Tennessee Dedicates Dry Branch as 68th State Park, Master Plan Underway for Public Access
Tennessee officially dedicated Dry Branch as its 68th state park on Wednesday, encompassing over 2,500 acres of forests and rare ecosystems in Middle Tennessee. The new park, located where Lewis, Hickman, and Perry counties meet near Hohenwald, is not yet open to the public. Tennessee State Parks is currently developing a master plan to determine recreational opportunities and public access. Efforts to conserve the Dry Branch area began in 2003 through partnerships between the state and The Nature Conservancy, securing the land. The property was previously designated as the Dry Branch State Natural Area and will retain this status, ensuring continued protection under Tennessee's Natural Areas Preservation Act. This protection is crucial due to the presence of unusual plant communities, including the federally endangered Tennessee yellow-eyed grass, which is found only in a small part of Middle Tennessee. The establishment of Dry Branch State Park is part of a broader initiative by Governor Bill Lee's admin...
