Explore More- Getting Real Local in the Tennessee River Valley.

Dave Matheson, the owner and organizer of the Bristol Forest Rally, discusses the organization and history of the rally. The Bristol Forest Rally is a stage rally that takes place on National Forest gravel roads. It is similar to mountain bike Enduro racing, but with cars. The rally started in 2021 and has been steadily growing each year, with plans to expand to a two-day national championship event called the Overmountain Rally in 2024. Spectators can watch the rally for free in designated areas, and volunteering opportunities are available.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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Owner of Knoxville Adventure Collective, Jon Terry joins Julie to talk about the adventures that his business offers visitors who want to get on the river or greenways.

From biking to rock climbing to paddle trips, learn more with Jon.  

From your Artsy, outdoor, kind of Town see the river in a "whole new way." 

Guided tours or simply rent equipment, learn more about how to discover the rivers.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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We had a chance to attend media day at the 2023 Bassmasters Classic in Knoxville, TN.

Find out why professional anglers love the Tennessee River system for both competitive and for recreational fishing.

Listen to anglers, Gerald Swindle, Scott Canterbury, David Mullins, Brandon Card, Tristan McCormick, Jon Cox, Clifford Pirch, Cody Huff, Drew Cook, Greg Hackney and the winner of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Jeff Gustafson talk about the river system and where the sweet spots are.

The Classic is an annual event inviting the the best bass anglers in the world to compete in head to head competition. 
  

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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We had a chance to catch up with angler, Jeff Gustafson at media day before the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes.

Listen in to Jeff's comments about his chances at the Classic and his take on fishing the Tennessee River lake system.

Knoxville, Tennessee hosted the event that drew over 100,000 angling enthusiasts to the 4 day event. 

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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University of Tennessee's grad- Hudson volunteered during his student career at UT. 

In this podcast, Hudson reflects on why volunteering was valuable for his academic career, and for the work he completed for the ExploreTRV project.    His work connected with him with recreational and heritage destinations in and around the University of Tennessee's campus.  

Volunteers are the heart and soul of non-profit organizations.  ServeUTK is a social based platform matching student with community partners.  

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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Got 72 hours for an epic adventure?  Listen in as ROAM's founder, Greg Wingo shares ideas for adrenalin adventures in the Tennessee River Valley

Need an adventure idea:

• Pack-Cycling
• Backpack rafting and primitive camping
• Backpack hiking and backpack running?

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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Johnsonville State Historic Park is a day-use park named for former President Andrew Johnson who also served as the Union Military Governor of Tennessee during the Civil War. This 1,075-acre park commemorates the site of the Johnsonville Depot, the Battle of Johnsonville and the historic town site of Johnsonville that existed from 1864-1944 prior to the formation of Kentucky Lake.

During the Civil War, the area served as a strategic Union supply depot.  Listen to Park Manager and Historian, Bob Holliday talks about the history of the park and efforts underway to document more historic sites on the property. 

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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Norris Dam was the first of a series of dams that the Tennessee Valley Authority  built  as part of their mission to improve life for people in the Valley.

During the Great Depression, the rural communities were struggling to survive.  Most of the farming land around Norris Lake had been stripped of topsoil due to farming and logging practices.   Electricity was only available in cities, and jobs were scarce.

The Tennessee Valley Act of 1933 created the TVA and charged the agency to control flooding, improve navigation, and to bring cheap electricity to the people of the Valley.

In this episode, Park Ranger, Joseph Gamble talks about the history of Norris Dam and the co-located, Norris Dam State Park.   

This park is a treasure trove for outdoor lovers with its paddling, camping, historic buildings, and trail system, which includes hiking, mountain biking, and horse trails.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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In 1756, the British were building forts on the western frontier to fortify their position during the French Indian War (1754- 1763.)

Fort Loudoun was commissioned by the British Colony of South Carolina to keep trade routes open with the Overhill Cherokee Nation.  By 1760, due to mounting tension between the British and the Overhill Cherokee Nation, the fort was captured by the Cherokee and was never again used as a military garrison.  It is said that the Overhill People destroyed the fort and the land reverted to its natural beauty.

During the Depression, a reproduction of the fort was built on the location of the original fort.   The site was designated as a state park in 1977.

Park Ranger, Joseph Gamble talks about the history of the fort and the nearby Tellico Blockhouse.  Why were these structures built?  Who lived here?

Learn more about this living history state park and the events that are held annually.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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In 1942, TVA's first dam, Norris Dam was generating power and World War II was being fought in two theaters- Europe and Japan. How did these two events combine to birth a National Park?

Oak Ridge Historian, Ray Smith takes us from the beginning of the "Secret City" project being built in Oak Ridge and powered by Norris Dam to the establishment of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

Learn about the history behind Little Boy and the efforts to commemorate these places with a  National Park designation as told by one of Ray, one of the chief individuals who spearheaded the designation effort. 

"What is the Manhattan Project? The Manhattan Project was an unprecedented, top-secret World War II government program in which the United States rushed to develop and deploy the world’s first atomic weapons before Nazi Germany. The use of these weapons by the United States against Japan in August 1945 ultimately became one of the most important historical events of the 20th century. The project ushered in the nuclear age and left enduring legacies that echo all around us today. The Manhattan Project took shape at three primary locations across the country: Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NPS website 2023.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

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