Center Hill Lake - Rich in History, Beauty, and Outdoor Fun

A Rich History
Center Hill Lake has a rich history. Once a low lying land that was prone to flooding, it was transformed into a dam in 1948 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Unfortunately, many families that had been there for generations had to be relocated as well as thousands of bodies from 82 family cemeteries. Visitors can get more information about the history and wildlife in the area by stopping by The Center Hill Lake Information Center.

Recreation at the Lake

There is much to do at Center Hill Lake. It is a notorious fishing spot where those who enjoy fishing can catch a wide range of different types of fish. There are also places to camp, picnic, and hunt. It is a very popular lake for boating with nine marinas to choose from and many areas to load and unload your watercraft. You’re sure to work up an appetite doing all these activities and there are a few quaint little restaurants to eat at in the area some being right on the marina where you can enjoy watching the water while you eat.

List of Marinas:

Center Hill Marina
Edgar Evins Marina
Sligo Marina
Hidden Harbor Marina
Four Seasons Marina
Pates Ford Marina
Horseshoe Bend Marina
Cookeville Boat Dock
Hurricane Marina

State Parks and Other Facilities

There are several facilities located at the lake including The Appalachian Center for Craft, Edgar Evins State Park, and Rock Island State Park.

• The Appalachian Center for Craft: Built in 1979, this facility is a campus of Tennessee Tech University and is conveniently located near Center Hill Lake with breathtaking views to get your creative blood flowing. There are studios, galleries, exhibitions and much more to enjoy.
  
  
  
• Edgar Evins State Park: This park is a popular camping destination as it contains 6,000 acres of beautiful land positioned conveniently at the shores of the lake in the hilly region of Center Hill Lake. There are campgrounds, a large marina, as well as a restaurant and gift shop.
  
  
  
• Rock Island State Park: This park is not as big as the previous park with only 883 acres, but it has some of the most beautiful views in the area including a 30-foot cascading waterfall. Also, near the waterfall is a cotton textile mill from the 1900s that was powered by the waterfall over a century ago.
  

The parks and facilities listed here barely scrape the surface of activities that can be done at this beautiful lake. Explore all the areas if you like! To fully enjoy what it has to offer you must come and see it for yourself.