LIMESTONE, Tenn. — The David Crockett Birthplace State Park remains closed indefinitely following the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Park rangers said the Nolichucky River rose 33 feet, destroying some shelters and filling those that remain with mud. The recently remodeled visitors center also received major damage.
"It's going to be a long road," said Joe Nowotarski, a park ranger. "The guts of the park, that's the utility lines, the wastewater facility, the plumbing - everything needs to get reassessed. The integrity of the roads, you know, all these roads are on the riverfront, a lot of them have been undercut. All those need to be reassessed so it's going to be a long, long process. We've been assured the park will be reopen again but it's going to be a slow grind."
Park officials will start assessing damage to the river itself with scientists and geologists before a rebuild can begin. The park is located in Limestone, Tennessee along the Nolichucky River.
