All-terrain wheelchairs available at Tennessee State Parks

Davis Nolan
·2 min read

JACKSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Tennessee has some of the most beautiful state parks in the country.

Recently, Tennessee State Parks announced the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at 12 of its parks, enhancing accessibility for visitors with disabilities.

Fishing from the bank: TWRA enhancing access

(Photo: WKRN)
(Photo: WKRN)

Neal Weatherly is a park ranger at Cummins Falls State Park and helps administer the program there.

“People with mobility and impairments have not been able to see these sights,” Weatherly pointed out. “We’re very excited to get individuals down here where they can view the falls, and it’s very important to Tennessee parks to allow access to those with mobility impairments.”

These new all-terrain wheelchairs are electric-powered and are simple to operate using a joystick. There are two sets of controls, so either the rider can operate it, or someone walking behind the wheelchair can guide it, and it’s ready to go off-road.

Cherry blossom trees are about to be in full bloom!

“The one we have here at Cummins Falls has all-terrain wheels,” Weatherly explained. “And this allows these wheelchairs to go off-pavement or off-concrete and really access other trails we have at Tennessee State Parks.”

Twelve parks across Tennessee now have at least one of these wheelchairs.

In Middle Tennessee, aside from Cummins Falls State Park, the wheelchairs are available at Long Hunter, Natchez Trace, Radnor Lake, Tims Ford, and Henry Horton state parks.

The six other parks in Tennessee that now have all-terrain wheelchair availability are:

  • Cove Lake State Park, Campbell County, TN (northwest of Knoxville)

  • Cumberland Mountain State Park, Cumberland County near Crossville, TN

  • Chickasaw State Park, Chester County near Henderson, TN

  • Warriors’ Path State Park, Kingsport

  • Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park, Unicoi County (near the North Carolina border)

  • Booker T. Washington State Park, Chattanooga, TN

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