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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.
mlane
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
mlane
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.
mlane
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.
mlane
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.
mlane
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
mlane
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.
mlane
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
mlane
Parks

Enjoy some time in the park with your kids Saturday

Launched in 2011, Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide celebration of the great outdoors that takes place on the third Saturday in May. It’s designed to connect kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands.

May 18, 2018 at 12:30 PM
mlane
Bears

Do not feed the bears and other helpful tips

KINGSPORT – Ridgefields’ residents shouldn’t be too surprised if they happen to walk out their back door and spot a black bear nosing through the garbage or raiding the vegetable garden.

May 13, 2018 at 12:00 PM
“SEEING!” will be shown at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the weekends and at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. “Appalachian Skies – Spring” will be shown on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
mlane
Bays Mountain Park

Come and 'See' the new planetarium show at Bays Mountain Park

“SEEING!” follows a photon’s creation and journey across the galaxy to a young stargazer’s eye. You’ll be able to follow the photon into the girl’s eye, learning the structures of the eye and their functions, prior to taking a ride on the optic nerve.

May 6, 2018 at 1:30 PM
The Flying Squirrel is a 310-foot zip line that races you through the tree line near the Homestead Museum. The cost to ride is just $10 per person and $5 for park members.
mlane
Bays Mountain Park

Zip line, barge rides now open at Bays Mountain Park

Beginning this week, visitors to Bays Mountain Park can enjoy the Flying Squirrel zip line, barge rides and canoe/kayak tours on the lake. All of the activities are fairly inexpensive ($3 to $10) and can be done at various times of the day throughout the week.

Apr 10, 2018 at 11:45 AM
John Williams operates a ham radio.
hviers
Summits on the Air

Amateur radio operators invited to Summits on the Air

The event will allow amateur radio operators – or “hams,” as they are sometimes called – to meet other hobbyists and engage in a bit of friendly competition.

Mar 30, 2018 at 12:00 PM
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