KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After another successful recreation season in 2019, the Tennessee Valley Authority–managed campgrounds and visitor centers are closed for the winter months. The campgrounds and visitor centers will reopen in spring 2020. During this year’s recreation season, the campgrounds hosted over 96,000 total visitor nights.

TVA campgrounds closed are:

•  Cherokee Dam — Cherokee Reservoir in Jefferson City, Tenn.
•  Douglas Dam — Headwater — Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tenn.
•  Douglas Dam — Tailwater — Douglas Reservoir near Sevierville, Tenn.
•  Melton Hill Dam — Melton Hill Reservoir near Lenoir City, Tenn.
•  Pickwick Dam — Pickwick Reservoir near Savannah, Tenn.
•  Watauga Dam — Watauga Reservoir near Elizabethton, Tenn.

While the campgrounds are closed, TVA and Recreation Resource Management will perform maintenance such as tree trimming, parking lot striping and replacing amenities such as grills and picnic tables. Employees will also assess them for possible upgrades such as making bathroom improvements, renovating camp stores and upgrading electrical service. Work to repair flood damage will continue at Pickwick with the goal of having the campgrounds open by spring.

TVA’s day-use recreation areas on dam reservations remain open year-round. These recreation areas are used for hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, wildlife viewing and swimming.