Pickett State Park
Encyclopedia
Pickett State Park is a Tennessee
state park in the upper Cumberland Mountains
. It is located in Pickett County, northeast of the city of Jamestown
, and is adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
. The park is located on 19200 acres (77.7 km²) of wilderness including cave
s, natural bridge
s, and other rock formations. About 1000 acres (4 km²) are managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
as a state park, and the remainder of the property is managed by the Tennessee Division of Forestry as a state forest.
The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
between 1934 and 1942 on about 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land donated to the State of Tennessee in 1933 by the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company. CCC crews built hiking trails, a recreation lodge, a ranger station, five rustic cabins, and a 12 acres (4.9 ha) lake known as Arch Lake. Locally quarried sandstone
was used in constructing most of the buildings. The original park facilities are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Pickett's land area has increased over time as a result of additional land donations and acquisitions, and additional park facilities were built beginning in the 1950s.
The park offers boating, camping, lodging, hiking and many other activities.
cabin that accommodates four people, the second is a Deluxe Cabin that will accommodate up to six people, the third is a Chalet cabin that will accommodate two people, and the last is a Villa cabin that can accommodate up to eight people. Each cabin comes with the following amenities:
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
state park in the upper Cumberland Mountains
Cumberland Mountains
The Cumberland Mountains are a mountain range in the southeastern section of the Appalachian Mountains. They are located in southern West Virginia, western Virginia, eastern edges of Kentucky, and eastern middle Tennessee, including the Crab Orchard Mountains...
. It is located in Pickett County, northeast of the city of Jamestown
Jamestown, Tennessee
Jamestown is a city in Fentress County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Fentress County. The city population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is about 2,300.-History:...
, and is adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area preserves the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in northeastern Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky...
. The park is located on 19200 acres (77.7 km²) of wilderness including cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s, natural bridge
Natural Bridge
Natural bridge or Natural Bridge can refer to several things:*Natural arch, a land formation sometimes referred to as a natural bridge*Natural Bridge, Alabama*Natural Bridge, New York...
s, and other rock formations. About 1000 acres (4 km²) are managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is a Cabinet-level agency within the government of the U.S. state of Tennessee, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation....
as a state park, and the remainder of the property is managed by the Tennessee Division of Forestry as a state forest.
The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
between 1934 and 1942 on about 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land donated to the State of Tennessee in 1933 by the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company. CCC crews built hiking trails, a recreation lodge, a ranger station, five rustic cabins, and a 12 acres (4.9 ha) lake known as Arch Lake. Locally quarried sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
was used in constructing most of the buildings. The original park facilities are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Pickett's land area has increased over time as a result of additional land donations and acquisitions, and additional park facilities were built beginning in the 1950s.
The park offers boating, camping, lodging, hiking and many other activities.
Facilities
The park's facilities include 32 campsites and 20 rental cabins. The campsites come with electric and water hookups and have both picnic tables and grills. The campground has a modern bathhouse and a dump station. It is open year round on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a maximum stay limit of two weeks. Of the 20 cabins, there are four types. The first is a rustic CCCCivilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
cabin that accommodates four people, the second is a Deluxe Cabin that will accommodate up to six people, the third is a Chalet cabin that will accommodate two people, and the last is a Villa cabin that can accommodate up to eight people. Each cabin comes with the following amenities:
- Full Modern Bathrooms
- Kitchen Appliances
- Cooking Utensils
- Linens and Towels
- Fireplaces
- All cabins are available by reservation (up to one year in advance) year round, excepting two rustic units. One deluxe cabin is designated as a pet cabin.
External links
- Pickett State Park official website
- Pickett State Rustic Park, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture