Port Royal State Park to Hold Lantern-Guided Tours Oct. 26-27

Famous Residents Will Tell Tales of Adams’ Past

ADAMS, Tenn. – Discover Port Royal State Park after dark on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27, during the Port Royal by Lantern tour.  Meet some of Port Royal’s most famous (and infamous) residents and interesting characters as they tell tales of the frontier, the Bell Witch, the Night Riders and more from the past 250 years.

The lantern-guided tours are free and begin at 6 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m. each evening.  Reservations are not required, but are recommended. For more information about the event, please call (931) 358-9696.

“The guided lantern tour is a great way to celebrate the fall season, while learning more about the history of the area,” said Park Manager Allen Fenoseff. “Visitors of all ages will be entertained with interesting stories from some of Adams’ most popular residents.”

Located in Adams, Tenn., Port Royal was the site of one of the earliest colonial communities and trading posts in Middle Tennessee. It was first settled in the early 1780s, and also served as a Longhunter camp as early as 1775. The town of Port Royal was founded in 1797 and rose to great prominence in the early part of the 19th century because of its strategic location at the head of navigation on the Red River, serving all of northern Middle Tennessee and South Central Kentucky. Port Royal became the only stop in Tennessee on the “Great Western Road” stagecoach line between Nashville, Tennessee, and Golconda, Illinois, and served as such until the 20th century. In 1977, the state of Tennessee received the deed to 26 acres of land at Port Royal and designated it a state historic park in 1978. For more information about the park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/PortRoyal.

Tennessee’s 54 state parks and 82 natural areas span the state from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River and offer an array of diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences, including hiking, camping, boating and golfing.  Celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, the Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937.  Today, there is a state park within an hour's drive of just about anywhere in the state, with features such as pristine natural areas and a variety of lodging and dining choices.  For more information, visit Tennessee State Parks' website at www.tnstateparks.com.

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