Fun in the Sun at the Cardboard Boat Regatta 2022

The spirit of creativity, competition and fun was alive and well at the south lake at Discovery Park of America on Sat., May 14, 2022 as 15 teams gathered to compete in Discovery Park’s 9^th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. It was the perfect weather for a regatta as competitors had a beautiful sunny sky and little wind to hold them back. Teams had been preparing for months to build the perfect boat using only cardboard, duct tape and paint. This year’s judges, David Hill, Linda Lu Harding and Cherry Pyron had their work cut out for them as they awarded prizes in six different categories: Cardboard Boat Regatta General Division, Cardboard Boat Regatta Student Division, Champion Boat, the Van Gogh Award, the Titanic Award and Team Spirit.

Regatta color commentators Karl Johnson and Russel Orr kept the crowd entertained with fun and educational observations throughout the event as the Commodore, John Watkins, kept the heats organized.

Special guest, Miss Tennessee Junior Miss, Hazye Wright, joined the Commodore and Discovery Park CEO, Scott Williams, to give trophies and medals to the winners. Congratulations to all who participated.

Cardboard Boat Regatta General Division

Cardboard Boat Regatta Student Division

For more photos, check out our Flickr Page.

Sponsored by Vincent Outfitters.

Save the date for the 2023 Cardboard Boat Regatta to be held May 3, 2023.

Military History and Armed Forces Symposium 2022 Held at Discovery Park of America

Thousands of children and adults enjoyed the 2022 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium that was held here at Discovery Park April 29 to May 1, 2022. The event featured a variety of programs and interactive activities that explored the past, present and future of the American military. For the first time ever, all branches of the military had representatives at the symposium.

Attendees experienced a number of special guests including Bill Allen, one of the last remaining D-day survivors. You can hear an episode of our podcast recorded earlier with Mr. Allen here. Jennifer Horbelt with WPSD Local 6 also recorded an in-depth interview with Mr. Allen at Discovery Park.

Other special guests participated in panel discussions and presentations on a wide range of topics that included details on how to enter the military, managing a military career and tips to apply after leaving the armed services. Videos and recordings of the panels and conversations will be shared in the coming weeks.

Discovery Park CEO Scott Williams recorded a live episode of “Reelfoot Forward: A West Tennessee Podcast” featuring Kevin Rumley. Kevin went from homeless, drug-addicted veteran to having a master’s degree in social work, performing in numerous bands as a drummer and running the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court, a program that helps divert veteran offenders from prison to community service and recovery.

Music was also a big part of the event with concerts and live performances by Operation Song and the 52nd Regimental String Band. Operation Song empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting. Their performance at the members only reception on Friday night included songs written after spending time with local veterans David Blincoe and Ray Pollard. In addition to performing at the reception, the string band also provided guests with music and dance instruction at a new event, an early-American folk dance.

A number of historic interpreter groups were on hand inside and out to educate guests on the military of the past and authors of military-related books were here to share their stories from their years in the military.

“A Country Divided: Photos from the Civil War,” an exhibit of rare Civil War photos and artifacts, made its world debut at the event and will be on display through May 25, 2022. Designed by Discovery Park’s collections and exhibits team featuring items from the collection of Jason Pate, the exhibit consists of several early photography examples depicting soldiers that either lived in or traveled through Obion County and the surrounding Tennessee/Kentucky region during the Civil War.

The popular Lantern Walk returned to The Settlement with stories and voices from the Civil War. Among the new cast members was Flo Roach who has appeared in films including “The Help.”

New to this year’s symposium was the U.S. Navy “Nimitz” virtual reality experience. Guests had the opportunity to participate in a 360-degree virtual reality view of what it is like to be on a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft crewmen mission in America’s Navy. Outside, guests could also view a Black Hawk helicopter, an M113 armored personnel carrier, Oshkosh M1070 tank transporter tractor unit and more.

Be sure to save the date for the 2023 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium that will be held April 28-29, 2023.

Sponsored by Union City Coca-Cola and Dixie Gun Works.

For more images, check out our Flickr page.

Volunteer of the Year: Carol Whitmore

April 18, 2022 – Discovery Park of America would like to honor 2021 volunteer of the year, Carol Whitmore. She has for years routinely distinguished herself through her ability to blend an educational environment with a unique experience. Carol Whitmore is an accomplished basket weaver who enhances the experiences of guests by practicing her craft in the Settlement.

Discovery Park’s Settlement is an area set aside to show the tools, construction, and way of life that predominated in West Tennessee for a great many years of its history. Guests curious about the past are in for an amazing surprise when they enter the Settlement cabin and see the far-ranging and extremely impressive variety of Carol’s creations and workspace, usually accompanied by the pleasant greeting by Carol herself.

When her work invariably brings out the inquisitiveness in guests, she speaks to patrons and answers their questions with the same diligence, patience and calm attentiveness with which she pursues her craft. Discovery Park of America is pleased to recognize Carol for her outstanding volunteerism, and thank her for making Discovery Park of America a more interesting, friendlier and a more memorable place for staff and guests alike.

Polly Brasher (left), director of education, and Scott Williams (right), president and CEO of Discovery Park, present Carol Whitmore with the 2021 Discovery Park of America Volunteer of the Year award. 

Actress Flo Roach to Join Cast of Lantern Walk as Part of 2022 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium

April 14, 2022 – Discovery Park of America announced today that actress Flo Roach will join the cast of the Lantern Walk that will be presented on Sat., April 30 at 7:30 p.m. and at 9 p.m. as part of The 2022 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium. Roach has appeared in films including “The Help,” “100 Lives” and “Chapters.” Most recently, you may have seen her in an episode of Bluff City playing to role of a shelter director.

In addition to writing a new portion of the production, she will play the role of a soldier’s mother. Roach joins a talented group of historic interpreters who portray events and share stories from all perspectives of those living in South Western Ky. during the Civil War.

The Lantern Walk features an evening tour through the Settlement at Discovery Park, a collection of hand-hewn log buildings resembling what one might have found in a mid-19th century frontier community. For this special evening event, guests encounter those historic interpreters as they sit around the fire, make themselves comfortable on the front porches or just go about their lives. The audience moves from place to place observing the performances.

Tickets to the Lantern Walk are free but limited and must be reserved in advance here. This event will sell out, so to allow as many guests as possible to enjoy the Lantern Walk, please reserve tickets in only one of the two time slots.

Exhibit of Civil War-era photos Premieres at Discovery Park’s Military History and Armed Forces Symposium

April 13, 2022 – “A Country Divided: Photos from the Civil War” premieres at Discovery Park’s Military History and Armed Forces Symposium on April 29, 2022 and will be on display at the museum through May 25, 2022.

Designed by Discovery Park’s collections and exhibits team featuring items from the collection of Jason Pate, it consists of several early photography examples depicting soldiers that either lived in or traveled through Obion County and the surrounding Tennessee/Kentucky region during the Civil War. Guests will learn of the main photography mediums used during this time (ambrotypes, tintypes, and carte de visite) and of the soldiers’ stories that have survived along with their 160-year-old photographic counterparts on display.

Jason Pate, an award-winning educator currently employed with Obion County Schools, is an avid collector and “caretaker” of Civil War history. Using his nationally published collection, Pate has told, and brought to life, the stories of hundreds of Civil War soldiers from both sides of the war. He also serves his community as the youth pastor at Woodland Mills First Baptist Church.

Discovery Park Celebrates National Ag Day

March 24, 2022 – Despite it being a rainy day that moved many of the activities indoors, a crowd of more than 1,200 attended our National Ag Day Celebration on March 22. Among those in attendance were 13 student groups throughout the region that received free admission thanks to the Kirkland Scholarship Fund and were able to participate in the activities of the day.

More than 25 ag-related businesses and organizations had booths with information, hands-on activities and giveaways for guests to enjoy. The vendors and booths at the event included:

• AgLaunch
• BERG Livestock 
• Corteva Agriscience
• Farm Credit Mid-America 
• Farmspace Systems LLC
• H&R Agri-Power
• Kentucky Department of Agriculture
• Lone Oaks Farm STEM Education Program 
• McWherter Farms
• National Resource Conservation Service – USDA
• Northwest TN Beekeepers Association
• Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network
• Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Obion County Farm Bureau Insurance
• Simmons Bank
• Syngenta
• Tennessee AgrAbility
• Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads
• Tennessee Beef Industry Council 
• Tennessee Corn Promotional Council
• Tennessee Department of Agriculture
• Tennessee Future Farmers of America Association
• TN Soybean
• Turtle Plastics
• Tyson Foods 
• UT/Obion County Extension
• University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources
• West Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

During the event, representatives from Discovery Park and Farm Credit Mid-America marked the beginning of construction of the Farm Credit Mid-America Education Pavilion and Greenhouses that will open on the grounds later in the year.

After additional remarks from Tim Williams, senior vice president of ag lending for Farm Credit Mid-America, Williams introduced nine students, Wyatt Cunningham, Kendall Crabtree, Taylor Cantrell, Remi Gardner, Cassie Lewis, Haley Wheeler, Jason Matthews, Caleb McClure, Autumn Smith and Suni Ray Wright, who have excelled in agriculture in various ag-related clubs and organizations. After a countdown, the students planted wildflowers in flower pots that were on stage.

Also in attendance was Haley Wheeler, Miss Kentucky 2022, who assisted in ag safety protocol demonstrations. Wheeler serves as the spokesperson for the Kentucky Proud initiative.

A full album of photos can be found on our Flickr page.

Reelfoot Lake Designated One of Tennessee’s Bill Dance Signature Lakes

March 23, 2022 – Joann and Kerry Spear rolled out the hospitality red-carpet at the Boat House Restaurant in Samburg, Tenn. for a special gathering at Reelfoot Lake. Dennis Tumlin, chief customer officer for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development briefed area stakeholders about plans for the lake, Just 30 miles west of Discovery Park, to be designated one of Tennessee’s Bill Dance Signature Lakes.

Bill Dance lives in Memphis, Tenn. and is considered the most-recognized fisherman of all time thanks to more than 2,000 airings of “Bill Dance Outdoors” that has been airing since 1968. In addition to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, he is also a member of the National Freshwater Hall of Fame, the IGFA Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Tumlin outlined the new $15.4-million-dollar initiative to increase fishing tourism across the state of Tennessee.  Funding has been approved and a 1.9-million-dollar marketing plan is in the works that includes $400,000 for Interstate signage.  Tumlin said the best interstate exits will be identified and there will be “large brown and white signs marking the exit to Reelfoot Lake.”  Other funds have been earmarked for improvements at the 17 Tennessee lakes in this project, including upgrading loading ramps and installing bathrooms in locations like Kirby’s Pocket in Samburg.

This development will impact Discovery Park as many of those who fish, hunt or birdwatch on Reelfoot Lake also include a visit to the museum and heritage park in Union City in their itinerary.

“We have the ability to communicate directly with the 900,000 people who hold fishing licenses in Tennessee, and an additional 10 million more who live in contiguous states,” Tumlin shared.  “We plan to bring lots of new fishing tourism dollars into state with this initiative.”

Frank Fiss, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Chief of Fisheries in Tennessee, spoke a bit about adding a few additional entry points into Reelfoot and steps that TWRA is taking to control the population of Asian Carp at Reelfoot.

A Tennessee Parks representative shared that plans are already underway for a new campground at Reelfoot Lake and increased parking at Kirby’s Pocket.  She said that there is a dream to build a walking trail and a pavilion, as well.

Tumlin closed the meeting by encouraging city and county government officials to use any hotel/motel tax collected for the promotion of tourism in the county.  “You might be tempted to put this money in the general fund to buy a police car or fire engine, but I encourage you to see the bigger picture,” Tumlin said.  “If you reinvest these dollars that came straight from tourists back into tourism, you’ll collect enough tax dollars to buy two or three police cars or firetrucks.”

Those in attendance represented TWRA, Tennessee State Parks, tourism professionals, Reelfoot Lake guides and government officials.

To plan your trip through Tennessee on your way to or from Discovery Park, visit TNVacation.com.

Jackson-Madison County Library Presents Bicentennial Program on Davy Crockett Featuring Discovery Park’s CEO

March 1, 2022 – The Jackson-Madison County Library is hosting a Bicentennial program titled The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett on Saturday, March 12 at 12:00 p.m.

The program will be given by Scott Williams, author of the book for which the program is titled and Discovery Park’s CEO. He will be discussing his book, Davy Crockett’s ties to West Tenn., and signing books. Williams was inspired to write the book by the many places at Discovery Park where guests can experience the folk hero, frontiersman, politician and West Tennessee settler every day. Crockett lived in our region from 1822 until he departed for the Alamo in 1835. Crockett was also one of the earliest hunters around nearby Reelfoot Lake.

In “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett,” Williams uncovers what propelled Crockett’s fascinating journey to international fame, while also examining the birth of Tennessee during one of the most fascinating periods in American history.

The program will take place at the Jackson-Madison County Library in the Program Center located at 433 E. Lafayette St. in downtown. For more information, contact the Library at 731-425-8600, visit the Library’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/JMCLibrary or its website at www.jmclibrary.org.

Photo Caption: Cover art for “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett”

Discovery Park Opens Cornerstone Box Discovered During Demolition of Historic Dresden First United Methodist Church

February 3, 2022 – On February 2, 2022, our artifact experts opened the cornerstone box discovered during the demolition of the historic Dresden First United Methodist Church. The building was damaged beyond repair in December 2021, during one of the worst outbreaks of tornadoes ever recorded in the United States. The cornerstone box was found bricked inside a part of the church that was dedicated in 1923 and was previously unknown to many of today’s church members. Once discovered, demolition halted as those on hand began work to carefully extract the box from the cornerstone of the building. The box has been stored properly at Discovery Park over the past few weeks as the Discovery Park team has developed a plan to conserve the remains in the box after opening. Jennifer Wildes, the museum’s senior director of collections and exhibits, managed the opening of the box and was assisted by Jade Walsh and Jamie Thomson.

“Of all the artifacts we discovered, the most meaningful for me was a typed letter from the church’s pastor at the time, S. L. Jewell,” said Wildes. It included a short history of the church, and he noted that the letter had been ‘hastily written for information of someone who may in coming years look in the box.’”

The majority of the items were well preserved with the most unexpected item being an ear of corn. A letter wrapped around the ear noted it was of the Little Willice variety and was placed in the box by E. E. Ellis, the Weakley County agriculture agent. Ellis wrote, “May God’s richest blessings be with each farmer and those that depend on farmers as long as good old Weakley County continues to be populated with people.”

Other items pulled from the box included:

• Methodist hymnals and songbooks
• Copies of the Dresden Enterprise newspaper from 1924
• Copies of Methodist newspapers
• Tube containing a document from the Boy Scouts of America
• Correspondence relating to the building of the church
• A 1920 photograph of a young church member, Norma Leone Lewis, discovered inside a hymnal
• Official church rolls for 1923-1924

Church leaders are in the process of planning where and when their new church building will be built. Contributions to the Dresden First United Methodist Church rebuilding effort may be made online at GoFundMe.com by searching “Dresden FUMC Rebuilding Effort,” or checks may be mailed to:

Bldg & Renovation Fund
Dresden First United Methodist Church
411 Morrow St.
Dresden, TN 38225

Discovery Park to Open Hidden Cornerstone Box from Historic Dresden Church

Jan. 12, 2022 – Dresden First United Methodist Church in Dresden, Tenn. discovered a copper cornerstone box during the recent demolition of their church building. Church leaders have asked the Discovery Park team to help open and conserve the contents of the historic box.

The building was damaged beyond repair in December 2021, during one of the worst outbreaks of tornadoes ever recorded in the United States. The cornerstone box was found bricked inside a part of the church that was dedicated in 1923 and was previously unknown to many of today’s church members. Once discovered, demolition halted as those on hand began work to carefully extract the box from the cornerstone of the building.

Wayne McCreight, a church trustee, contacted Discovery Park to ask for help safely extracting the contents of this gripping find.

Jennifer Wildes, the museum’s senior director of collections and exhibits, will manage opening the box in the next few weeks and will be prepared to conserve what, if anything, remains inside after being hidden away nearly 100 years. Photos of any items found will be posted on Discovery Park’s Facebook page and loaned by the church for display at Discovery Park for a short time.

A clipping from the Dresden Enterprise, the town’s newspaper, noted that when the church was originally dedicated, a crowd gathered on a Saturday afternoon to watch the laying of the cornerstone. According to the clipping, the box that was placed there at the time contained a complete roll of the church membership, a full history of the church, copies of the church newspaper, copies of the Dresden Enterprise and copies of hymnals.

“If we find artifacts that are damp and fragile, it will require delicate care to preserve them intact before they can be thoroughly examined and cataloged,” said Wildes. “Whatever we find, we’ll make certain these items left by church members from the past are preserved as a reminder of the church’s important history.”

Church leaders are in the process of planning where and when their new church building will be built. Contributions to the Dresden First United Methodist Church rebuilding effort may be made online at GoFundMe.com, or checks may be mailed to:

Bldg & Renovation Fund
Dresden First United Methodist Church
411 Morrow St.
Dresden, TN 38225

Discovering Forever at Discovery Park of America

Dec. 21, 2021 – Our mission is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Part of how we help guests to “see beyond” is by giving them new things to discover each day. Little did Christy Bondurant and Kevin Lyell know that they would discover their forever right here in Discovery Park’s gift shop.

Christy and Kevin were introduced to each other in 2020 by a church friend and were connected through Facebook. After messaging for a while, Kevin asked Christy out on a date. “I, being a bit old fashioned, told him that he would need to come meet me in my hometown for the first date and our first in-person meet up,” Christy said. She knew of the perfect place for them to meet and have their first date, Discovery Park of America.

Kevin was running late due to traffic, so Christy decided to explore the gift shop while waiting. As she was scanning a display in the gift shop, Kevin noticed her through the glass and they have been dating ever since.

This past Saturday, Dec. 18, Kevin brought Christy back to Discovery Park under the ruse of picking up a science themed Christmas gift for a family member. “He kept stalling and was not listening to my suggestions,” Christy said. After circling the shop a few times, Kevin got down on one knee on the other side of a shelf that was stocked with army men. “I was about to tell him how his niece did not care for army men, but he was down on one knee with the ring,” laughed Christy. He proposed at the same time and place he had first seen Christy, at 1 p.m. in the gift shop. “Of course I said yes,” Christy said.

We wish the future Mr. and Mrs. Lyell many years of happiness in their marriage that was first discovered here at Discovery Park.

Kevin Lyell proposed to Christy Bondurant in the gift shop at Discovery Park of America.

Tornado Relief Efforts

Dec. 17, 2021 – Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tornadoes that crossed 8 states on Dec. 11, 2021. For those looking for ways to assist in relief efforts, we have compiled a list of places to volunteer and donate.

Local Resources for Tornado Victims

Food, Clothing and Other Essential Items: 

Samburg Assembly of God
253 N Reelfoot Ave. Hornbeak, TN 38232

First Baptist Church
204 S Poplar St. Kenton, TN 38233

Shelter:

American Red Cross Shelter
First Baptist Church
204 S Poplar St. Kenton, TN 38233

Ways to Donate

• The American Red Cross
• Bowling Green Fire Department
• CARE
• Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort
• Dresden Police Department
• Dresden Rotary Tornado Relief Fund
• Global Giving
• International Medical Corps
• Kentucky Baptist Relief
• Obion County Tornado Relief Fund
• The Salvation Army
• Support for Dresden Relief Fund
• Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
• Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief
• Toys for Tornado Victims, Tennessee Realtors
• The United Way of Kentucky
• WE Care Ministries

Federal aid has been granted for those counties impacted by the tornado outbreak. TEMA will continue to update the December Severe Weather page with recovery recourses, volunteer information and how to donate. The Crisis Cleanup Line (800-451-1954) is active and accepting call from Tennesseans in the storm damaged counties who need assistance with cleaning up from the storms. For more information, visit December Severe Weather (tn.gov). Be sure to watch social media and contact local churches and organizations for other ways to volunteer or make donations.