Gov. Dunn returns to Savage Gulf for 45th Anniversary of Hike
Above: Governor Dunn did some of his historic 1971 tour of Savage Gulf on horseback. Below: Governor Dunn, Kenny Dale of the National Park Service, and Dr. Elsie Quarterman of Vanderbilt University examine an old-growth Tulip Poplar tree during Dunn's 1971 Savage Gulf tour. Photos: Mack Prichard.
Below: Governor Dunn, on the tailgate, takes a lunch break along with others in his expedition during their historic 1971 Savage Gulf tour. Photo: Mack Prichard.
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"Pioneers of the Park" Celebration brought key players in the creation of South Cumberland State Park together in November, 2016, at the Big Red Barn in Beersheba Springs
In November, 2016, at the Big Red Barn in Beersheba Springs, the Friends of South Cumberland honored “Pioneers of the Park,” including former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn, on the 45th anniversary of his historic trek into Savage Gulf. Gov. Dunn enjoyed his return trip to the area that he was instrumental in adding to South Cumberland State Park (now Savage Gulf State Park). Family-friendly events included a hike into the Savage Gulf area of the park (leaving from the Big Red Barn), as well as an Adventurer Series hike into the Old Growth Forest in the bottom of Savage Gulf. Back at the Big Red Barn, there were family-friendly pioneer activities, including butter-churning, a crosscut saw demonstration, appearances by Davy Crockett and “Flint Knapp”, archery and hatchet throwing, bow drill and fire-making demonstrations, kids’ wildlife programs, a black powder rifle demonstration, kids’ archery program, and a hayride. An evening reception for the Governor included reminiscences by State Naturalist Emeritus Mack Prichard, Ed Thackson, who served as Dunn's environmental consultant, Bob Richards, Tennessee Greenways & Trails Coordinator, and the Governor himself. TN Federation of Garden Clubs' President Pam Dowd presented a generous grant to the Friends in support of its Mack Prichard Legacy Project, which is in the process of digitizing Prichard's environmentally-focused photography and field notes. The 2016 Harry C. Yeatman Environmental Education Award was presented by Friends President Latham Davis to John and Renie Christof. John served as SCSP's Park Manager for many years, beginning in the 1980s, and, among other things, Renie was responsible for helping create many of the SCSP Information & Welcome Center's original displays. Video highlights of the day can be viewed below: |
