Park Manager Carol Crabtree, left, traces the Red Clay State Historic Area trail for Nicky White.CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A sunny, crisp day brought hikers and visitors to Red Clay State Historic Area on Monday to celebrate the new year.
All 53 Tennessee state parks celebrated the 75th anniversary of the state park system with a "first hike.''
At Red Clay, last council meeting place for the Cherokee before the Trail of Tears, it was a self-guided walk along the park's loop trail near the Georgia line.
"I remember coming down here as a little girl when nothing else was here,'' said Luanne Ellis as she browsed displays in the visitors' center. "I was here as a teenager when they had the dedication and lit the eternal flame,'' she said.
Nicky White was here to hike.
"When you get a day off from work, you take advantage of it,'' she said before heading for the trail.
"I've seen the signs on the interstate and just always wondered what was here,'' said Ooltewah resident Susan Phillips.
Park manager Carol Crabtree took time from greeting people dropping in at the visitors' center to list her dream projects for the new year.
"We want to find a permanent solution for our beaver dam,'' she said.
Outside, the beavers have been busy, evidenced by the water crossing a park road.
"We want to improve our trails,'' Crabtree said. "We will be looking for volunteers to help us reduce the erosion.''
"And we hope to display more of our collection,'' she said. "We have limited space but we have plans for larger display cases.
The Friends of Red Clay play an important role throughout the year with special events as well as volunteer work, Crabtree said.
Application forms are always at the front desk in the visitors' center.
"You don't have to attend all the meetings,'' Crabtree said. Some members mostly volunteer for projects or help during the large public events during the year. The first of those comes in March with Red Clay Homecoming.
Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.