Bumpus Mills is situated on scenic Lake Barkley, amid a landscape of gently rolling, wooded hills. There are several specific points to help you plan your trip: a boat ramp that is open year-round and a basic camping area at Bumpus Marina, reservable campsites at Bumpus Mills Campground, and Unit 1 of the Barkley Wildlife Management Area nearby. The history behind the town’s name and Bellwood Furnace are also part of the local picture. This allows you to consider access to the water, overnight stays and local history separately.
Scenery on Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley is the defining geographical feature of Bumpus Mills: the town is situated on the lake amid a landscape of gently rolling, wooded hills. When choosing a destination, you can make this combination a specific focus; water, woods and gentle hills together shape the landscape. This offers an initial answer to what makes Bumpus Mills appealing, before you decide which activities or accommodation options to prioritize for your trip.
Water, Boating and Overnight Stays
Bumpus Marina has a boat ramp that is open year-round. Use of the ramp costs $5. This gives you both the operating period and a specific fee for planning your boating activities. The marina also offers a basic camping area by the lake, available year-round. These two amenities meet different needs: the ramp is for launching a boat, while the camping area is an overnight option right by the lake.
All campsites at Bumpus Mills Campground can be reserved. You can book online through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; 931-232-8831 is also listed for the campground. This information concerns campsite reservations and the contact methods provided for them. If you choose this campground for your trip, check availability for your travel dates and use one of the listed reservation methods.
Nature and Local History
Another nearby point of interest is Unit 1 of the Barkley Wildlife Management Area. It can be reached via Bumpus Mills Road and River Road. The two road names provide specific directions if you include this area in your plans; this natural attraction complements the location on Lake Barkley with another local point of interest.
Bellwood Furnace (40SW210) is located in Bumpus Mills and is part of the Multiple-Property Submission “Iron Industry on the Western Highland Rim 1790s–1920s.” The Western Highland Rim sites included in this designation comprise historic buildings associated with the iron industry. Bellwood Furnace thus places the town’s history in the broader regional context of the iron industry.
Bumpus Mills was named in honor of its first postmaster, Andrew Jackson Bumpus. This is a personal story behind the town’s name, and a different perspective from Bellwood Furnace’s regional context: one points to a local postmaster, the other to the history of the iron industry in the Western Highland Rim. Those interested in local history will find two distinct historical perspectives here.
For the broader travel overview: Stewart County.
