Chattanooga

Tennessee’s 70th State Park at McDonald Farm Will Be Angel’s Hollow, With a Nov. 6 Dedication in Sale Creek

Tennessee’s 70th state park has a name: Angel’s Hollow State Park. Gov. Bill Lee and TDEC announced Oct. 20 that the park, on about 2,500 acres at and around McDonald Farm on the Hamilton-Rhea county line, will be dedicated Nov. 6, the same day the Hamilton County Fair opens.

Tracy King

22 Oct 2026 • 5 min read

North Hamilton County is getting Tennessee’s 70th state park. Illustrative photo.

Tennessee’s 70th state park will be called Angel’s Hollow State Park. Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced the name Tuesday, Oct. 20. The park covers a large part of McDonald Farm in north Hamilton County, and it will be dedicated on Nov. 6, the same day the Hamilton County Fair opens.

The governor and First Lady Maria Lee chose the name themselves. According to the announcement, it reflects “the peaceful and serene landscapes” the park will offer visitors. Angel’s Hollow is the last of 14 state parks created under Gov. Lee, a Tennessee record for one administration.

Where the park is and how big it is

The park sits in a valley on the border of Hamilton and Rhea counties near Graysville. Hamilton County transferred approximately 1,305 acres of McDonald Farm to the state, according to the Oct. 20 announcement. Combined with land the state already owns, Angel’s Hollow will total about 2,500 acres.

The visitor center will be in Sale Creek. It will border more than 300 acres of McDonald Farm that Hamilton County is keeping, including the historic homestead and the fairgrounds.

The park also links to the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park, a linear park of more than 300 miles along the Cumberland Plateau from the Chickamauga Gorge to the Cumberland Gap, according to TDEC.

Acreage and the earlier name

The figures have shifted slightly as the project moved forward:

Item	Figure	Source
Land transferred to the state	Approximately 1,305 acres	State announcement via Chattanoogan.com, Oct. 20
Land transferred to the state	Approximately 1,300 acres in Hamilton and Rhea counties	TDEC, June 26
Split by county	About 800 acres Hamilton, 500 acres Rhea	Hamilton County, March 4
Total park size with state parcels	Approximately 2,500 acres	TDEC and state announcement
Land Hamilton County keeps	More than 700 acres, including a 300+ acre county park	Hamilton County, March 4
State budget for the park	$45.3 million, FY2027	State announcement; Hamilton County
Prior state investment at McDonald Farm	$3 million for infrastructure	Hamilton County, March 4
Planned annual state operations spending	More than $1 million	Hamilton County, March 4

The park also had a different name earlier this year. When the Hamilton County Commission voted unanimously on March 4 to convey the land, the county’s release called it Roaring Creek State Park. The Oct. 20 announcement makes Angel’s Hollow the official name.

Who is paying for it

The Tennessee General Assembly approved $45.3 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget for the new park. Hamilton County’s March release said the state investment covers park development, operations and long-term maintenance, “ensuring local taxpayers are not responsible for ongoing costs.”

The county also cited TDEC figures showing that state parks of similar scope generate $11 million in annual economic output and support an average of more than 70 jobs.

What local leaders said

“As Tennessee’s 70th state park, this beautiful valley on the border of Hamilton and Rhea counties will connect Tennesseans and visitors with nature,” Gov. Lee said.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said the county looks forward “to seeing Tennessee’s 70th state park come to life alongside our adjacent county park, with both enhancing the quality of life in the beautiful northern end of Hamilton County.”

State Sen. Bo Watson, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the park “will further establish Hamilton County as a premier outdoor destination.” TDEC Deputy Commissioner Brian Clifford thanked the governor and General Assembly for their investments in conservation.

Rhea County leaders support the park too. Rhea County Executive Ron Travis called it “a multigenerational destination” and credited “the spirit of partnership at all levels of government.” Rep. Greg Martin said the park “will help preserve that natural beauty for generations to come.”

Back in March, Hamilton County Commissioner Gene-O Shipley, who represents Soddy-Daisy and Sale Creek, said the vote was about making sure “our children and grandchildren inherit the kind of Hamilton County we’re proud of.”

The larger state system is a big economic engine as well. TDEC says Tennessee State Parks have a nearly $2 billion impact on the state’s economy and support more than 13,000 jobs.

What visitors can expect

The state says Angel’s Hollow will be a new entry point into Tennessee’s parks and trails. It is meant to serve families new to the outdoors as well as people looking for longer trail connections and backcountry trips. State Sen. Adam Lowe said it will give families new chances to hike, bike, camp and enjoy the outdoors.

Master planning started this summer. TDEC held a public open house July 16 at the Harvest Barn at McDonald Farm, 16705 Coulterville Road in Sale Creek, to gather ideas for the park’s design.

Key dates

March 4, 2026 — Hamilton County Commission votes unanimously to convey the land.
June 26, 2026 — TDEC opens public input on the master plan.
July 16, 2026 — Public open house at the Harvest Barn in Sale Creek.
Oct. 20, 2026 — Name announced: Angel’s Hollow State Park.
Nov. 6, 2026 — Park dedication, coinciding with the opening of the Hamilton County Fair.

What it means for north Hamilton County homeowners

A state park with a visitor center in Sale Creek brings more visitors, more trail traffic and more attention to Soddy-Daisy, Sale Creek and the Rhea County line. That kind of recreation draw can make a rural area easier to market, especially to buyers who want land and outdoor access within reach of Chattanooga. It can also bring more weekend traffic on the main roads.

If you own acreage or a home in the area and have been waiting to see what happens with McDonald Farm, the answer is now set. The park is funded, named and opening this fall.

For more on how the Chattanooga market is moving, see Chattanooga-Area Inventory Hits 4,106 Homes in September as Days on Market Climb to 56 and the Median Holds at $340,000. For another local land preservation vote, read Walden Voters Decide Nov. 3 on Up to $1.4 Million in Debt for the 42-Acre Totten Tract.

Curious what your Sale Creek, Soddy-Daisy or Chattanooga-area home is worth? Get a free home valuation, or request a cash offer if you want a firm number without repairs or showings.

What is the name of Tennessee’s 70th state park?

Angel’s Hollow State Park. Gov. Bill Lee and TDEC announced the name on Oct. 20, 2026. Earlier county materials called it Roaring Creek State Park.

When will Angel’s Hollow State Park be dedicated?

Nov. 6, 2026, the same day the Hamilton County Fair opens at McDonald Farm.

Where is Angel’s Hollow State Park?

It covers much of McDonald Farm in a valley on the Hamilton-Rhea county line near Graysville. The visitor center will be in Sale Creek, next to the county-retained homestead and fairgrounds.

How big is Angel’s Hollow State Park?

About 2,500 acres in total. Hamilton County transferred approximately 1,305 acres of McDonald Farm, according to the October announcement, and the state already owned other parcels.

How much is the state spending on the park?

The General Assembly approved $45.3 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget. Hamilton County said the state investment covers development, operations and long-term maintenance.