New State Park Protects Endangered Species
October 6, 2026, 3:47 a.m.

Dry Branch State Park; image by Matt Morrison

HOWENWALD, TN - A new state park in Hohenwald protects more than 2,000 acres of rare wetlands, forests, glades, and grasslands. Dry Branch State Park and Natural Area is home to Tennessee's largest known population of the federally endangered Tennessee yellow-eyed grass and an incredible diversity of native plants.

Originally protected as a state natural area and now Tennessee's newest state park, this remarkable landscape will continue to benefit from habitat restoration while thoughtfully expanding opportunities for future public access.

The park is not yet open to visitors. Groundwork is being laid for trails and fully off-grid visitor facilities that will allow people to experience this special place responsibly.

Dry Branch State Park spans 2,169 acres across Lewis, Hickman, and Perry counties, protecting a remarkable landscape of the Western Highland Rim. Its diverse habitats—including native woodlands, seeps, glades, barrens, and rare wetlands—support an exceptional variety of sensitive plant species.

Among the park’s most sign significant discoveries is the state’s largest population of Tennessee yellow-eyed grass, a federally endangered plant found in only a few places worldwide. Natural Heritage botanist Andrea Bishop discovered the population in a globally rare wetland along Dry Branch, helping inspire the area’s designation as a state natural area in the early 2000s.

Now a state park, Dry Branch provides new opportunities to protect this extraordinary biodiversity. Ongoing restoration efforts will focus on preserving and enhancing its native habitats, ensuring that rare species such as Tennessee yellow-eyed grass continue to thrive for generations to come.

The park is located at 1050 Brush Creek Road, Hohenwald, TN 37110