10-04-2025
Augusta Quarry expected to reopen in early summer as renovations nearly complete
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Renovations to a popular Knoxville swimming spot are finishing up just in time to open for the summer.
Augusta Quarry at Fort Dickerson Park is getting some major upgrades. South Knoxville neighbors are looking forward to its reopening, as its been closed for over a year due to construction.
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'I grew up in South Knoxville and it's always been an awesome park that the neighborhood loves, and it's like the best little hidden swimming spot that's right next to downtown,' Rachel Jernigan said.
Wes Soward, Urban Wilderness Coordinator for the City of Knoxville, said the upgrades aim to improve accessibility and safety at the quarry.
'We have five new building structures, which will incorporate some bathrooms, changing rooms, and front of house park staff space as well. One of the biggest things you'll see that has changed at the quarry is the addition of new floating docks and swim platforms in the quarry lake itself,' he said.
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The project cost $5.4 million and began in 2019. It's been completed in phases, the first phase made improvements on the perimeter of the park.
'There was a gateway that was installed on Chapman Highway, it's the main entrance to the upper part of Fort Dickerson Park. A driveway and parking lot which is where we're standing now was completed previous to this phase, and we also installed the utilities to support the buildings we're building now,' Soward said.
The city is also looking to improve safety at the quarry. New railings and a more accessible trail down to the water will be installed. The docks also aim to deter people from cliff jumping, which has claimed several lives there over the years.
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'It's something they've needed for a long time because there were a few accidents that happened kind of in close succession back to back,' Jernigan said. 'It's something they've needed down there for a while so I'm glad its going a lot safer than it used to be.'
There is not a set date yet for the reopening, but it is expected to be early summer.
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