 Kentucky
Lake
It is no doubt that the number one attraction at Paris
Landing, and for that matter, the entire region, is
Kentucky Lake. Built in 1944 when the Tennessee River
was dammed at Gilbertsville, KY, Kentucky Lake became
the largest man-made lake in America and one of the
largest in the world. If you're looking for a quick
getaway to Henry County, there are several
accommodations to choose from.
 Fort
Donelson National Battlefield
Fort
Donelson is located 15 minutes east of Paris Landing in
Dover, TN. During the Civil War of the 1860s, the
Union forces were heading south to fight the
Confederacy. Fort Donelson was key because of its
location on the Cumberland River. When Fort Donelson was
captured by the Union in February 1862, it was their
first major victory for the Civil War. With the fort
under Union control, they now had the door open to the
Confederacy.
At Fort Donelson,
visitors can learn about the battle, view the earthworks
and cannons, and take a walk through the area on one of
two trails. There also are areas for picnics, parking,
and strolls along the Cumberland River. At Fort Donelson,
you can also visit the Fort Donelson National Cemetery
and the Dover Hotel, a historic building where the
Confederate surrender took place on February 16, 1862.
You can contact the Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Visitor's Center at (931) 232-5706. The visitor's center
is located off Highway 79 just west of the heart of
Dover.
Land Between the Lakes
Stewart
County, TN (across Kentucky Lake from Paris Landing)
serves as the southern entrance of The Land Between The
Lakes. Administered by the U.S. Forest Service since
October of 1999, the agency took control after TVA was
denied appropriations by Congress for the upcoming
fiscal year. The LBL Protection Act was passed in 1998
by Congress to shift control of the massive peninsula
from the TVA to the U.S. Forest Service.
LBL was created in
the late 1960s after Lake Barkley was formed. Today LBL
features hiking trails, backpacking, camping, hunting,
fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, historical
attractions, biking, an off-road vehicle area, swimming,
environmental education programs, indoor educational
facilities, and so much more. LBL boasts over one
million visitors each year. It can be accessed via
Fort Henry Road (4 miles from Paris Landing) or Highway
49 (a.k.a. "The Trace") in Dover, about 12 miles east of
Paris Landing.
Paris, Tennessee
If you are in the mood for some shopping, you will want
to head to downtown Paris for this area'smost
gorgeous downtown square. Downtown is located just
15 miles west of Paris Landing. In the mid 1990s,
the downtown area underwent major renovations to bring
the square back to its original 1920s-era style. This
was certainly accomplished as now the downtown area is
bustling with business (especially antique stores).
Visit one of the 40 merchants downtown for an experience
to remember.
If you're a
history buff, you will certainly want to head to Paris.
Henry County was formed on November 7, 1821. Paris, the
oldest incorporated city in west Tennessee, was
established as the county seat on September 23, 1823...
that's 178 years ago! To discover the historical
significance of Paris, you will want to visit the
Paris-Henry County Heritage Center.
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