Cummins Falls Becomes a State Park

Cummins Falls has been a popular swimming hole for at least 100 years.

The newest state park in Tennessee is now Cummins Falls near Cookeville. The property surrounds the state’s eighth largest waterfall.

The park is relatively small, just 211 acres. But it has a gem in the middle. Cummins Falls was ranked as one of the ten best swimming holes in the country by Travel and Leisure magazine.

Much of the property was bought at auction in 2010 by conservationists concerned that a developer would build scenic homes. The state then purchased the property and is taking over operations. Governor Bill Haslam says it’s a landmark that should be accessible to the public.

“For a lot of Tennesseans, their best chance to enjoy Tennessee a lot of times is in a state park, and this is a way to add to that.”

Cummins Falls State Park will only be open from sun up to sundown. It brings the number of state parks in Tennessee to 54.