Norris Lakefront: Family-friendly ideas away from the lake.
Visit Whitts Place – Whitt’s Place is the exclusive seller of Century Farm Meat products. It’s located in the original farmhouse, built around 1900, on Fugate Farms. In-store we also offer a variety of locally-raised meat and locally-made products which vary by season.
Local Parks
Cumberland Gap National Park in Kentucky
Gap Cave Step into the depths of Gap Cave, a place where history and natural beauty intertwine beneath the Cumberland Gap. Once a hidden passage during the Civil War, this cave has been explored for centuries, offering shelter, mystery, and wonder to those who ventured inside. Today, it stands as a geological masterpiece, adorned with breathtaking stalagmites, shimmering flowstone cascades, and the quiet presence of cave-dwelling creatures. Closed for the season 2025
Step back in time with park staff as you explore the Hensley Settlement, a preserved early 20th-century Appalachian community perched atop Cumberland Mountain in Kentucky. Wander along fence-lined lanes, peek inside the springhouse, and experience the charm of the one-room schoolhouse, where children once learned by lantern light. During the tour, your guide will take you into several buildings, including cabins, blacksmith shop, and barn.
Established in 1903 by Sherman Hensley, the settlement remained occupied until 1947. With Sherman remaining by himself until 1951. Today, its historic buildings and breathtaking views provide a rare glimpse into a bygone era.
Wilderness road State Park in Virginia Wilderness Road offers picnicking, hiking, and nature and living history programs. Visitors can enjoy the visitor center, home to a theater showing an award-winning docudrama, “Wilderness Road, Spirit of a Nation.” The center also has a frontier museum and a gift shop with unique regional gifts. The park features the reconstructed Martin’s Station, an outdoor living history museum depicting life on Virginia’s 1775 frontier. Guests also enjoy the park’s picnic shelters, a 100-seat amphitheater, ADA-certified playground, sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits. Visitors can hike, bike or horseback ride on the 6.5-mile Wilderness Road Trail. The 1870s era mansion is available for weddings and meetings. It has a solarium that’s perfect for showers, birthdays and other special functions. The park’s amphitheater is also available for group functions.
Chuck Swan Wildlife Management
Prior to 1934, the area now known as Chuck Swan was made up of small parcels and farms. The land was acquired by the Tennessee Valley Authority in connection with the Norris Dam project. Chuck Swan WMA, originally known as Central Peninsula and is still called that today by many users, was officially sold to the State of Tennessee by the United States of America, Tennessee Valley Authority for a sum of $6,498.00 in 1952. Historical data shows Chuck Swan was being managed by TWRA (TN Fish and Game Commission) prior to 1952. Deer stocking efforts were taking place at Chuck Swan WMA in 1937.
These deer were eventually used as a major source for deer restoration efforts across the state until the end of the stocking program in 1985. During that time, Chuck Swan WMA provided deer to 41 different counties in Tennessee. Chuck Swan WMA has always been a destination for Tennessee sportsmen and that legacy continues today. The area is also home to several cemeteries, a firing range, and miles of drivable roads. Common woodland and grassland birds are present in season. Whitetail deer and eastern wild turkey are common across the entire WMA.
Norris Dam State Park sits on more than 4,000 acres located on Norris Reservoir. With more than 800 miles of shoreline, the park offers recreational boating, skiing, and fishing. The park has a fully equipped marina with boat ramp available to the general public. Houseboats and pontoon boats are available for rent along with other types of boats.