Northeast Tennessee has drawn visitors and new residents by relying upon a relatively low cost of living, a dependable business community and amiable people, but few aspects are more appealing than outdoor recreation. Let’s look at what to expect as the weather warms around our region’s principal locations.
By A.J. Kaufman, Managing Editor
Bristol
Bristol’s downtown and beyond offers an abundance of playgrounds for recreation and tourism. The city has long been considered one of the most charming in the mid-South, thanks largely to its welcoming community and historic downtown, which is among the most unique in the country. With the Tennessee and Virginia state line running directly through State Street and encircled by stunning mountains, Bristol is a perfect blend of adventure and culture.
“For a city of its size, Bristol also has many popular and internationally known attractions that draw people from all over the world,” Explore Bristol Executive Director Matt Bolas explained to the Business Journal.
Several large-scale locations are popular with residents, tourists and those looking to make Bristol their new home. Chief among these are the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, the 240-acre Pinnacle shopping center and stunning South Holston Lake and River.
“Bristol’s unique character is what keeps people coming back—whether they are visiting for the first time or choosing to invest here,” Beth Rhinehart, President & CEO of the Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce, told the Business Journal. “Bristol blends rich heritage with forward-looking opportunity. Businesses recognize the value of our strategic location, collaborative spirit, and strong workforce, while visitors are drawn to the authenticity, culture, and hospitality that define our region. It’s that combination of tradition, innovation, and community pride that makes Bristol a place people want to experience—and a place where businesses want to grow.”
Kingsport
Among the crown jewels of the Tri-Cities is Bays Mountain Park, welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year. The site features almost 50 miles of hiking trails, a state-of-the-art planetarium, wildlife habitats, fun exhibits, a 44-acre lake, mountain biking trails and more.
Bays Mountain Park opened Fox Den Playground late last year. Located next to the Herpetarium, the playground is approximately one-quarter acre. Features include multiple climbing structures and slides, such as a Timber Tower, Log Jam, Songbird, Log Pile and Log Steppers.
Development on the playground began more than five years ago, with the idea coming via long-time Bays Mountain supporters David and Brenda Fox. The Kingsport couple championed this project in memory of their son, Parker, who passed away in 2020 at age 25.
“Bays Mountain Park continues to make improvements and renovations, most notably with the opening of the Fox Den playground and the groundbreaking for our new otter habitat,” Matthew Lane, communications specialist with the City of Kingsport, told the Business Journal. “The park continues to be a special place, not only for the residents of Kingsport, but for the greater Tri-Cities region.”
The City of Kingsport held a groundbreaking ceremony at Bays Mountain Park in March for the park’s new river otter habitat. The roughly 2,300-square-foot habitat will accommodate three river otters and feature a close-up underwater viewing area and modern filtration system. River otters were first introduced at Bays Mountain Park in 1987, but the park has been without any since 2019.
Construction on the new otter habitat began March 16 and takes approximately 18 months to complete. During that time, Bays Mountain Park officials will begin the process of acquiring river otters for the new habitat. The cost of the project is approximately $2.4 million and is funded in part by a grant from the State of Tennessee and a corporate sponsorship from Eastman Chemical Company.
Johnson City
One of the premier mountain biking destinations in the region, Tannery Knobs offers an exhilarating outdoor experience for riders and enthusiasts of all skill levels. Boasting over 40 acres of terrain, and conveniently located near downtown Johnson City, Tannery Knobs provides an escape for locals and visitors. Riders can access the park’s trails and pump-track, making it an ideal destination for those seeking an outdoor retreat without venturing too far from urban conveniences.
Located at the northern edge of Johnson City, along the shores of Boone Lake, Winged Deer Park appeals to nature lovers, athletes, adventure seekers or those looking for a peaceful place to unwind. The 200-acre district park has amenities including lighted baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, playground area, concession building, half-mile walking track and paved fitness trails, which wind through the forested section of the park. The lakefront area features sand volleyball courts, pavilion with restroom, public boating access, green space, lighted handicap accessible boardwalk, amphitheater and a Festival Plaza multi-use area.
Live music by the aforementioned Boone Lake is held weekly in June with Johnson City Parks and Recreation’s Lakeside Concert Series. The series showcases some of the area’s top talent at Winged Deer Park’s Goulding Amphitheatre. The venue offers easy access, free parking, concessions and a playground. In addition to music, the series includes activities for children, food trucks, games, giveaways and more.
The just-completed St. Patrick’s Day edition of Main Street Days drew large crowds to downtown Johnson City and generated a significant economic impact for local businesses. Held March 14, the event welcomed an estimated 13,100 attendees, making it the largest festival in Washington County outside of the Appalachian Fair.
Johnson County
“Despite the challenges brought by Hurricane Helene, several of Johnson County’s leading tourism destinations have continued recovery and expansion efforts, reinforcing the area’s growing outdoor recreation and agritourism economy,” Johnson County Tourism Coordinator Sheila Caldwell told the Business Journal.
At more than 8,700 acres, Doe Mountain Recreation Area offers 120 miles of trails, including some of the East Coast’s best singletrack motorcycle trails and more than 50 miles of scenic side-by-side routes overlooking Watauga Lake and surrounding mountains. Visitors without their own equipment can explore scenic highways with Polaris Slingshot rentals.
According to Caldwell, one of the most memorable viewpoints in the region is the Doe Mountain Fire Tower, where visitors can look across multiple states and spot Appalachian peaks, including Mount Mitchell, Mount Rogers and Roan Mountain. The recreation area is also expanding its non-motorized offerings with the new Kettlefoot Trail, which will connect the Adventure Center to the Kettlefoot Fire Tower through hiking and mountain biking trails.
The county is also planning for the future through the Johnson County Trails Association, an organization leading efforts to expand and connect the county’s trail network. The association has developed a master plan identifying more than 100 miles of new and improved multi-use trail corridors designed to connect communities with neighboring regions. The vision includes community trailheads and gathering spaces, as well as rail-trail greenways and ecological corridors that protect native habitats while expanding recreational access. The plan was shaped by feedback from more than 2,000 residents and regional partners and will be implemented in phases over the next decade.
Agritourism is also growing with investment at Villa Nove Farm & Vineyard. The location recently doubled its covered visitor space with a new taproom featuring a tasting bar, mountain-view roll-up walls, live music and a gelato cart. A new kitchen opened this year, and they will soon open a 4,000-square-foot wine production facility designed for aging and bottling its handcrafted Tennessee wines and hosting immersive tours. Johnson County will also host a series of signature events throughout 2026, many themed around the America 250 celebration.
Unicoi County
As Unicoi County continues to rebuild more than 18 months after Hurricane Helene tore through the area, one visible indicator that tourism around Erwin is building momentum was the return of the Unicoi County Apple Festival last October. The event was canceled in 2024 due to flooding, and over two days last fall, an estimated 150,000 visitors and 420 vendor booths filled the streets of downtown Erwin, making it the largest event in the festival’s 48-year history.
Chamber of Commerce leaders say the festival generates a multi-million-dollar economic impact for the region and provides a significant boost to local restaurants, retailers, lodging providers and tourism businesses.
In addition to the festival, Unicoi County’s outdoor recreation sector serves as the backbone of its tourism economy. Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River has long been one of the region’s signature adventure experiences, attracting paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country. The return of rafting excursions this spring marks a milestone in the area’s continued recovery.
“Rafting has historically been one of the county’s most recognizable tourism assets, drawing thousands of visitors each season and supporting a wide network of guides, lodging properties, restaurants and support businesses,” Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Delp told the Business Journal.
The Appalachian Trail runs through the mountains surrounding Unicoi County and brings thousands of hikers through the area annually as infrastructure repairs continue following storm damage. With construction of the Chestoa Bridge across the Nolichucky River ongoing, local partners are once again coordinating a ferry system to safely transport Appalachian Trail hikers across the river this season.
“With its combination of mountain adventure, community traditions and welcoming small-town atmosphere, Unicoi County continues to strengthen its role as an important destination within the Appalachian Highlands tourism landscape,” Delp explained.
