Lakes • Parks • Outdoor Events • Historic Sites • Historical Highlights
Lakes
The Beech River Watershed Development Authority was created by the Tennessee Legislature in 1961, as an agency of the state to produce and coordinate an intensified program aimed at developing the resources of the area. The seven lakes built by the authority in Henderson County provide 3,000 acres of surface area and 100 miles of shoreline for recreational activities. All of the lakes are open to the public and provide facilities for public use. Beech, Pine, Cedar, Redbud, Dogwood, Sycamore, and Pin Oak Lakes and their adjacent lands are open to swimming, hunting, (in season), boating, hiking, picnicking, and other activities. Water skiing can be enjoyed on Beech, Pine, and Pin Oak Lakes.
Parks
Natchez Trace State Park, the State's largest and most visited park, is just six miles northeast of Lexington. The park was named for the important wilderness road that ran between Nashville and Natchez, MS, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The park covers over 46,000 square acres and is managed by the Tennessee Department of Conservation.
The park's Pin Oak Lodge provides single and double room accommodations and has a 160 seat restaurant, as well as a swimming pool and tennis courts for guests. They have added 27 rooms making a total of
47. They have added suites, which are available in 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. There are 10 new villas
and 17 cabins. Pin Oak Lodge has a new campground with 77 sites. It has 5 camping cabins. They added one group camp that has 5 cottages, a bunkhouse, administration building and kitchen. They have also added an equestrian center. Located on the shores of Pin Oak Lake, guests will find good fishing and boating at their doorstep during their stay. Cabins and camping site are also available.
For reservations call 1-800-421-6683 or 731-968-8176.
For more information contact:
Park Manager's Office
Natchez Trace State Resort Park
Wildersville, Tennessee 38388
Telephone: 731-968-3742
Other nearby parks include -
Pickwick Reservoir and State Park (40 miles)
Chickasaw State Park
Pinson Indian Burial Mounds
Shiloh National Military Park (30 miles south)
Outdoor Events
Falcon Ridge Golf Club & Estates invites you to come play an eighteen hole round of golf surrounding our lake or view our wooded real estate lots overlooking the golf course. For more information, please call us at (731) 968-1212 or email us at infofrgc@falconridge.com
Henderson County caters to a variety of outdoor sports. The city of Lexington boasts a very fine country club with a swimming pool, an excellent 9-hole golf course, and a modern club house.
Pine Tree Country Club, Inc. opened the summer of 1961 as Lexington Golf & Country Club. The name was changed to Pine Tree Country Club, Inc. in 1985.
We are a 9-hole course with Champion Bermuda greens and beautiful lush
Bermuda fairways. We also offer a swimming pool and banquet facilities.
Our Banquet room has seating for 100 with room for 175. There is a stage for entertainment with room for dancing.
Please call the Clubhouse for pricing and availability.
(731)968-7081 Clubhouse
(731)968-1961 Office
(731)968-1992 Fax
The city also operates a playground and recreation park with lighted basketball courts, lighted ball fields, swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, and a rodeo arena.
The Lexington-Henderson County Fair is an annual event held each September. The fair is the only fair in the State of Tennessee with free admission and has been known to be attended by over 65,000 people. Other annual events in Lexington include: Freedom Day Lake Festival in July, National Championship Rodeo in August, and National Drag Boat Races in August. See Calendar of Events for details.
Kentucky Lake, one of the worlds finest fishing and water skiing areas, is but a short drive over the fine paved highways from Lexington (20 miles). The lake is rapidly developing into one of the best migratory waterfowl hunting areas in the State.
Natchez Trace State Park, has two stocked and managed fishing lakes where anglers take good catches of black crappie, bass and catfish. Within park boundaries, there is also an abundance of deer, wild turkey, squirrel, dove, quail, raccoon, and waterfowl.
Also located within the park are 33 miles of backpacking trails, an archery range and a wrangler camp. More fishing, boating and water skiing can be enjoyed at the Tennessee River, just 23 miles east of Lexington; Pickwick Reservoir and State Park just 40 miles away; and nearby Chickasaw State Park.
Historic Sites
In June of 1861, as the Civil War began, Henderson County's citizens voted against secession. But as the armies clashed, most in the area cast their support with the South. As the war progressed, both Union and Confederate regiments were recruited in the county. The most important fight to take place in Henderson County occurred December 31, 1862 at Parker's Crossroads.
Having cut Union communication lines on a raid into West Tennessee, a Confederate cavalry force of 1,800 men under the command of Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest camped the night of Dec. 30 just northwest of the crossroads. Union troops were in pursuit of Forrest, and Dec. 31 a 1,500-man brigade led by Col. Cyrus L. Dunham barred Forrest's line of march to the southeast. As the fight progressed, the Confederate forced the Federal troops to withdraw to a position south of the crossroads known as Red Mound.
Having surrounded the Union force, Forrest was parlaying with Dunham for the surrender of the Union brigade when Col. John W. Fuller's Ohio brigade arrived from the north and attacked Forrest's rear elements. When told he was between two Union brigades, Forrest's order was, "Charge them both ways!" With but 75 cavalrymen, he charged into the left flank of the Ohio brigade, disrupting its attack and enabling the Confederate force to withdraw from the field and escape across the Tennessee River at Clifton.
Other Henderson County Historical Highlights
