Tennessee State Parks Dedicates Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park

Tennessee State Parks today dedicated the new Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park, making it the third archaeological park added to the state park system, preserving more than 5,000 years of Tennessee history.

The 534-acre property includes evidence of Native American life and settlements from the Late Archaic to Mississippian periods, including a 15-foot earthen monument built approximately 1,000 years ago. The park will protect these one-of-a-kind archaeological sites for generations to come.

Cardwell Mountain is a landmark in McMinnville and Warren County and sits atop Cumberland Caverns, a National Natural Landmark and one of the largest cave systems in the nation. The landscape shows where the Eastern Highland Rim meets the Cumberland Plateau.

"This is an extraordinary location for our newest state park," said Brian Clifford, deputy commissioner for Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "It combines a sense of history with the love of outdoor recreation, and we know Tennesseans will enjoy and appreciate all of what the park offers."

The park will include a visitor center with educational exhibits and trails that allow visitors to learn about the archaeology and history of this part of the state. The land also shares the history of the Cardwell family, who lived on the mountain for 150 years and established apple orchards known in Warren County and beyond.

The park is not open to the public during the upcoming construction phase. Park staff, along with the Division of Archaeology in the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, are carefully working to help protect this irreplaceable archaeological site. The park will be fully open when all staff, trails, and facilities are in place.

This milestone for Tennessee State Parks was made possible with support from TennGreen, The Conservation Fund, and The Nature Conservancy.

The new park is the latest step in Gov. Bill Lee's broad conservation strategy for the state. A total of 14 new Tennessee State Parks will be established under Lee, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration.

Tennessee State Parks serve not only as important venues for outdoor recreation but also as significant contributors to local economies, public health, and quality of life.