Panther Creek State Park to Hold Anniversary Event June 14

Celebration Will Help Commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – The year 2012 marks Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, and to help commemorate this important milestone, Panther Creek State Park will hold a special community event on Thursday, June 14, beginning at 11:45 a.m. The event is open to the public.  

“We are very excited to celebrate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary this year,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau.  “Panther Creek State Park is certainly a fitting backdrop for one of the many statewide celebrations we will be holding throughout the year.  It’s also a great opportunity to thank the park’s many patrons and the entire local community for all their hard work and efforts in support of this unique state park.”  

There will be a series of short presentations, followed by light refreshments.  Participants will also have an opportunity to see Panther Creek State Park’s Junior Ranger Program in action.  One of the most popular summer programs in the Hamblen County area, the Junior Ranger Program is designed for kids ages 6 to 14 and offers exciting outdoor activities as a way to learn more about nature, conservation and the importance of our parks.  

WHO:

East Tennessee Parks Area Manager Herb Roberts

Panther Creek Park Manager John LeCroy

The Friends of Panther Creek State Park

Local elected officials and community members

WHAT:

75th Anniversary Event at Panther Creek State Park

There will be a series of short presentations, followed by light refreshments and a tour of the park’s Junior Ranger Program

WHEN:

Thursday, June 14

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

WHERE:

Panther Creek State Park – Smallmann Shelter

2010 Panther Creek Park Road

Morristown, Tenn. 37814

The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today.  As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 54 Tennessee State Parks.

Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee.  A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state.  The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state.  When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs.

“Our vision statement highlights the inherent value of our natural environment, along with the value of the many physical reminders of Tennessee’s past,” added Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill.  “Tennessee’s state parks have played such an important role in our history, and they play a critical role in our health and quality of life, which will benefit Tennesseans well into the future.”

Tennessee’s state parks deliver a rich fabric of natural landscapes, wild places, preserved ecologies, outdoor recreational opportunities and protected historic scenes and resources – together representing the heritage of Tennessee in the landscape.

Tennessee's 54 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups.  State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses.  For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 1-888-867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.

In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation launched an innovative new microsite at www.tnstateparks75.com. Established in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the microsite displays Tennessee State Parks’ rich heritage and showcases the many outdoor adventures awaiting state park visitors through rich media and dynamic content.

Covering approximately 1,435 acres, Panther Creek State Park is located on the shores of Cherokee Reservoir, an impoundment of the Holston River. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located about 45 miles south.  Legend has it that both Panther Creek and Panther Springs, located about 1.5 miles southeast of the park, received their names from the claim of a Colonel Bradley of Virginia who, while exploring the area, shot a panther that fell into the spring.  For more information about this rustic park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/PantherCreek.

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