Fort Patrick Henry

Fort Patrick Henry

Fort Patrick Henry Visitor Center Building will be closed until further notice. Check this site for information about the date the center will re-open.

Fort Patrick Henry is a run-of-river reservoir, meaning water is passed through the reservoir without being stored long-term. It has two hydroelectric generating units.

Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir, on the South Fork Holston River in east Tennessee, extends 10 miles upstream from the dam to Boone Dam.

Fort Patrick Henry is named after the colonial fort, also known as Long Island Station, that was established nearby at the site of present-day Kingsport, Tenn. The dam was built primarily for hydropower, but it is also used to regulate the flow of water downstream to ensure a reliable supply of water for local industry and for cooling water at TVA's John Sevier Fossil Plant.

Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir is a popular site for fishing, particularly rainbow trout, bluegill, bass, and crappie. Warrior's Path State Park is located on the reservoir.

There is a visitor's center on site to tell you more about the history of Ft. Patrick Henry and TVA and about TVA's current activities. It is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT from April to October and from November to March from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fort Patrick Henry: Facts & Figures

  • Construction of Fort Patrick Henry Dam began in 1951 and was completed in 1953.
  • The dam is 95 feet high and stretches 737 feet across the South Fork Holston River.
  • Fort Patrick Henry is a run-of-river reservoir, meaning water is passed through the reservoir without being stored long-term. TVA typically maintains the water level between 1,258 and 1,263 feet of elevation.
  • Fort Patrick Henry Dam is a hydroelectric facility. It has two generating units with a summer net dependable capacity of 41 megawatts. Net dependable capacity is the amount of power a dam can produce on an average day minus the electricity used by the dam itself.
  • Find Fort Patrick Henry Dam at 3657 Ft. Henry Dr., Kingsport, Tenn.

More Information on Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir

Daily Lake Level

Ecological Health Ratings

Water Trail Guide