Center Hill Lake shapes Dekalb’s landscape with its extensive waters and largely undeveloped shores. The reservoir is 54 miles long, with 415 miles of shoreline. The lake covers 18,200 acres and is deep and clear. The largely forested Edgar Evins State Park, covering 6,000 acres, lies along the shore. The lake and forest give nature a prominent place alongside art, music and history.
Center Hill Lake and forested shores
Swimming is allowed at Center Hill Lake, except in the boat ramp areas. Nine commercial marinas have boat slips and overnight accommodations. There are also five campgrounds on the lake: options range from developed facilities with extensive amenities to simple wilderness sites. This makes it possible to choose from very different ways to spend time by the water, from swimming to camping in a basic setting. Access to Edgar Evins State Park is via I-40, Exit 268, and State Highway 96.
Crafts and Music in Smithville
In Smithville, the Appalachian Center for Craft offers hands-on workshops in blacksmithing, ceramics, textile design, glass, metal and woodworking. The gallery displays works by more than 150 regional and national artists; exhibitions by national and regional artists have been part of its program for several decades. This offers two different ways to engage with art: you can view the works on display or explore the hands-on workshop topics.
Music also has a prominent place in Smithville. The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree has been held every year since 1972, on the Friday and Saturday closest to July 4. This rule is useful for planning, since the festival weekend is determined by its proximity to the holiday. The DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria has offered old-fashioned entertainment and competitions since 1856; it returns in summer with the lights of the fairground. The Jamboree’s date is tied to a specific weekend in July, while the Fair returns as a summer event. If you’re planning to attend either festival, check the current dates in advance.
Buildings and Regional Art History
The Susie Foster Log House in Smithville was built between 1946 and 1950 from logs taken from older homes in the Caney Fork River basin, before Center Hill Lake was created. The origin of the logs connects the building’s history to the period before the reservoir. Exposed logs, the original mantel, and the original windows and doors illustrate the 20th-century Colonial Revival movement. Here, you can explore architecture through its actual building features, not just a date.
The Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour offers another perspective on art. Local artisans launched it in DeKalb County in 1999. This three-day, self-guided arts experience connects artist studios in DeKalb, Cannon and Warren Counties. Its geographic scope therefore extends beyond DeKalb County, distinguishing the tour from the individual offerings in Smithville.
Discover more destinations: Smithville, Obion County, Washington County, Bedford County, Greene, Hardeman County, Crockett County, Morgan County.
For the main travel overview: Tennessee.
