Grundy County
Savage Gulf Expansion
Project Partners
The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, Open Space Institute, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Mary Lynn Dobson, Carolyn & Jack Long, and the Friends of South Cumberland State Parks
In the fall of 2024, TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund successfully acquired 670 acres of ecologically significant, forested land adjacent to Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County. In late 2025, the partners transferred the land to the State of Tennessee, where it will be permanently managed as part of Savage Gulf State Park.
The protected 670 acres rest within the Middle Cumberland Plateau Conservation Opportunity Area, a region identified in the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan as having exceptional habitat value. The property also contains more than one mile of streams that flow directly into the Collins State Scenic River. The portion of the river within Savage Gulf State Park is designated a Class II Pastoral River Area, a legal status given to free-flowing, unpolluted waterways where agricultural and recreational uses harmoniously coexist with public enjoyment and ecological protection.
Numerous rare species have been documented on or near the property, including the wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) and the eastern slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus). Additionally, the endangered white fringeless orchid (Platanthera integrilabia) and yellow crested orchid (Platanthera cristata) have been documented on the tract. Notably, Savage Gulf State Park is home to one of the largest remaining populations of white fringeless orchid. By securing this property, we are ensuring that these species—and many others—can continue to thrive in the wild, uninterrupted by development or fragmentation.
Located in Grundy and Sequatchie counties, Savage Gulf became a Tennessee State Park in September 2022 after separating from South Cumberland State Park to allow for more concise management. This world-class park features some of Tennessee’s most scenic wilderness areas, including the nearly 19,000-acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area alongside the Great Stone Door area.
This expansion of Savage Gulf State Park reaffirms the power of partnership in conserving Tennessee’s natural legacy. With this addition, more habitat is protected, more watersheds are secured, and more opportunities for outdoor recreation are made possible. Together, we continue to build a resilient, connected landscape—one that will enrich the lives of Tennesseans today and far into the future.
We are deeply grateful to the following partners and supporters whose visionary funding made this project possible: the Open Space Institute, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Mary Lynn Dobson, Carolyn & Jack Long, and the Friends of South Cumberland State Parks.
