COMPLETE OUTDOOR GETAWAY

Big Hill Pond adds kayak and canoe rentals to its list of services thanks to adult leadership class.

BY KIMBERLY SHELTON

A new program is causing quite a splash in McNairy County! Offering panoramic views of the local treasure that is Big Hill Pond State Park, the new kayak and canoe program encourages guests to explore the area via water.

Since its implementation this past June, dozens of adventurers have paddled out into the Travis McNatt Lake to bask in the breathtaking views of the park.

Teeming with bass, catfish, and bream, the 165-acre spring-fed lake is ideal for beginners as well as avid sportsmen.

“We are overjoyed at the response we’ve received,” said Katie Weatherford who serves as the Director of the McNairy County Chamber. “It has been a huge success.”

The project, sponsored by the Chamber was decided upon by the 2017 Adult Leadership Class, according to Weatherford.

“Each year, our Adult Leadership Class is asked to complete a special project which they must fund,” she explained. “The nine adult leaders sat down for a brainstorming session to decide what they wanted their project to be. Painting a mural on top of a building and other beautification ideas were tossed around, but the group ultimately decided to host a trail run at Big Hill Pond State Park.”

The nine adult leaders in this year’s class were Shawn McCombs, Bryan Huff, Jacob Weatherford, Kirk Hamlin, Janiece Rowland, Tammy Harbin, Robbie Harris, Hollie Knight, and Schancey Chapman.

“Everyone chipped in and did an outstanding job,” said Weatherford.

Held on April 15, the first annual Big Hill Trail Run 5K helped fund the purchase of kayaks and canoes for the park.

Organizers say the turnout for the run was tremendous and they could not have asked for better support from the community. In fact, just as many matching funds were received from sponsors as there were from the racers, according to Weatherford.

Popular among locals and out-of-towners, especially those who are camping, the new addition is making waves in the area.

“The run was so successful that we are going to make it an annual event,” said BHP Park Manager Jim Harrison.

“Our Facebook page has blown up since we added canoeing and kayaking,” he continued. “So far, our park has brought in $1,800 through rentals.”

As per the rules, there is no age requirement to enjoy water recreation, but participants must be able to hold a paddle up on their own weight in order to canoe and kayak.

The cost to get out on the water is just $7 per person, per hour for kayakers, and $10 per person, per hour for canoers. Life jackets and paddles are included in the price.

“Our canoes and kayaks are rented only by the hour on Saturdays and Sundays,” said BHP Park Ranger Justin King. “Monday-Friday we do half-day, full-day, and week-long rentals only.”

“They can be rented from now until Labor Day (Sept. 4),” he added.

Depending on the weather, Harrison says he’d like to extend rentals into early November to take advantage of the beautiful fall foliage.

“We will wait and see what happens,” he said.

Those who plan on renting during the week must call ahead and make a reservation with the Park Office.

Rental hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends with all boats off the water by 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekly with all boats off the water by 4 p.m. Participants will meet at the Travis McNatt Lake Boat House on weekends or the Park Office during the week.

In addition to kayaking and canoeing which will now be available annually, the park has other exciting news to share about its 35-acre namesake.

“Due to the new program, the state has taken a lot more attention lately and an effort is now under way to make access to the original Big Hill Pond which currently has a gravel road leading up to it,” said Harrison. “Our commissioner Brock Hill came out for a visit and was so impressed by it that he wanted others to be able to better enjoy it as well.”

Constructed by accident in 1853, Old Big Hill Pond is a cypress lined pond. It was created (mostly by slave labor) during levy construction for the Memphis Charleston Railroad when soil was scooped from a borrow pit to build a levy across the Tuscumbia and Cypress Creek bottoms.

“We hope to be able to build either a floating or connecting boardwalk across it,” said Harrison.

(Big Hill Pond State Park is located at 1435 John Howell Road in Pocahontas. For more information, call 731-645-7967 or visit www.bighilltrailrun.com.)

Trail Run participants race across the bridge at Big Hill Pond State Park.

Adult Leadership Class of 2017 on the dock at Big Hill Pond State Park.