Region: West Tennessee
Time Zone: Central
Follow TN 22 across Obion County from
Lake County on the west to Weakley County on the
east.
Reelfoot Lake State Park
Tiptonville, TN
http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/ReelfootLake/index.shtml
Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is one
of the greatest hunting and fishing preserves in the nation. The lake
encompasses 25,000 acres (15,000 of which are water) and harbors almost every
kind of shore and wading bird, as well as the golden and American bald eagles.
Other animals are also diverse and abundant here. Its many species of flowering
and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from all over the country.
Cypress dominates the margins of the lake, but many other trees and shrubs are
also present.
Reelfoot Lake is noted for its variety of game fish including
bream, white and black crappie, several species of catfish, large mouth bass,
and yellow bass. Many types of rough fish are also in the lake including
carp, gar, bowfin, drum and shad.
The visitor's center, campgrounds, bathrooms, boardwalk, fishing piers and
picnic areas are wheelchair accessible. Reelfoot Lake State Park spans
Lake Counties and Obion Counties in Tennessee.
Reelfoot Lake is a by-product of the New Madrid Earthquakes.
A series of 1,874 recorded tremors centered generally about 70 miles southwest
of the lake in Missouri took place from December 16, 1811 to March 8, 1812.
The "hard shock" came at 3 a.m., Friday, February 7, 1812, and could be felt
over an area of one million square miles from Canada to the eastern seaboard to
New Orleans. Witnesses reported that the earth and river were torn with
furious convulsions and created sunken lands, fissures, landslides and land
domes. It is said that, for a time, the Mississippi River flowed backwards
filling in the newly-sunk area now know as Reelfoot Lake. (Photo above
courtesy of Tennessee state Parks.)
There is a large RV park at Reelfoot Lake in Obion County.
Flippen's Fruit Farm & Hillbilly Barn
Troy, Tennessee
www.flippenhillbillybarn.com
Flippen's is just 10 minutes from Reelfoot Lake and is home to some of the most
famous fried pies in the world. Pie flavors include peach, apple, cherry,
blackberry, coconut, strawberry and chocolate, plus no-sugar-added pies.
Flippen's gift shop has a variety of goods including homemade preserves and
bar-b-que sauce. There are lots of tables where you can sit and enjoy your
fried pies while looking out over the 150-acre orchard.
