Tennessee State Parks...White County, Tennessee

White County Tennessee is home to Sparta, Tennessee which is a lovely small town pop. 5,032 as of 2002.  The county population surrounding Sparta, Tn is just over 26,000.  Centrally located between Chattanooga and Nashville, its a great hot spot for retirement and easy living!

White County  and surrounding Counity's are also home to some of Tennessee's most beautiful and natural state parks!

ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK

Twin Falls

• The Great Falls Gorge, located along Rock Island's northern shore between the Great Falls Dam and the dam's powerhouse. The gorge includes Great Falls, a series of plunge and cascade waterfalls that spill into the Caney Fork when the river's waterlevels are low. When water levels are high, the gorge completely fills up, submerging the waterfalls. A short trail leads from the parking lot to the base of the gorge.

• Twin Falls, a cascade waterfall that spills down from an underground cavern into the Caney Fork, just beyond the powerhouse. The waterfall was created by the Great Falls Dam, which caused the Collins River to rise. The rising waters began seeping into underground caverns on Rock Island's south shore and exiting at the falls on the north shore.

• The Great Falls Cotton Mill (also called the Falls City Cotton Mill), located on the bluffs above Great Falls. The mill was built in 1892 and operated until 1902. In 1982 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• The Spring castle, located adjacent to the cotton mill. The "castle," which is essentially a larger version of a spring house, was used by the cotton mill's workers for refrigeration. It was probably built in the 1890s.

• The Great Falls Dam, located along the Caney Fork near the park's TN-136 entrance. The dam was built 1915-1916.

The park today

Spring castle

Rock Island State Park currently maintains 10 cabins, 60 campsites, and a boat ramp. The park's Center Hill Lake section contains a natural sand beach and a popular fishing area known as the "Blue Hole." Four hiking trails explore the Great Falls Gorge and the Collins River. The park is located just off U.S. Route 70S northeast of McMinnville. State Route 136 (Old McMinnville Highway) and State Route 287 (Great Falls Road) both pass through the park.

In recent years, Rock Island State Park has become popular with kayakers, who use the river for playboating. Below Great Falls Dam is a series of rapids with a well-known, constant, retentive "hole" that allows playboaters to hone their whitewater kayaking skills, riding the wave, spinning, rolling and performing other tricks.

Rock Island State Park also maintains the Big Bone Cave State Natural Area, which is located a few miles to the east in Van Buren County.

Burgess Falls State Natural Area

Burgess Falls State Natural Area is located on the Falling Water River between Sparta and Cookeville Tennessee. The Falls is just 10 miles north of Sparta by following Highway 111, exit at Old Kentucky Road and follow the state signs.    Photo by Ross Cardwell A view of the 130-foot Burgess Falls is easily reached by a 3/4 mile riverside trail to the overlook and for the young at heart you can climb down into the gorge to view the falls from the pool below.   Burgess Falls State Park & Natural Area is a wonderland of beauty with its sheer bluffs, waterfalls, narrow ridges, rolling water and abundant mixed forest. A scenic riverside trail will lead you along several Cascades across a 80'-120' width of the limestone benches in the Falling Water River. Following the path you will enjoy views of the 47' Little Falls, the 70' Middle Falls and on to a point overlooking the beauty and splendor of nature that has come to be known as Burgess Falls, a 130' waterfall located in a large gorge on the Falling Water River. A view of Burgess Falls is easily reached by a 3/4 mile trail to the overlook and for the young at heart you can climb down into the gorge to view the falls from the pool below. Burgess Falls Natural Area also offers picnicking below the dam, with a scenic view of the river.  There is a large picnic shelter ideal for large groups.  The shelter is equipped with tables, grills, rest rooms, and handicap facilities.  Shelter reservations are recommended. Fishing is available on Burgess Falls Lake and also on the river below the dam. The tail waters of Center Hill Lake reach to the base of Burgess Falls and are noted for their excellent spring fishing.  A valid Tennessee fishing license is required for those 16-64 years of age.  There is no boat ramp.  The area was named for Tom Burgess, who was deeded the land in 1793 by the US Government as partial payment for his services in the Revolutionary War. The River played a very important role in the development of the surrounding region.  It provided a source of energy that, in the past, promoted this area as an important industrial region.  Along this river there once stood a gristmill operated by the Burgess family, which provided meal and flour to many settling the region.  Also powered by the river, there stood a sawmill that provided lumber instead of the handsaw lumber that took so long for the settlers to cut.  Probably the most noted industry here was the production of electricity. Burgess Falls State Park & Natural Area is located 15 miles north of Sparta by following Highway 111, exit at Old Kentucky Road, turn left and follow the state signs. Hours:  8am until 30 minutes before sunset   Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park   Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park RESORT PARK OF THE YEAR One of the most scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation areas in America.   Its waterfalls, cascades, sparkling streams, gorges, timberland, and an unmatched variety of recreation facilities and activities have made it one of the most popular parks in the Southeast.  Fall Creek Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, plunging 256 feet into a shaded pool at the base of its gorge.  The park's other falls (Piney, Cane Creek, and Cane Creek Cascades), though smaller are just as impressive. HOURS OF OPERATION: Summer - 8:00am until 10:00pm Winter   - 8:00am until sundown FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park Route 3 Pikeville, TN 37367 Phones: (423) 881-3297 Park Headquarters (800) 250-8610 Reservations (423) 881-5708 Nature Center (800) 250-8611 Camping Reservations (423) 881-5706 Golf Pro Shop Directions from Sparta, TN Fall Creek Falls State Park can be easily reached from Sparta on Highway 111. Take Hwy 111 to Spencer and follow the first state park sign to the old northern entrance ( a total of 35 miles ) or go about 16 miles further, south of Spencer and follow the second state park sign to the new southern entrance ( a total of 30 miles ) to the park.