Tennessee's Newest State Park Is An Archaeological Treasure With A Nearby Cave System

The rolling hills of Tennessee are widely known as being home to some of the greatest natural treasures in the country, including the mountainous landscape of America's most-visited national park. Tennessee's newest state park, Cardwell Mountain State Archeological Park, will also find itself in the same spotlight. On May 8, 2026, Tennessee State Parks officially designated it the third archeological park within the system, and the newest state park in Warren County to connect visitors to the state's natural and human history. Although the park is still under construction with no official opening date, it is set to showcase over 5,000 years of local history. This will include a 15-foot earthen monument built by Indigenous people around 1,000 years ago, exhibits about the Cardwell family, who farmed and inhabited the mountain for 150 years, and some remaining trees from their original apple orchards.

Tennessee State Parks Director, Chris Padgett, said to UCNow that the 530-acre park will have a visitors' center and a maintenance building. However, it may not open for a few years to ensure that the historical artifacts are carefully preserved during construction. When fully completed, it will have both educational exhibits and miles of outdoor trails where visitors can discover the region's beauty. The park sits at the convergence of the Cumberland Plateau and the Eastern Highland Rim, two of Tennessee's distinct geological and ecological regions. It's also located above the Cumberland Caverns, a fascinating network of underground caves.

It may be a while before Cardwell Mountain State Archeological Park opens to the public, but in the meantime, visitors can explore nearby Cumberland Caverns, a Natural National Landmark designated by the Secretary of the Interior. The privately-owned, 27-mile-long cave network was discovered in 1810, and has been developed into a tourist attraction — it was even used as an underground concert hall in the past. Guided trips through the caverns range from a 45 minute walk through the cave — no stair-climbing required — to an extreme overnight journey deep into the belly of the cave system, where visitors climb ladders and scale rope lines in the dark. While shorter historical tours are open to everyone, overnight visits come with certain age requirements and must be reserved in advance. Cumberland Caverns is always cool at 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and humid. Be sure to wear boots, long pants, layers, and gloves – knee and elbow pads are also recommended if you are going on an adventure tour.

Cardwell Mountain State Park and Cumberland Caverns are about an hour and a half from Nashville, Tennessee's iconic "Music City," by car. The nearest city is McMinnville, located around 15 minutes east of the caves. In McMinnville, you'll find a wide range of cuisines to tuck into before or after exploring, including Greek food at Romans Greek & Grill, barbecue at Collins River BBQ & Cafe, and even vegan dishes at Juicy's Wellness Cafe. If you're embarking on a road trip to experience Tennessee's best things to do for first-time visitors, the caverns' central location in the heart of the state makes for an easy and worthwhile pit stop along the way.