There are some places in East Tennessee that don’t need billboards or social media posts. In fact, most of us hope they never get either.
I’m talking about those swimming holes that generations of local families have discovered one recommendation at a time. You know the kind. Someone says, “Follow the creek past the old bridge,” or “Turn where the pavement ends.” They’re places where memories are made, not marketed.
Growing up, there was something special about spending a summer afternoon beside a cold mountain stream. The water was never warm—it was the kind that made you catch your breath the moment your feet touched it—but after a few minutes you never wanted to leave. We packed picnic lunches, skipped rocks, looked for crawdads and stayed until the sun began to disappear behind the trees.
Some of those favorite spots are no secret. The Townsend Wye remains one of East Tennessee’s best places to spread out a blanket, let the children splash in the shallows and simply enjoy a Smoky Mountain summer. Others love Fort Dickerson Quarry, where an old marble quarry has found new life as one of Knoxville’s most unique places to cool off.
But ask almost any lifelong East Tennessean about their favorite swimming hole, and you’ll probably notice a little hesitation before they answer. That’s because some places are quietly protected by the people who love them. Not because they’re selfish, but because they’ve seen what happens when beautiful places become too crowded or aren’t treated with respect.
If you find one of these special places this summer, enjoy it the way locals have for years. Leave it cleaner than you found it. Don’t carve your name into a tree or leave behind cans, bottles or food wrappers. And remember that mountain streams can change quickly after a heavy rain, so a little common sense goes a long way.
One of the things I love most about living in East Tennessee is that we still have places where the loudest sounds are rushing water, birds singing and children laughing.
Some treasures don’t need to be advertised. They simply need to be appreciated.
This column will explore adventures that are ‘Close to Home, Far from Ordinary,’ and if you have some to share, please send them to news@knoxtntoday.com.
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