Big Ridge State Park

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Recreation facilities on Big Ridge State Park's Big Ridge Lake, before 1945.

Big Ridge State Park is a heavily forested, 3,687-acre park located on the southern shore of Norris Reservoir in Union County, Tennessee, approximately 25 miles north of the city of Knoxville.

Big Ridge was first developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with assistance from the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was established as a demonstration park on the shore of the Norris Reservoir, which had been impounded by TVA's Norris Dam. The recreational facilities opened in May 1934. ^[1] The park is now operated as a state park under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Prior to the park's development, the land was primarily inhabited by resident farmers. Hiking trails in the park provide the occasional glimpse of remaining farm and residential structures. Built in 1825, the Norton Gristmill still stands in the park, as well as what remains of a 1700s-built fort and a plaque honoring an area settler who was killed in an Indian attack from the fort's active days.

Visitors who plan on staying overnight can rent cabins at the park from April 1 to October 31, or take advantage of the park's sizeable camping area. The park welcomes folks interested in fishing, boating, and bicycling. Annual events include an Easter egg hunt held the day before Easter; a Bluegrass music festival held the third Friday in August; and night hikes and ghost storytelling sessions led by park rangers on Friday and Saturday nights in October.

A man-made beach on Big Ridge Lake serves as a swimming area from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and is free of charge. Meeting facilities are available for special events (reserve in advance).

[edit] References

^ America from the Great Depression to World War II: Black-and-White Photographs from the FSA-OWI, 1935-1945, LC-USW33- 015718-C

[edit] External links

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/BigRidge/

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v • d • e Protected Areas of Tennessee

National Park Service	Andrew Johnson National Historic Site • Appalachian National Scenic Trail • Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park • Cumberland Gap National Historical Park • Fort Donelson National Battlefield • Fort Donelson National Cemetery • Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail • Natchez Trace Parkway • Obed Wild and Scenic River • Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail • Shiloh National Cemetery • Shiloh National Military Park • Stones River National Battlefield • Stones River National Cemetery • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

National Forests	Cherokee National Forest • Land Between the Lakes

National Wildlife Refuges	Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge • Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge • Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge • Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge • Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge • Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge • Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

Wilderness Areas	Bald River Gorge Wilderness • Big Frog Wilderness • Big Laurel Branch Wilderness • Citico Creek Wilderness • Cohutta Wilderness • Gee Creek Wilderness • Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness • Little Frog Mountain Wilderness • Pond Mountain Wilderness • Sampson Mountain Wilderness • Unaka Mountain Wilderness

East Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas	Big Ridge • Booker T. Washington • Cove Lake • Cumberland Mountain • Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail • Davy Crockett Birthplace • Fort Loudoun • Frozen Head • Harrison Bay • Hiwassee/Ocoee • Indian Mountain • Norris Dam • Panther Creek • Pickett • Red Clay • Roan Mountain • Sycamore Shoals • Warriors' Path

Middle Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas	Bicentennial Capitol Mall • Bledsoe • Burgess Falls • Cedars Of Lebanon • Cordell Hull Birthplace • David Crockett • Dunbar Cave • Edgar Evins • Fall Creek Falls • Harpeth River • Henry Horton • Johnsonville • Long Hunter • Montgomery Bell • Mousetail Landing • Old Stone Fort • Port Royal • Radnor Lake • Rock Island • Sgt. Alvin C. York • South Cumberland • Standing Stone • Tims Ford

West Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas	Big Cypress Tree • Big Hill Pond • Chickasaw • Fort Pillow • Meeman-Shelby • N. B. Forrest • Natchez Trace • Paris Landing • Pickwick Landing • Pinson Mounds • Reelfoot Lake • Ross Cross Landing • T.O. Fuller

State Forests	Bledsoe • Cedars of Lebanon • Chickasaw • Chuck Swan • Franklin • Lewis • Lone Mountain • Martha Sundquist • Natchez Trace • Pickett • Prentice Cooper • Scott • Standing Stone • Stewart

Pocket Wildernesses	Honey Creek * Piney Falls • Laurel-Snow • North Chickamauga Creek Gorge • Stinging Fork Falls • Virgin Falls

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (web) - Tennessee Department of Agriculture {web}

Big Ridge State Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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