A Look At The Park Reserved For Heroic Defender Of The Alamo
David Crockett Is Honored As Being A Soldier, Politician & Industrialist In His Day, Building Resources On Land That The State Park Now Rests Upon
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, settlers began to expand into what is now eastern Tennessee. Soldiers were given land vouchers for their service and were encouraged to settle the wilderness. This is exactly how David Crockett, famed outdoorsman, congressman, and defender of the Alamo began to make his mark in eastern Tennessee.
“David Crockett was born in eastern Tennessee in 1786. He moved here with his second wife Elizabeth in 1817. In 1817 the county was just being established. It was taken by treaty from the Creek Indians, and pioneers were just being allowed to move here. Many of these were war veterans that had been given land vouchers. That is how Crockett was able to move here. His wife possessed some of those land vouchers from her father’s service in the revolution”, explained park manager Rachel Lee.
Ms. Lee works preserving the history of David Crockett and welcoming guests to the area. “The land was set aside by the community to save as a park, until the state could purchase it and install a state park, or David Crockett State Park. Originally, we were around 1,100 acres. We’ve just purchased an additional 300 acres to make us right at 1,400. We have a variety of opportunities here from campgrounds, to cabins, an Olympic size swimming pool, restaurant, a lake, creek, tennis courts, basketball courts, hiking trails, and bike trails. The main focus of the park is our museum where we tell the story of David Crockett”, claimed Lee.
The park is significant because it rests on a piece of property originally owned by David Crockett. Crockett used the property for the development of industry in the early 1800s. “He came here and set aside six parcels of land that were all around the county. They had different interests and different resources that he could use. He would start in 1819, a grist mill, powder mill, and distillery on the banks of the creek where present day Crockett Falls is located. A grist mill grinds corn into corn meal and a powder mill is where they would take Sulphur, salt peter, and charcoal and crush it down to make black powder. Most of his corn meal would have been used in his distillery to make corn whiskey”, Lee said.
When Crockett settled in Lawrence county, the area was new. They needed leaders and Crockett rose to the challenge. “He was one of the first justices of the peace and also served as a county commissioner. He decided to get out of local politics and run for state legislature in 1820 and was elected to the state House of Representatives”, stated Lee.
Unfortunately, while Crockett was performing his civic duties, a flood destroyed his developments in Lawrence County. “When he arrived there in 1821, he received a letter not long afterward from Elizabeth saying that everything had been washed away in a flood. Everything that he had built was washed away. He returned home to settle his affairs and decided he would rather sell all of his property to pay his debt from the mills and move to west Tennessee”, Lee explained. The park museum holds what are believed to be the original mill stones from Crockett’s industry.
In addition to interpreting the history of David Crockett, the park does include a section of the Trail of Tears. “We have a 2.4-mile retracement interpretive trail that actually dissects the park and goes westward. At the time it was built, it was the longest interpretive retracement trail on public land in the United States”, Lee claimed.
“Another cool historical fact with David Crockett is that he opposed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 when Andrew Jackson put it forth in front of congress. He was a congressman at the time and he opposed the act, which would lead to the trail of tears. He did not vote for it, which actually cost him his seat in congress. It was the undoing of his political career in Washington. In 1836, he died at the Alamo and in 1838 the last part of the Indian Removal Act was finished. The Cherokee were moved west on the trail of tears and John Bell’s route, which we call Bell’s route, came through the park”, Lee said.
Along with the historical aspects of the park, there are several activities for families and campers. The park does have several RV sites with electric and water, and has several recreational activities available. With all of the amenities, it would seem to be more of a resort than a park. “We are more of a middle of the road park, we are not a full-on resort. We are very close with the cabins and the restaurant but without all of the hustle and bustle of a resort park”, Lee claimed.
“We’re at the edge of town, but when you get into the park, you think you are out in the wilderness to some extent. It makes it special that you don’t have to get far away to experience the nature and the history of David Crockett State Park”, Lee said.
Jared Langenegger
A graduate of New Mexico State University with B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science, Jared spent 15 years working in fisheries and parks management. He enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, painting, and wood working.
Make Sure To Stay At:
David Crockett State Park, which has a total of 115 sites designated for campers. Campground No. 1 is near the entrance of the park with Shoal Creek passing along its boundaries and has 54 water & 30 AMP electric sites, and 8 primitive sites.