Tennessee State Parks on Monday dedicated the new Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park, which preserves and interprets the history of the Cherokee removal and honors the memory of those who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 1830s.

Formerly Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, the site is a designated location on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and is being elevated from a county park to state park status.

The park is in Meigs County at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee rivers near the historic Blythe Ferry crossing. In 1838, thousands of Cherokee and hundreds of Muscogee (Creek) people camped in harsh conditions at Blythe Ferry while waiting to cross the Tennessee River on the forced march westward.

“This land is a solemn place with a deep and important history, and we are honored to dedicate it as a Tennessee State Park,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). “With the resources of the Tennessee State Parks, as well as the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, we will help ensure Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park continues to be a place of reflection and remembrance for future generations.”

“Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park will have a special historical role combined with the amenities of a modern state park,” said Brian Clifford, deputy commissioner for Conservation at TDEC. “We are honored to add this important place to our state parks system and continue to offer meaningful ways to experience a place where history, remembrance, and the landscape remain deeply connected.”

As a recognized interpretive site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, the park will expand opportunities to share the history and impacts of forced removal while conserving significant cultural landscapes and providing access to the Tennessee River for recreation.

Through continued interpretation and stewardship, the park will educate visitors about this defining chapter in Tennessee and Cherokee history while highlighting the region’s natural resources. State parks serve not only as important venues for outdoor recreation but also as significant contributors to local economies, public health, and quality of life.

A total of 14 new Tennessee State Parks will be established under Governor Bill Lee, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration.