Preserving our past for our future
An archive of pictures, documents, and stories relating to Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee
Favorite Stories...
How Bays Mountain got its name
Early settlers on the mountain
That time that Ruby Nelms fell off the mountain!
How Hugh Hamblen lived to regret teaching his wife to read and write
Why 14-yr-old John Fincher had to return from Chattanooga alone
Life as a 1953 Fire Tower Lookout on Bays Mountain
Odell Harbour Depew, schoolteacher on Bays Mountain in 1915
Moonshine Stills, including a 1966 series of newspaper articles
Recent Updates
Winter 2026
- Added content to the Easley, Dam, Fincher and Quillen pages
- We received several photos from descendants of E.P. Easley, who ran the general store at the foot of the mountain in the early 1900s
- Volunteers have been doing our annual winter clearing of the homesites in Front Hollow, Back Hollow, and the Azalea Trail. This involves trimming back the briars and small shrubs that would otherwise hide these sites from view.
- In late winter we’ll do our annual “blowing of the daffodils”, where we use blowers to clear the leaves that smother the underground daffodils that will be rising in spring. We’ve followed this strategy for 3 years and it’s showing results! By effectively extending their growing period, the daffodils are coming up taller, thicker, and with more blooms. Remember, some of these daffodils are over 150 years old, so we want to make sure they survive and thrive!
- Two sold-out guided history hikes were held and a great time was had by all!
Winter 2025 – We offered 3 guided history hikes this winter and all of them sold out! It’s so much fun to share the history of this mountain with people who love this place as much as we do!
Jan 2025 – Since 2024 was a year of researching and clearing sites in Front Hollow, 2025 is the year of Back Hollow! Volunteers have been exploring and (re)discovering sites in that area. They’re also gathering info and stories from someone who grew up hunting and camping in Back Hollow in the 1950s and 60s. More to come…
Fall 2024 – The old Quillen homesite near the western end of Front Hollow has been cleaned up by History Committee volunteers.
Summer 2024 – Historical “daffodil” signs have been placed at the Ledbetter site in Front Hollow and the McClain site on Azalea Trail. Another sign was place at the Moonshine Still on Chinquapin Trail. Also, simple “homesite” signs have been placed at the Ledbetter site, the Gragg site on Lake Rd (west), the McClain site, and the Dolen Shed site on Lake Rd.
Spring 2024 – The History Committee has been busy this past winter exploring, clearing, and documenting old homesites in Front Hollow. If you hike/bike out there you might see 4 sites that were recently cleared, including an earthen dam at the Ledbetter site. Click here to see what they’ve identified!
Learn
Watch a video of the Bays Mountain History presentation that was given for the ‘Friends of the Kingsport Archives’ in early 2024
Please Donate to BMPA History!
To support this site and other Bays Mountain history-related Features & Programs, please Donate to the BMPA History Committee. All proceeds go towards finding, documenting, and sharing Bays Mountain history!