form. Lunch will be provided prior to the tournament. For complete details including entry fees and registration forms contact Teresa Dugger at 931-619-8590 or email at teresa.dugger @vanderbilt.edu or Melisa Garret at 931-364-7724 or email at melissa.garrett@tn.gov.

Long Hunter (middle) hosts Photo Interest Group Meetup on June 22
Grab your camera and join the Friends of Long Hunter at 9 a.m. CT for a meander around the lake while exploring lighting, exposure and composition. This is a great way to meet other photography enthusiasts, enjoy the scenic beauty of Couchville Lake and get some great shots. The program, led by nature photographer and naturalist, Darel Hess, is designed for all photography levels and abilities. Meet up at the Couchville Lake boathouse area. For more information please email Darel at darelhess@aim.com.

2013 Event Schedule (updated May 16)

June Event Schedule

Waterfalls and Wildflowers   (event pdf)

Learn more about TN State Natural Area 2013 events

The Tennessee Conservationist magazine May/June Event Schedule

Please remember, schedules and events may change. Call individual parks to confirm events, check on cancellations. When a reservation is required, be sure to leave your contact phone number and/or email address with the hike leader. Please let the leader know if you must cancel, so that someone on the waiting list may attend.

In addition to events, our parks offer seasonal interpretive programming and workshops throughout the year.  To learn more about seasonal programs and workshops at specific sites, contact that state park directly.

Calling all Junior Rangers

Do you like fun and adventure? Would you like to explore and discover the amazing secrets of Tennessee State Parks? Do you want to spend time outdoors learning about the world in which you live and help protect special places? If you answered “yes!”, then you are already on your way to becoming the next Tennessee State Parks Junior Ranger! Learn more about the Junior Ranger Program.

Accommodations

Trails, vistas and recreation opportunities call people to stay for the day or to stay for a longer while. Good thing many of our parks feature a variety of lodging for overnight stays, weekend outings or extended family vacations. Our comfortable accommodations range from rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps to new modern villas.

With six Resort Inns with full-service restaurants, and more than 3,000 campsites, state parks can accommodate all sizes of budgets and groups. Come for a day or stay and play longer at Tennessee State Parks.

Meeting Planners

Tennessee State Parks can accommodate all types of groups and work within your budget to deliver a unique spot for your business or meeting needs. Five state parks have full conference centers with audio-visual equipment, copy centers, and WiFi compatibility. Sixteen state parks offer a variety of meeting rooms for smaller gatherings and most parks have picnic shelters or pavilions for outdoor gatherings.  Twelve parks have restaurants serving delicious home-style food and many will provide complete catering for your event.

Learn more from the Tennessee State Parks’ Meeting Planners Guide.