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Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm Saturday 8am - 4:30pm Sunday 8am - 4:30pm

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

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Manchester, TN
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is home to a prehistoric enclosure built 2000 years ago. There are also a few hiking trails in this 400 acre space.
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This historic Native American site is perfect for history and archaeology buffs. There is also a museum and theater to offer multiple tools to learn about the history behind this site. More information on this park and many more can be found at the TN State Parks website.

08/29/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re happy to not be dead in your feed, even if it’s playful like last week’s Virginia Opossum. This week, we thought we should talk about the largest native fruit as it starts to ripen on the tree: the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)!

- The American (or Common) Pawpaw can be a large shrub or small tree, growing between 35 and 45 feet tall, with a truck that averages between 8 and 12 inches in girth. The bark is often a light gray color, divided by shallow fissures.

- The leaves of the Pawpaw tree are elliptical and alternate (or connected to the stem on at a time). They are quite large compared to most native trees, with an average of 10 to 12 inches long and 4 to 5 inches wide. In the fall, leaves will turn a rusty yellow color. This makes it easier to find groves of these trees.

- Pawpaws are fond of slightly acidic and well-drained soils. They are usually found along floodplains, stream banks, and nutrient-rich shaded bottomlands. They also often make up the understory of most eastern, deciduous forests. Range wise, they can be found stretching from Ontario, Canada and New York in the north, south to the panhandle of Florida, and west to Texas.

- The fruit is the real treasure of the A. triloba and highly sought after by both people and animals alike. It’s a fleshy and greenish-yellow fruit, averages between 2 and 6 inches long and between 1 and 3 inches wide. The seeds are plentiful and are about .75 inches in diameter. It is often described as tasting like a banana and mango mixed, with a texture comparable to a banana.

- Unlike most many native fruits, Pawpaws have actually been able to have a nutritional breakdown done by Kentucky State University. Compared to apples, oranges, and bananas, Pawpaws have a higher protein and fat content and provide roughly the same amount of dietary fiber and potassium as bananas. They also provide nearly 10 times the amount of calcium as bananas. Talk about providing more than just the Bare (or Bear) Necessities!

- Earliest reports of these fruits come from DeSoto’s expedition in the lower Mississippi Valley in 1541. When it was first printed in English, however, the term “papaw” was being used to describe a similar plant: the papaya (Carica papaya). Since it was a similarly aromatic and sweet fruit, the Pawpaw reminded some settlers of the papaya. By 1760 though, the name “papaw” or Pawpaw was being used to describe A. triloba exclusively.

- If you’re looking to try one of these tasty snacks, you are likely to find these trees around the Forks of the River and riverside of the Backbone and Chumbley Woods Trails. Just make sure you leave some for our friendly fauna that lives here.

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08/22/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re happy to be buzzing back into your feed after talking about the Eastern Carpenter Bee last week. This week, we’ll be talking about one of our commonly misunderstood creatures of the night at Old Stone: the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)!

- Virginia Opossums (commonly known as possum) are a medium sized mammal that is similar in size to a house cat. They can measure in length between 24 and 34 inches, with their tails being between 9.5 and 15 inches long. Wild possums can weigh, on average, between 4 and 15 pounds.

- Possums are easily spotted by their long white hairs that are either black-tipped or with black underfur. This often gives the possum a more “grizzled” appearance. With a white face, pink nose, and their long, hairless, prehensile tails these little critters are quite easy to identify.

- D. virginiana are known to be quite the generalists when it comes to their diet. As omnivorous scavengers, they have different ways of gathering food from urban to rural settings. In rural settings, they are often found eating anything from small animals (like frogs, crayfish, snakes and birds) and plants (such as raspberries, apples, acorns, and vegetables), but most often eat insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. In more urban settings, they have been found scavenging in compost bins, trash cans, bird feeders, and gardens.

- Occupying a habitat that is as diverse as their diets, possums tend to prefer open forests with a permanent water source. However, they can make a home in nearly any environment, from deserts to marshes to even man-made structures. They can be found as far north as Ontario and British Columbia down to Costa Rica. They were native east of the Rocky Mountains, but were introduced on the west coast during the Great Depression, likely as a food source.

- Being the only marsupial (or pouch having mammal), Virginia Opposums have a unique breeding cycle. Breeding peaks in mid-February, with a very short gestation (12 to 13 days). They average about 9 tiny joeys, or young, that are less than a half inch in length. They then work their way to the mothers pouch and will wean from the mother for about 60 days, which they will then start to open their eyes. After about 105 days, the young will be fully weaned and will be carried on the back of the mother until they leave.

- Theodore Roosevelt wasn’t the only president that became (or tried to become) associated with an animal. William Howard Taft (27th President of the United States) was known to eat possums regularly, and had been gifted possums while traveling the country. One cartoonist thought that, with Roosevelt out of office, the Teddy Bear may no longer be popular so he presented Taft with “Billy Possum” in January 1909. Taft gave his permission to use his name for the toy, which went into production and fell out of popularity by Christmas of the same year.

- As with some of our nocturnal fauna we’ve discussed before, it is best seen not in the park since Old Stone closes at sunset. We recommend country roads at night (similar to what TWRA recommends) or city parks like Centennial Park in Nashville or Fred Deadman Park in Manchester.

08/15/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re happy to have you back after talking about the pain-in-the-grass Japanese Stiltgrass last week. Since tomorrow is National Honey Bee Day, what better way to celebrate than by highlighting: the Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)! (Unfortunately, there are no native species of Honeybee to Tennessee and none have been documented on the park)

- The Eastern Carpenter Bee is one of the many native bees to Tennessee. It is often between .75 to 1 inch long, with a shiny or glossy abdomen. This is the easiest way to differentiate them from the Common Eastern Bumblebee which has a fuzzy abdomen. Male Carpenter Bees also have a white facial marking. Otherwise, they are visually quite similar.

- Eastern Carpenter Bee mating occurs once a year in the spring with the eggs being laid in July and reaching adulthood by about mid-September. They can fly shortly after emerging but will remain in the nest for around two weeks. These bees will then overwinter in nests, and begin the cycle again in the spring. Most of these bees will only live 1 to 2 years.

- Eastern Carpenter Bees are often seen foraging nectar from flowers, but are mostly seen in forests with a preference for conifers. They can be found throughout most of the eastern, from as far north as Maine and Ontario and as west to Colorado and Texas to down to Florida.

- Most nests are built in wood, bamboo culms, agave stalks, or similar materials, with milled pine or cedar lumber preferred. Female Eastern Carpenter Bees will burrow into these with their powerful mandibles (or jaws) to make their nests. If there are limited places for nests, then they will often create a small cooperative group with one primary queen that lays eggs and forages, while the other females protect the nest.

- While X. virginica can be seen as a nuisance to many with wooden structures, it is possible to manage these important pollinators from damaging your wood. Research has shown they do not like white paint, and applying stain to these surfaces can help deter bees from constructing new nests. It is also encouraged to provide other suitable nesting materials (such as scrap wood or logs) in an attempt to keep them away.

- If you’re hoping to see what all the buzz is about with these bees, you can often see them in the Enclosure Field. They are often seen on butterfly pea in the mornings or evenings.

08/08/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re hoping you got to enjoy the Range(r) of last week's post for World Ranger Day. This week, we’ll return back to an invasive flora that you might be seeing around both the park and your own homes: Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

- Japanese Stiltgrass is an annual grass with a sprawling habit. It germinates in the spring and grows quickly throughout the summer. It can often be found growing up to 3 and a half feet in height, with pale green and lance-shaped leaves. The leaves are asymmetrical and grow to be around 1 to 3 inches long, with a distinctive and “shiny” midrib (or main vein through the center of the leaf). Once it matures, each plant can produce hundreds of seeds!

- Originally found in Asia, its native range included China, Japan, North and South Korea, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, India, Bhutan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey. However, it has been introduced well outside of this range. It has become established in 26 states throughout the United States across the Northeast to the Midwest.

- M. vimineum appears to have been introduced to the United States in Tennessee in 1919, as it was a packing material for porcelain. Once it had escaped, it is found to readily take over disturbed, shaded areas like floodplains and areas subject to mowing and tilling. Another common place it may take root is in areas with white-tailed deer traffic.

- While it prefers disturbed areas, its habitats can vary wildly. It is often found in/on stream banks, river bluffs, floodplains, forested wetlands, moist woodlands, roadside ditches, and gas and powerline corridors. One common theme is that the soils are often high in nitrogen.

- There are some common species that can be considered visually similar to stiltgrass. Some of these include whitegrass (Leersia virginica), nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi), and various panicgrasses. Knowing the difference before you treat it as invasive is incredibly important.

- Some issues that arise from stiltgrass infestations include decreased native flora, less habitat and food for native fauna, altered soil chemistry, and an increased presence of mites.

- Thankfully, there are ways to manage it. Though tedious, it can be physically removed by pulling or weedeating it before it goes to seed (at the end of July or early August). You can also use a variety of pre- or post-emergent herbicides if it is a large infestation or area. But you must stay on top of managing it because seeds can stay in the seed bank for up to 5 years.

- While visiting the park, you are likely to see this grass throughout a large section of the park. Forks of the River, the picnic area, or our campground are all places you are going to see this invasive. If you find it, and confirm it is Japanese Stiltgrass, feel free to pull it as you pass to help us remove it.

08/01/2026

Looking for some new wall art to add to your collection? Recently, we had one of the very best (Jonathon Scheele) come out to the park to help us create posters that capture the beauty and uniqueness of our park, highlighting the Enclsoure Mounds and Blue Hole Falls. These posters are framed for display in a 18" x 24" frame and are hanging in our Gift Shop/Park Office and Camp Store for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. They are $19.99 (plus tax) so swing by the park, view the beauty in person, and take home a memory!

07/31/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We are over the moon to have you back on our page this week after talking about the Luna Moth last week. This week, we’ll be talking about a special native fauna that you are likely to run into while visiting Old Stone Fort: the Tennessee State Park Ranger (Rangerius tennessinius)!

- Park Rangers can be found in various sizes and shapes, but specifically at Old Stone Fort they can be between 5-6.5 feet tall, and weights can vary wildly. They can come with many different hair and eye colors.

- Park Rangers can be found wearing some combination of green and tan, often with green jean-like pants and a khaki shirt. They also often have a belt where they keep a lot of their gear they train with and are required to carry including: hand cuffs, tourniquet, firearm, magazines for the firearm, flashlights, gloves, and more!

- The diet of a Park Ranger can vary wildly, especially depending on the time of the year. Many can be found snacking on trail mix, s’mores, and on occasion foraging around their patrol vehicle and office like a raccoon for food in the summer months. Many also consume a large amount of water and, in a pinch, a fair amount of caffeine.

- The Park Ranger often goes through a variety of training before getting hired, namely graduating college with a bachelor’s degree. At Old Stone, the Rangers have degrees in Natural Resource Management, History, Geoscience, and Wildlife and Fisheries. They got these degrees from the University of TN-Martin, University of TN-Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Tech University.

- Once the Park Ranger finishes school and gets hired, the training does not stop. They are required to complete the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (which is a 12 week academy) and then complete the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course. After these, there is some freedom for which trainings you’d like to attend and teams to be on including: Fire Team, Horse Mounted Team, High and Low Angle Rope Rescue, Technical Search and Rescue (TSAR), Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and plenty more!

- Outside of the park, the Park Ranger can be seen hiking (where they will undoubtedly point out invasive species or hazardous trees), fishing, reading, bowling, or listening to music. Some are also quite passionate sports fans as well.

- R. tennessinius is known to have many responsibilities, but their biggest purpose is to protect and preserve in perpetuity the natural, cultural, and historical resources of Tennessee. Their goal is to protect the resources from people, resources from other resources, people from the resources, and people from other people. They are known to be educators and will undoubtedly love to chat.

-Throughout any given day, a Park Ranger can wear multiple “hats” which can include: being a medical responder to an injured guest, an educator to a school group, a law enforcement officer to protect the park and its visitors, a helping hand with maintenance and groundskeeping, and a resource manager to help restore necessary habitats.

- Thankfully, there are over 300 Park Rangers throughout the state, inhabiting every State Park. With soon to be over 70 state parks, you’re almost guaranteed to see one on your visit. We hope you stop in and say hi!

07/27/2026

We hope you are ready to join us for the Archaeoskills and Knap-In Festival this coming October! This event will take place the first weekend of the month on October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!

This is our most unique event of the year, featuring a variety of primitive skill demonstrators and knappers, set in an ancient hilltop enclosure surrounded by waterfalls. We will have an atlatl range, with ISACs Friday and Saturday and an open throw on Saturday only. We plan to have at least one food vendor, and many other vendors of rock, crafts, and knapped items. Hope to see you there!

If you would like to be a vendor or demonstrator please see the information on the link!

Click the link below for more information:
https://tnstateparks.com/events/knap-and-archaeoskills

07/25/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re so happy to have you headed back to our feed after talking about another of our slithery friends, the Copperhead. This week, in honor of moth week, we thought it best to talk of one of the most regal of the moths: the Luna Moth (Actias luna)!

- Luna Moths are a native species of large moth. They often measure from as small as 6-8 millimeters in length as they first hatch to an average wingspan of 3.1-4.5 inches wide, and have even been found to be as big as 7 inches! They have lime green wings with a white body. Wings will have dark eyespots, one per wing, with oval shapes on the forewings and round on the hindwings. These can have traces of various colors from black to yellow to red or white.

- The life cycle of the Luna Moth starts with a female laying 200-400 eggs in small groups on the underside of tree leaves (often walnut, hickory, sweetgum, or paper birch). From there, after about a week, the eggs hatch. Larvae will go through about 5 stages of instar (or molting) before cocooning. The period between each instar is generally 4-10 days. Then, they will go to the ground to cocoon (or pupate) for two weeks before emerging.

- Similar to the common eastern firefly, once the A. luna reaches adulthood it does not feed. It does have a mouth, but it is a vestigial mouth and no digestive system. It relies solely on the fat reserves from eating the leaves of the trees mentioned above.

- Most Luna Moths will be commonly found in or near hardwood deciduous forest as it will have the hickory, walnut, and sweetgum trees that the larvae will feed on. They can be found across most of the eastern United States, from Maine down to central Florida then as far west as eastern North Dakota down to eastern Texas.

- One of the reasons that scientists believe the eyespots on the wings of the Luna Moth exist is to confuse predators. The Luna Moth also has another defense in the way of long hindwing tails. This has been hypothesized to be a way of throwing off the echolocation that bats use to hunt.

- Known also as the American Moon Moth, it was the first moth to be featured on first class postage for the United States Postal Service in 1987. You could assume then that this moth has been able to get around outside its native range pretty well.

- While these moths are often nocturnal, sometimes they have been found around Moat Trail once they die. They can often be found near lights, like porch lights or street lights.

07/23/2026

AVAILABLE SECTIONS OF GARRISON ROAD TRAIL HAVE REOPENED. Please note that at this time the trail still dead ends in each direction at the truss relocation work area. Thanks go to our great maintenance staff for clearing the fallen trees and blowing the trail.

Address

732 Stone Fort Drive
Manchester, TN
37355

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm
Saturday	8am - 4:30pm
Sunday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18888672757

Website

https://tnstateparks.com/parks/old-stone-fort

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