Doe Mountain Recreational Area in Doe Valley, Tennessee

 

Sunrise over Doe Mountain

Discovered by Daniel Boone as he rested on his way west, the valley formed by the Watauga River which came to be known as Doe Valley has been a majestic landmark in Johnson County, TN for hundreds of years.  Legend has it when Daniel Boone was traveling west, he stopped in this fertile valley, shot a doe and so named the valley Doe Valley and the creek he quenched his thirst from as Doe Creek.  Today it still provides water and fishing for the local inhabitants.

For many years the 8600 acre mountain named Doe Mountain was used as a wildlife management area as well as a place for the local hunters of Johnson County to hunt deer, turkey, and bear.  In about 2006 it was sold to a developer who planned to turn it into high end homes on secluded lots, build a large 20 acre pond for fishing and there was even talk about making a golf course on the mountain.

Then the recession arrived and the market fell out for second homes, especially high end ones and the developer went bankrupt.  Rumor had it that he had turned down $35M for the property a few months before the bottom dropped out.  Oops!

There the mountain sat.  Not bringing any tax income to the county which could have used it, not being used for hunting, hiking or anything else, just sitting there waiting for someone to buy it from the bank.  Along came a timber company which offered the bank $1.5M and the timber company planned to clear cut the mountain.  ARGH!

Although this is a protected quarry, this is what the mountain might look like once all the trees were cut down and the stumps removed.  Luckily our county Mayor, Larry Potter, was not going to let this happen to an important natural resource right in the center of the county.  And so he began to search for funding to purchase the mountain and save it from destruction.The Nature Conservancy came to the rescue, bought the property and then after due diligence sold it to the State who gave it to Johnson County.

Now the volunteers, county officials and outsiders who want to use the trails are working to make Doe Mountain the recreational facility it can be.  Already there are ATV trails, hiking trails and soon, once the insurance comes through, horseback riding trails will be created.  The biggest need right now are funds to hire a supervisor, but the permit fees haven't justified filling a full time position....but one will be hired soon.

So if you like to hike, bike, ride an ATV or explore the geology and plant life of this unique property, come stay at the Iron Mountain Inn B&B, Creekside Chalet or House on Watauga Lake which are all about 10 minutes from the mountain.