March 17 - 10th Annual Waterfall Tour Sponsored by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park: Fortunately, despite predictions of rain ranging from 40 to 70 %, we got through the tour with beautiful weather. (Fount's usual guarantee of no rain on his outings held true once again!)
Nabil, Cathy and her daughter Sarah, Mary Belle, Fount and Anna represented the Murfreesboro TTA among the sell-out group that filled 7 vans.
At Cummins Falls, the newly acquired State Natural Area, we were met by Ranger Jeremy Vaden who is one of two rangers already assigned there. Ranger Vaden accompanied us and explained to the group how the approach to the falls will be enhanced and trails established. We all felt good that this exceptionally beautiful natural feature was literally saved from the developer who planned to build houses that would extend out over the falls.
After a hearty lunch at the Golden Corral in Cookeville, complete with a chocolate dessert fountain, we went on to the City Park Falls. There had been enough recent rain that it was quite impressive and there were many varieties of wildflowers blooming along the path leading to it.
Then on to Hidden Valley Falls, where a "gloriously tacky" resort type amusement area surrounds the natural falls. It was surely a very popular summer day retreat during 1950's before the advent of air conditioning. We enjoyed poking around the miniature golf course, visiting the wedding chapel above the falls, feeding the ducks, going out in paddle boats, and eating snow cones before heading back to Edgar Evins State Park. It began to sprinkle as we unloaded at the park.
For those who waited too late to reserve a spot on the tour this year remember that the reservations open on February 1st each year at the park office and that different falls are visited each year. Pictures courtesy of Lynn Merritt Huggins (Lynn is a hiker as well as a descendant of the Merritt family for which the hiking trail is named at Edgar Evins State Park)
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