Tennessee State Parks Dedicates Buffalo River State Park

Tennessee State Parks dedicated Buffalo River State Park last Friday, formally welcoming 448 acres of rolling pastures and wooded hillsides in Wayne County along the scenic and biodiverse Buffalo River as the state's 69th state park.

Located in Linden near the Perry County line, the new state park will feature more than two miles of river frontage, including the largest horseshoe bend on the river, providing visitors with increased opportunities to reconnect with nature.

"The Buffalo River is the longest free-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River, and this newest state park will offer Tennesseans and visitors greater access to experience its beauty and biodiversity," said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). "The investments made by Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly will protect this high value river corridor while preserving traditional outdoor recreation opportunities in rural Tennessee."

The current state budget includes $34 million designated for development of a visitor center, campground, maintenance facility, roadways, river access and other amenities.

"In addition to the support from Gov. Lee and our state legislators, we are grateful for the resources from the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund and the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy which helped us acquire the land," said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Brian Clifford. "Buffalo River State Park has truly been a collaborative effort and an investment in conservation that will benefit Tennesseans for generations to come."

"The Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board is proud to support the acquisition of land for Buffalo River State Park. This investment will help protect the river's outstanding natural resources while expanding opportunities for Tennesseans to enjoy and connect with this special landscape," said Drew Goddard, board chairman of the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.

"The Buffalo River is an incredibly special place, and we are proud that the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy could play a role in protecting it for generations to come," said Alex Wyss, executive director of the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. "Through support from the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, we were able to help preserve the natural beauty of the Buffalo River. This new state park will give people more opportunities to experience this remarkable part of Wayne County. This is exactly what can happen when public and private partners work together to protect the places that make Tennessee special."

As the longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee, the Buffalo River supports diverse wildlife, with 48 documented rare species of plants and animals found in the area.

Buffalo River State Park is not yet open to visitors, but as park staff work to get trails and facilities in place, opportunities to visit through guided tours and other events will be shared on the Tennessee State Parks' website. Once fully open, it will offer recreation activities such as paddling, fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. The park will also serve as a tourism and economic driver in Wayne and Perry counties.

A total of 14 new Tennessee State Parks will be established under Gov. Bill Lee, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration.