Contributed/Tennessee State Parks

Roan Mountain State Park, located only 34 minutes away from campus, was named the 2026 Tennessee State Park of the Year.

Roan Mountain State Park offers a wide range of outdoor adventures such as hiking, fishing and camping, as well as a peaceful refuge from the rest of the world. The park also hosts community events, such as the Fall-O-Dendron Festival in October, where visitors can learn more about the park and the surrounding region.  At the Fall-O-Dendron Festival, visitors celebrate Appalachian culture through food, music and a craft fair.

The recognition as Tennessee State Park of the Year highlights the Roan Mountain State Park’s revival after its devastation in Hurricane Helene, where the flooding severely damaged the park, especially the campgrounds and trails. Monica Johnson, the park manager, shares that “rather than allowing the challenges to define the park, the team worked through the recovery, continued serving visitors and looked for opportunities to make the park better.”

As the park continues to rebuild and repair from the flooding, new features such as an accessible boardwalk are being added.

Roan Mountain hopes to use the recognition as motivation to keep “improving while protecting the resources that make this park special in the first place.” The staff at the park say they are committed to enhancing visitors’ experience of the naturally beautiful landscape.

More about Roan Mountain can be found at www.tnstateparks.com and on Instagram @roanmountainstatepark.

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