For those that are adventureous enough to go to Middle TN you may want to check out Rock Island SP. It is between McMinnville and Sparta. I was raised there and it is a nice park. It is a few minutes from Cumberland Caverns. The park is also home to one of the best kyacking practice areas at the falls. I think they have even used it to practice for the olympics. There was a movie called the specialist filmed there. Sylvester Stalone and James Woods stared in it and it was fimed at the dam area. This area has had about 4 films fimed there in the last 20 years that I remember. I live about 10 miles from there now. So if you have questions let me know.I may even go there myself if someone or a group from here go to it.

Wiily,

Isn't Rock Island one of the few Tennessee State Parks that accepts reservations ?

That would be a trip we would be interested in doing. I believe it would make a good "Quick Trip".

Yep, it does take reservations. If some of you do want to make a journey here let me know.I will try to make it and show you alll the stuff I remember there. There are 2 graveyards , or at least they use to be and a moonshine trail. One of the graveyards may have been moved. When I first got my license I stayed there every waking moment I could. I got to know a lot of history there. Plus I got to help out the park rangers and folk. Back in the 80s they use to put on a show every Fri and Sat night. they don't do that anymore but they taught me a lot about storytelling. I do a country comedy blog and a lot of the stories are the experences of that area. From that blog I have had a offer from a producer to help me record a comedy cd and I have been invited to a Christian Comedy conventon to perform in Fl. So Rock Island to me has helped me alot with storytelling . If this group would like me to show you around let me know. It may be hard to plan this fall with my child in the band but in the spring to sometime in July 08 I should be able to plan on it.

Ok Willy. I have you penciled on as our guest speaker when you camp with us.. can't wait to hear your stuff

If you want to read some of my stuff it is on the web. I wrote a post on a local page because I was bored. I created a character of a country bumpkin that was everyones favorite uncle. I did a post there about him falling down a hill with his mule and both getting bedridden. It took off from that and some people sent get well wishes for the uncle to get better. I based a lot of it on people I knew growing up and things that happened at the park. the sign stealin caper at the site below was based on some rangers there.I have people all over the world that read it, not bad since I just started the blog in January of this year. I have people in England,Boston, New York,a actress in Hollywood, a rock band,a country music band among others that read it. I do it anonomously so remember that if you post there. I want to keep it like that as long as I can. If you like stuff like Jerry Clower hopefully you will like the blog. But I do make it "countryfied" So be prepared for "yalls, youngins, chere for the word here and other such abuses of the English language. The funny thing is I am a certified layspeaker for churches and no one has asked me to come in. But I have got invites from comedians to go to a national Christian comedian convention,Boston among others. I even have a guy that will help me produce a cd that I will probably take him up on it. But before I do anything that big I want to work on my timing here locally. If you want to read them they are at http://www.smithvilledirectory.com/cgi-bin...20Coon%20holler

How far is Rock Island from TN Tech? My son is going to Tech in the fall. Wondering if this would be close to him. Would be nice to be able to make reservations. What sites are best for a 35ft. fifth-wheel?

Rock Island is about 45 minutes from TN Tech. I work about 5 minutes from there at TTU. The best way to go there from Tech is to get on 111 and go straight to it. I would probably get on the road to Algood and then get on 111. Now this is my personal opinion only. I like the ones toward the end of the camping area. I think the one I go to is 47. The best ones through there to me are on the right. The dump station is just up so if you have a portable tank its not so far up there. We did not smell the dump station either. They are redoing a lot of that so before long it will be real nice. Another good area looks like the first campsites on the right when you first go in that area. A lot of the longer ones go there if I remember. If I remeber correctly I think some of the ones around the dead ends are kinda small. The one we go to so far I can park my 20 ft camper and my 66 ford which is abot 20 ft in there and both are still out of the road. I would definately ask the rangers when you call to suggest you one. We asked when we made the reservations and they pretty well knew it would fit. But I have seen some that long in there before so I think you should be able to camp. . I can scan a map of it if anyone wants it. I think I have one here. The link to the park is http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/R...x.shtml#camping

Thanks!