by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Often dividing things comes with grumbling and unhappiness about who got what. But the Plateau’s new state park, Head of the Crow, formed from a 4,258 acres split off from South Cumberland State Park, is a win-win for everyone — the state park service, Plateau residents, tourists, the University, and the nonprofit Friends of South Cumberland that has embraced the Plateau’s parks as its vision.

Why the split? “South Cumberland is a large park that covers a lot of noncontiguous land which presents a lot of challenges. Operationally it can lead to longer response times and for visitors it can be hard to navigate,” said Bill Loewer who recently signed on as Head of the Crow park manager. “The park is the headwaters of Crow Creek,” Loewer explained when asked about the name. “Crow Creek is one of the primary natural resources of the park.”

The Crow Creek feeder stream system drains into Lost Cove, disappears, travels underground for over a mile, and emerges at the mouth of Buggytop Cave in the Carter State Natural Area, one of the new park’s four regions. Head of the Crow will also encompass the Natural Bridge State Natural Area with its 25-foot high sandstone arch spanning 50 feet; the 249 acre Hawkins Cove State Natural Area; and the 3,075 acre Sherwood Forest State Natural Area.

The Tennessee General Assembly has allocated $25 million for a new visitor center. “We expect to hire a designer in early 2025,” Loewer said. Although still under development, park plans call for new trails and some backcountry campsites. Currently the region has no designated camping areas. New signage and maps will follow. And meanwhile, during development, all current access points and trails will remain open. A map at the Tennessee State Park website shows the current trail systems. <

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Splitting off Head of the Crow marks the second division of South Cumberland State Park. In 2022, the park service designated the Savage Gulf Natural Area as a state park separate and distinct from South Cumberland State Park. With this second split, South Cumberland State Park will now consist of Fiery Gizzard, Grundy Lakes, and Denny Cove, but the Friends of South Cumberland will continue to be steward to all the Plateau’s state parks. “We’ll continue to support and serve the natural areas encompassed by the parks in the same way we always have,” said Friends’ Executive Director Ned Murray. “It’s the same amount of land we’ve always served, just configured differently. And the formation of the new park actually reduces the load on us by providing more staff from the state. From our perspective, there’s no point in having competing entities for volunteers, donors, and the services we provide.”

For Murray, the Plateau’s parks and the Friends’ role as their steward is the tie that binds. “The Friends have embraced being one of the few entities that binds the communities from Sewanee to Beersheba to Pelham as a priority in our strategic plan. The region’s natural resources brought indigenous peoples here. For years natural resource extraction drove the economy, but it wasn’t sustainable. Now Plateau communities and leaders are realizing the region’s natural resources are what binds us. At a time when our country is more contentious than ever, the Plateau communities are more united than ever. It’s a story of hope and optimism.”

University Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen shares Murray’s enthusiasm. “The Head of the Crow State Park project represents a great opportunity for the University of the South, the local Sewanee community, and this part of the Cumberland Plateau,” Pearigen said. “The state of Tennessee and the University have a legacy of partnership dating back to the 1970’s including transactions around the Lost Cove and Natural Bridge areas, so this project is a natural extension of Governor Lee’s vision. The trails, recreation areas, and natural beauty of the Head of the Crow will draw visitors to the area, some of whom will find their way to the Sewanee Village, grab a bite to eat, to shop, and maybe even come up the street to take a campus tour.”

Prior to accepting the position as park manager at Head of the Crow, Loewer served as manager at Long Hunter State Park bordering Percy Priest Lake. Loewer plans to move to the Plateau soon. Residents can meet Loewer and ask questions at the Friends annual meeting, Sept. 22, at 12:30 p.m., at St. Mary’s Conference Center. The meeting is not a fundraiser, but rather a free event open to and welcoming everyone. The pre-meeting picnic starts at 11:30 p.m. Get to know the Friends and new park manager Bill Loewer. You’ll be glad you did.