Fork Dickerson Quarry

In 1995, Knoxville's Mayor, Victor Ashe, envisioned the Fort Dickerson Quarry Lake as some day being "Knoxville's Biggest Public Swimming Pool." By 2013, the city finally made swimming in the quarry legal. Four years later, the area is undergoing a $5 million project to improve the park for the public. Over the course of the project there will be a boardwalk, comfort station with restrooms, paddleboard/kayak rentals, food and drink vendors and much more. Cliff jumping, which has lead to several deaths within the quarry, is strongly discouraged.

From the Fork Dickerson Park you will have a view of the quarry from the overlook, but the swimming area is accessed through the use of a gravel road located on Augusta Avenue. The park was once the location of a Union Civil War Fort and later quarried for limestone. The lake is located just 5 minutes from downtown Knoxville and less than 4 miles from Mead's Quarry, another favorite local swimming home. Fork Dickerson is the perfect summer destination for those looking to beat the heat and soak up the sun. The turquoise-colored water in the man-made lake stays cool year-round due to it's 200-foot depth. The quarry's location also makes it the an easy stop after a morning of exploring the city. If you'd like to explore the surround area, Alliance Brewing, Trailhead Beer Market, Three Bear's Coffee Shop, Cruze Farm Ice Cream, the iconic Sunsphere and World's Fair Park, The Old City, Market Square and other favorite downtown local spots are only a few minutes from the quarry.