Scotts Gulf has been officially recognized as a state park

The effort to get Scott’s Gulf recognized as a state park has finally been officialized. On May 9, 2025, the ceremony to inaugurate the new Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park was conducted. 

The park’s official size is over 9,500 acres, and it’s mostly all in White County. It combines and integrates other existing Natural Areas into the state park, such as Virgin Falls and Lost Creek State Natural Areas. The park includes notable natural locations like Welch’s Point, Dog Cove, and has access to the Caney Fork River from Mitchell’s Ford.

For the county, the new park is a huge achievement. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said, “This has been a long-awaited milestone, and it’s only going to get better.”

The new park is also a big success for the Friends of Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park. The Expositor spoke to the group before about their newfound success, and the official inauguration of the park was just as exciting for them. Originally, the group’s goal was aiming for a 900-acre state park area, which has now grown over 10 times that size. The plans for improvement continue, with plans for more bathrooms, a visitor center, and additional campgrounds.

Dylan Dunn, a longtime supporter of the park efforts and the vice president of the Friends of Scott’s Gulf, said, “As the park continues to grow and develop, it will serve as a huge accomplishment for the county. The efforts to protect nature while providing services for visitors to accommodate different skill levels of outdoor activities are a commendable desire, and Scott’s Gulf large scope and success is proof of the mission’s importance.

Tennessee State Parks’ website has a new page for Scott’s Gulf. It has general information, events, and details about directions and camping. There is also a link to a donation page for the park, which helps improve the visitor experience and take care of both the environment and large number of birds of prey in the area. 

Click here to learn more about the park.