Tennessee's Largest state park, with over 22,000 acres, offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the South. Over half the park is designated a natural area wilderness. Fall Creek Falls, the highest waterfall in the eastern U.S., plunges 256 feet into a shaded pool. A 345 acre lake has yielded state record bluegill and channel catfish. Renowned Civil War genre painter, Gilbert Gaul, worked from his homesite within the present boundary of the park.
Located in Bledsoe and Van Buren Counties, Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park is the most visited State Park in Tennessee. The 20,600 acres of wilderness offers an assortment of activities, fom backpacking to bike trails, from rustic camping to fully furnished cabins. The resort originated in 1935 when the National Park Service established Fall Creek Falls as a "Recreational Demonstration Area".
In the early years of the park the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) did some construction of trails, bridges and various facilities within the park. In 1944, the National Park Service deeded the area to the State of Tennessee and it's new Division of State Parks, which was first created in 1937. Development of the park was simple and limited because of restrictions set forth by the National Park Service. Later revisions were made, and an extensive development of the park began.
In 1966, construction on a dam was started and eventually completed. The end result was the formation of Fall Creek Lake, which expands the variety of outdoor activities to include water sports.
In 1970, major construction throughout the park began. Finally, on June 8,1972 Fall Creek Falls State Park was dedicated to "all the people". Improvements continue to be made on one of the most beautiful state park resort areas in Tennessee - Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park.
This resort displays some of the most breathtaking and spectacular scenery found in Tennessee. The largest park within the state, Fall Creek Falls has much to offer.