By: Eliana Morales
The Blue Hole, a popular swimming spot in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, will be inaccessible for about one year as North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park undergoes upgrades. The park features a “deep gorge…spanning approximately 10 miles with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs and the waters of a Tennessee State Scenic River,” according to the Tennessee State Parks (TSP) website.
A blog post on the TSP website, published Jan. 12, states that the upgrades will include an improved park entrance, asphalt and striping in parking areas, an ADA-accessible river-viewing pier and a restroom.
Since the Blue Hole is a mile-long hike from the main parking lot on Montlake Road, it will be unsafe to access while the upgrades are ongoing.
“With the construction project, there is no safe way to allow visitors to get there,” stated the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in a Jan. 12 press release. “Both sides of the gorge are dangerous. Anyone who attempts to access the Blue Hole may face charges.”
Many Southern students, including junior computer science major Gabriel Silva, enjoy visiting the Blue Hole. He said that the temporary closure is unfortunate, since it is one of his favorite places in the area. He described the Blue Hole as the go-to hang-out spot on a Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Hole is also a favorite local spot for senior health and wellness major Prince Atama.
“I’m definitely sad to see it closing for so long,” he said. “It’s a bit of a letdown for the upcoming season, but I hope the safety upgrades make the park even better for everyone eventually.”
Emily Dekle, junior nursing major, also enjoys going to the Blue Hole and even hosted her latest birthday gathering there.
“I like going to the Blue Hole because it’s a beautiful place that has both excitement and peace,” she said. “The nature is relaxing and recharging, while cliff jumping makes me feel alive.”
Although she is sad about the closure, Dekle believes it will be worth it if the parking situation improves, since she has noticed the parking lot often gets overcrowded during the summer.
The park’s capital improvement is part of its strategic management plan, according to Jennifer Donnals, the senior communications advisor for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
For example, installing an ADA-accessible river-viewing pier will improve the state park’s accessibility in support of its stated goal of providing well-maintained facilities and amenities.
The planned upgrades to improve parking lots and add a restroom are listed in the plan as key short-term recommendations, meaning they can be addressed sooner than other recommendations.
In her email to the Accent, Donnals stated that funding for the project was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, and the project itself was approved by the State Building Commission.
In TSP’s blog post, Park Manager Sarah Geeslin stated, “We’re excited about the long-term benefits these improvements will bring to the park. While construction will temporarily limit parking and require the closure of the Blue Hole, these upgrades will create a safer, more accessible experience for visitors in the future. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation during this project, as visitor safety is always our top priority.”
