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One option Kingsport considered was to expand the park’s current septic system (shown in the picture). However, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation would not permit Kingsport to renovate or expand that system. More than 200,000 visitors come to the park every year and since the current septic system is built to only handle 70,000 visitors, Cole said this situation puts a significant amount of stress on the system.
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Bays Mountain Park

Parking, wastewater improvements coming to Bays Mountain Park

Bays Mountain Park will be going through two rounds of improvements later this spring - the addition of 75 new parking spaces across from the nature center and the tying into the city’s sewer system at the bottom of the mountain. Neither project should affect park hours.

Jan 19, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Bob Miller, a long-time Kingsport resident, celebrated his 100th birthday on Oct. 29 with a backward ride down the 310-foot zip line at Bays Mountain. He then led a group hike on Nov.5.
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Sunday Stories

Scrapbook Showcase: A Walk in the Park

Today's Scrapbook Showcase features photos from a November hike with Kingsport centenarian Bob Miller. The photos were taken and submitted by Nancy V. Knight.

“I was fortunate to be able to hike with our famous Bob Miller on Monday, Nov. 5,

Dec 6, 2018 at 10:30 AM
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nature

Bays Mountain's wolf expert learns more about animals during week at Yellowstone

KINGSPORT — Bays Mountain  Naturalist Rhonda Goins recently took a trip to Yellowstone National Park to join in with the Wolf Tracker program, spending a week in the great outdoors tracking and watching the wolves of Yellowstone.

Nov 18, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Bays Mountain Park, Nov. 2, 2018 Bays Mountain Park, Nov. 2, 2018 Unicoi County, Oct. 29, 2018 Unicoi County, Oct. 29, 2018
SundayStories
Sunday Stories

Scrapbook Showcase: A Portrait of Fall

Today's Scrapbook Showcase features "A Portrait of Fall" with photos taken at Rocky Fork in Unicoi County on Monday, Oct. 29 and at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport on Saturday, Nov. 2. The photos were taken and submitted by Rick Currie.

Our

Nov 16, 2018 at 4:30 PM
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Centennial

Kingsport centenarian celebrates birthday with a zip line ride

Bob Miller is one of the most active – if not the most active – centenarians in town. The 100-year-old retired chemist walks two miles every morning before breakfast, faithfully wears hit fitness tracker (which he checked just before riding down the zip line) and drove he and his wife up the mountain on Monday.

Updated Oct 30, 2018 at 8:52 AM

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Sunday Stories

Scrapbook Showcase: Exploring Bays Mountain

Today's Scrapbook Showcase features photos from a summer day at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport. The photos were taken and submitted by Kingsport's Rick Currie. Our Scrapbook Showcase features a series of related photos from one or more of our

Sep 30, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Membership fees at Bays Mountain Park are going up effective Jan. 1, 2019. The new rates will be $30 for an individual, $50 for a family and $100 for a supporting membership. Lifetime memberships will remain at $1,000.
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Outdoors

Membership rates going up at Bays Mountain Park

The Bays Mountain Park Association supports the park financially in maintaining and operating the Nature Center and programs, including the summer day camp. It also employs two part-time staff to assist in Nature Center operations and up to eight seasonal employees.

Sep 25, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Bays Mountain
hviers
National Public Lands Day

Get your hands dirty and help local parks celebrate National Public Lands Day

Parks throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia need your help Saturday as they celebrate National Public Lands Day. The event invites people to volunteer at their favorite outdoor destination, ensuring public lands can be enjoyed for years to come.

Sep 20, 2018 at 8:35 AM
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Bays Mountain Park

Take in the sun this fall at Bays Mountain Park

In addition to the planetarium features being shown this fall, Bays Mountain Park is also announcing its solar viewing program and StarWatch events for this fall. These family-friendly events are free to the public and held throughout the months of October and November.

Sep 7, 2018 at 11:30 AM
A unique facet of StarFest is a commemorative T-shirt with one-of-a-kind artwork that is included with each registration. Cassy Rose, from the park’s exhibits staff, has created a special design to represent this year’s theme.
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Bays Mountain Park

StarFest will celebrate American women in astronomy

StarFest 2018 will include four distinctive keynote speakers, five great meals, door prizes, the ever popular swap shop, solar viewing, night-time observing (both private on Friday and with the public on Saturday) and the planetarium will be open.

Sep 2, 2018 at 12:00 PM
To become a Tennessee Naturalist, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of instruction through a certified training course and perform a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service.
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Bays Mountain Park

Bays Mountain Park hosts Tennessee Naturalist Program

The cost of the program is $250, which includes all classes and class material, hand lens and field notebook. After training, you’ll be able to help with a nature outreach program, assist in the collection of scientific data or work with trail maintenance at the park.

Aug 13, 2018 at 11:30 AM
The park's septic tank system shown here is located across the street from the reservoir in a wooded areak. The current system has been in use since 1981 and can handle approximately 5,000 gallons of wastewater a day.
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Bays Mountain Park

Will Bays Mountain Park go on city's sewer system?

Since the septic system is nearing the end of its life, Kingsport recently went out to bid on a project that would have tied Bays Mountain Park into the city’s sewer system at the bottom of the mountain. The project called for 6,385 linear feet of sewer line run along the side of the road.

Aug 6, 2018 at 10:00 AM
The 15th Annual Kingsport Gems & Minerals Society Show at Bays Mountain Park will include fun and educational demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages.
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Sunday Stories

Kingsport Gems & Minerals Society invites 'rock hounds' to free show at Bays Mountain Park

What is a geode? What is cabbing? Ever wonder how stones are faceted? Would you like to cast your very own fossil? Then, you might want to make plans to attend the 15th Annual Kingsport Gems & Minerals Society Show this weekend at Bays Mountain Park.

Jul 11, 2018 at 4:30 PM
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Bays Mountain Park

Jellyfish at Bays Mountain Park?

The freshwater jellyfish found at Bays Mountain Park are about the size of a nickel to a quarter and are clear except for the white cross on their back. The translucent critters can only be found for a few weeks in the lake during a certain time of the year.

Jun 17, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Sixty-five percent of people who visit Bays Mountain Park’s website does so from a mobile device, either a phone or a tablet. The new site will adjust to the size of your device allowing for easy use.
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Bays Mountain Park

Bays Mountain Park launches new website

The new website will be updated on a regular basis with news of special events, daily programs and park information. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for the Bays Mountain e-newsletter as well.

May 20, 2018 at 3:45 PM
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