Standing Stone State Park
Standing Stone State Park takes its name from a huge, dog-shaped rock monolith that once stood nearby. The stone may have belonged to a prehistoric native people; Native Americans in the area later regarded it as a religious icon. When railroad workers blasted the remainder of the rock into small pieces, local tribes incorporated a piece of it into a monument in the town of Monterey.
The rustic park covers nearly 11,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau of north-central Tennessee and is noted for its outstanding scenery, spring wildflowers, fossils and other natural diversity. The federal government bought the land for the park after it became marginal for farming and relocated the farmers, reforested the land and began erosion control measures. The park centered around a 69-acre, man-made lake with a 300-foot stone and concrete dam.
The park is famous for its marble championship, the National Rolley Hole Marble Championship and Festival every September. The tournament has been featured by CNN, CBS, ABC, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, the Smithsonian and National Geographic. The park and its tournament are the only specific place ever mentioned in a Peanuts comic strip.
Fishing
Year-round fishing on the lovely, 69-acre Standing Stone Lake is a popular activity among park guests. Wildlife is abundant with common sightings of beavers, deer, ducks, frogs and turtles.
Visitors may fish from the bank of Standing Stone Lake and enjoy catching a variety of fish such as large-mouth bass, blue gill, crappie, lake trout and catfish.
Visitors must follow all TN Boating and Fishing Regulations. Valid TN Fishing license is required. All TWRA rules apply.
In addition, Dale Hollow Lake is only five miles from the park, and offers some of the finest fishing and water recreation in the state.
Hiking
Standing Stone State Park offers over 8 miles of day-use hiking trails, providing access to some of the park's loveliest areas. Trails range from easy to strenuous and pass into virgin woods, through vivid wildflowers and over-flowing streams, and around beautiful Standing Stone Lake. Remember, all plants, animals and natural features are protected. Please leave them for others to enjoy!
Trails are open daily from 8 a.m. until one hour before sunset and are open year-round. Overnight camping and pack animals are not allowed on trails.
Hikers may inquire in the Park Office about maps for open trails.
Water Recreation
Boating
Aluminum fishing boats with paddles and pedal boats may be rented at the park office year-round. Patrons may bring their own electric trolling motor and battery for thefishing boats. Boating on Standing Stone Lake is permitted during daylight hours only. The only private boats allowed on Standing Stone Lake are canoes and kayaks.
Swimming
Standing Stone State Park has an Olympic size pool with one low dive and a kiddie pool.
The pool opens Memorial Day, and closes no later than Labor Day. The pool provides accessibility to persons with disability. Separate bathhouses for men and women are located adjacent to pool area with available showers and changing rooms. A snack bar provides food and soft drinks. The pool is located within walking distance of cabins and camping via a paved foot trail.
Standing Stone State Park pool will be closed on Mondays, except Holiday weeks. Please call the park for those schedules. Cabin and camping guests will pay half price for admission to the pool.
Camping - RV & Tent
Standing Stone State Park's campground offers 36 tent and trailer sites, each equipped with a picnic table, charcoal grill, water hookups, and 20, 30, 50 amperage electrical hookups. RVs are limited to 45 feet. The campground is served with two central bathhouses and a dump station. Although the campground is open year round, only one bathhouse serves the campground during the winter season.
Maximum stay limit is two weeks. The Park honors Golden Access Cards for disabled and/or senior citizens discount. The campground provides accessibility to persons with disability.
Campsites should be reserved in advance by calling the park or you may make Standing Stone Campground Reservations online.
Backcountry camping is not allowed in park.
Dogs, cats and other pets are prohibited unless they are on a leash or under physical restrictive control at all times. Pack animals are not allowed in the park.
Notice: Any vehicle over 30 feet must enter park by Highway 52. Park contains one-lane bridge.
Picnicking
Standing Stone State Park has 17 open picnic sites with tables and charcoal grills provided. These picnic sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are 8 picnic pavilions that accommodate 30 - 75 people each. The pavilions are sheltered, and have concrete floors and charcoal grills. 5 pavilions require reservations and 3 are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call or visit park office for reservations. Reservations can be made up to 2 years in advance.
Most all picnic areas are near water restrooms and playgrounds.
Recreational Facilities
The amphitheatre at Standing Stone has a scenic background and can be utilized for meetings, campfires, musical gatherings, and even small weddings. It seats around 100 people, and requires a park reservation. Call or visit park office for reservations.
The park also offers recreational activities such as badminton, ping-pong, tennis, horseshoes, croquet, softball, volleyball, basketball, marbles, and more. Recreational building is open during the summer months. Recreational equipment may be checked out at park office.
Visitor Center
Tour buses are welcome. However, there is a one-lane bridge that will not accommodate vehicles over 30 feet. Buses can access day use areas, cabins and camping but will not be able to cross the narrow bridge to access the backside of the lake and the Overton Lodge group camp.
Playgrounds
Campgrounds
Standing Stone State Park's campground offers 36 tent and trailer sites, each equipped with a picnic table, charcoal grill, water hookups, and 20, 30, 50 amperage electrical hookups. RVs are limited to 45 feet. The campground is served with two central bathhouses and a dump station. Although the campground is open year round, only one bathhouse serves the campground during the winter season.
Sites are available only on a first-come, first-served basis, and maximum stay limit is two weeks. The Park honors Golden Access Cards for disabled and/or senior citizens discount. The campground provides accessibility to persons with disability.
Backcountry camping is not allowed in park.
Dogs, cats and other pets are prohibited unless they are on a leash or under physical restrictive control at all times. Pack animals are not allowed in the park.
Notice: Any vehicle over 30 feet must enter park by Highway 52. Park contains one-lane bridge.
Cabins/Villas
Standing Stone is equipped with three types of cabins: Rustic (A-AA), Timberlodge (AA), Modern (AAA). The park has 14 Rustic Cabins that vary in accommodation in size and layout. The smallest of these includes 2 single beds, and the largest includes 4 double beds, with various arrangements in between. The Rustic cabins are equipped with air-conditioning, but not heat. They are available to rent April through October. Each of the 3 Timberlodge cabins include kitchen, bathroom, three bedrooms and can accommodate up to 10 people. These are open year-round, and have both heat and air-conditioning. The park has 4 Modern cabins, which each has 3 double beds and 2 single beds. The Modern cabins are open year-round as well, and are equipped with heat and air-conditioning.
Rustic and Timberlodge cabins have gas log fireplaces. All cabins are completely equipped for housekeeping including appliances, microwave oven, all cooking and serving utensils and linens. There are no televisions or telephones in the cabins. All cabins have charcoal grills. Only one Modern cabin is available to accommodate pets, and has an extra charge. Otherwise, NO pets are allowed in cabins.
Cabins may be reserved two years in advance. Check-in is at 3:00 pm and checkout is at 10:00 am.
No Upcoming Events
Check back soon for more events, or visit our event page for events in other parks.
The quaint park is noted for its outstanding scenery, spring wildflowers, fossils and, every September, the Standing Stone State Park's Rolley Hole Marbles Tournament. This is the world's most challenging marble tournament where only the finest players can hope to compete. Rolley Hole is a traditional marble game played by the men and women who live in this Kentucky/Tennessee border area.
In the 1930s the area was plagued with sub-marginal worn agricultural lands and soil erosion. With the assistance of Great Depression government work programs, the area was remade through conservation and careful infrastructure additions for new recreational purposes. It now offers cabins, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking, swimming, group camps, and a Tea Room.
In addition to the marbles tournament, the park hosts wildflower walks and a naturalist rally. A number of rare animal species live in the park, including green and four-toed salamanders, cerulean warbler, barcheek darters, southern cavefish, big-eared bats and eastern woodrats. Blind cave crayfish, a cave pseudoscropion a cave beetle and striate gloss are among other species of interest. Rare plants include narrow-leaved ramps, goldenseal and butternut.
Contact Info
1674 Standing Stone Park Hwy.
Hilham, TN 38568
Phone: 931-823-6347
Phone - Toll Free: 800-713-5157
Email: Ask.TNStateParks@tn.gov
Directions
Take Exit 288 off I-40, (Livingston/Sparta exit) Hwy. 111 N to Livingston. Hwy 52 West to the entrance of the park. Hwy. 136 is the main park road.
Hours of Operation
Standing Stone is a day use park and closes at sunset.
