KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Ijams Nature Center announced Thursday that Mead's Quarry Lake and Tharp Trace Trail will reopen on Friday, June 7.
Ijams staff has worked to improve the safety of Mead's Quarry by installing new warning buoys and a float rope, marking where it's safe to swim. This zone will keep everyone away from future falling rocks in the unstable section of the Quarry Lake, Ijams said.
The Quarry Lake receives thousands of visits yearly and one of those people is Julie Agnew. She and her friends went to visit the quarry on Thursday when, to their surprise, it was closed.
"We came down to hike and Smoky Mountains National Park and also Ijams and visit with my daughter who lives here in Knoxville," Agnew said.
Visiting from Paris, Illinois, it was the first time they heard about the rock slide.
"Oh, my goodness, that would have been cool to see, but how frightening for those people who were there," she said.
Cindy Hassil, the development director for Ijams Nature Center, said they've made some changes.
According to Ijams, staff double-checked all the swim dock attachments to ensure the dock wasn't damaged. All the improvements and new rules are being placed to increase the distance from possible rockslides.
"I think if you've seen the video, you understand how this can happen in an instant, and how much damage it could have caused and how many injuries could have been caused by people who are actually by the rocks," Hassil said. "Anyone who goes beyond the signage and the buoys and ropes will be asked to leave Meads Quarry."
The rules are meant to protect everyone, even when a rockslide catches someone by surprise.
"This is out of our element," Agnew said. "We don't live in this area and so we're going to follow their guidance on that."
On May 25, part of a rock wall at the quarry fell into the water, sending large waves that swept away belongings and sent swimmers rushing to shore. No major injuries were reported in the rock fall, but a geologist from the Tennessee Geological Survey assessed the quarry and said the area may continue to be unstable, and encouraged the nature center to create a larger safety zone around the quarry.
Ijams asks to respect the warning signage. Anyone who enters the no-go zone will be asked to leave Mead's Quarry immediately.