Tennessee Dedicates 67th State Park
August 22, 2026

KYLES FORD, TN - Tennessee State Parks on Friday dedicated the new Clinch River Valley State Park during a ceremony with state and local leaders. The event took place on the banks of the Clinch River in unincorporated Kyles Ford, Tenn., which provides the perfect landscape to showcase one of Tennessee’s most unique features: its abundance of water. 

Local and state officials, including Tennessee Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson, Sen. Jessie Seal, R-New Tazewell, Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, Tennessee State Parks leadership, park rangers and partners dedicate Clinch River Valley State Park on August 21, along the banks of the Clinch River in Hancock County. The new park is the 67th in the Tennessee State Parks system. Image courtesy of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Protecting and preserving 21 acres along the Clinch River in Northeast Tennessee, the park will feature several access points to the blueway. Primarily the new park is accessible in Kyle’s Ford, where guests may stop by the Visitor’s Center, formerly River Place on the Clinch and previously operated as the town’s General Store founded in the 1940s. Clinch Valley State Park will serve as an economic driver and recreational treasure for this remote, rural Tennessee community highlighted by rolling hills, high rock cliffs, bottomland forest, and mountainous terrain.

“In Tennessee, we are blessed to have some of the most remarkable and abundant waterways in the country, and the Clinch is one of the shining examples,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). “With the support of Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, the investments we’re making in this park will benefit the economy in Northeast Tennessee and provide endless opportunities to experience Tennessee’s great outdoors.”

“The Clinch River is one of Tennessee’s most unique waterways, and this new state park gives people more ways to get outside and enjoy it,” said Brian Clifford, deputy commissioner for Conservation at TDEC. “We’re grateful for the partners who helped protect such a special place.”

The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy played a fundamental role in the land acquisition that helped make Clinch River Valley State Park a reality. The Conservancy is an important partner and serves as the dedicated fundraiser for Tennessee State Parks, helping turn opportunities into lasting investments in our parks and the people who enjoy them.

“The Clinch River Valley is an incredibly special place for people and nature, and we are honored that the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy could play a role in protecting it for generations to come,” said Alex Wyss, executive director of the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. “By acquiring key tracts that will become a new state park, we are helping conserve the natural beauty of Clinch River Valley while creating new opportunities for people to experience this remarkable part of Tennessee. This is exactly what can happen when public and private partners work together to protect the places that make Tennessee special.”

In addition to touring the visitors’ center, visitors to Clinch River Valley State Park will also find a shop, restaurant space, cabins, a walking path, river access, and views which abound with the peaceful beauty of nature.

Tennessee State Parks is partnering with  Tennessee RiverLine’s planning and design team through a master planning process to establish a comprehensive, long-term vision for Clinch River Valley State Park. Citizens are encouraged to provide input about the features and outdoor opportunities they would like to in a state park by completing a brief Tennessee State Parks survey.

More detailed information on Clinch River Valley State Park can be found on  the park’s webpage and Facebook page.

Clinch River Valley State Park is the 67th park in the Tennessee State Parks system. A total of 14 new Tennessee State Parks will be established under Gov. Bill Lee, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration.