The rain today is keeping us from traveling south to the Stone Door at Savage Gulf. It’s part of the South Cumberland State Park I used to camp and hike in my 20s (here’s a great trail map - 9MB .PDF). I haven’t been back in about 13 years.

This tract of 14,357 acres contains some of the most spectacular natural rock formations in Tennessee.  Purchased by the state in 1973 to protect one of the last known stands of virgin timber in the Eastern United States, Savage Gulf has 55 miles of trails and ten primitive campgrounds.

The park is near Beersheba Springs, TN which had an interesting history as a resort town until the Civil War.

The state of Tennessee authorized the construction of a first class road to the mountain in 1836 and by 1839, Beersheba Springs had incorporated and begun official operation as a summer resort. A small hotel was built, along with a row of log cabins. The somewhat primitive establishment benefited from the stagecoach traffic along the new road running from McMinnville to Chattanooga. Cabins sprang up as well-to-do local families discovered this idyllic haven and began making annual treks.

Beersheba has about 500 residents with a per capita income of only $13,000 according to 2000 U.S. Census data.

The more I look at the area the more I see the potential for revived tourism that can create jobs that help preserve and protect our state’s natural beauty for generations. I also see the much easier potential for industry to plunder these riches for short term gains.

Here’s a Google map view of South Cumberland State Park. I wondered what the area looked like exactly and forgot that I can now see it in a much different light now.

View Savage Gulf in a larger map