For immediate release March 31, 2006

FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK ANNOUNCES SPRING WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE
25TH ANNUAL EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE APRIL 7-9, 2006

Pikeville, Tenn. - Fall Creek Falls State Park will host the 25th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage April 7-9, 2006. A variety of programs will be offered including slideshows, hikes and photography workshops to celebrate the park's spring wildflowers. The weekend's programs are free and open to the public.

In addition to park personnel, several guest speakers will participate in the weekend's events. Bertha Chrietzberg, a former Middle Tennessee State University professor and member of the Tennessee Native Plant Society will begin the weekend on Friday, April 7 with an evening presentation on edible wild foods. There will also be a night hike on Friday evening.

The weekend continues Saturday and Sunday with various hikes featuring wildflowers such as Trilliums and Wild Blue Phlox. The Department of Environment and Conservation's administrator for rare species protection will lead some of the wildflower hikes, along with park rangers and naturalists. Some of the weekend hikes will also focus on taking wildflower photographs.

Fall Creek Falls State Park has been voted by visitors to be one of the top family destinations in the Southeast. Protected within its boundaries are beautiful waterfalls, tremendous canyons and dense forest. The park has a 250-site campground, a hotel and conference center and 30 cabins. It is located 40 miles south of Cookeville, and 65 miles north of Chattanooga, atop the beautiful Cumberland Plateau.

For more information about the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, please call the Betty Dunn Nature Center at (423) 881-5708. For reservations at the park's inn, call the Tennessee State Parks reservation line toll free at 1-800-250-8610 or visit the Web site at www.tnstateparks.com/fallcreekfalls.

###

For more information contact:

Tisha Calabrese-Benton
(865) 594-5442 Office