Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium

A large nature park on Bays Mountain near Kingsport TN. This is a 33 minute drive down I-26 (25.2 miles). The Park has nature trails, a 44 acre lake with barge rides (freshwater jellyfish!), animal habitats including wolves, bobcats, and various raptors. It also has several interesting indoor exhibits on the natural environment of this part of Tennessee, and a 1.3 million dollar planetarium.

Minimum: 10 participants

Maximum: 28 participants

Cost: TBD (includes transportation to/from the host hotel, boxed lunch, and park admission)

Bright's Zoo

Travel from the Carnegie Hotel at 9:30am via Enterprise 15 passenger van to arrive at Troyer’s Mountain View Country Market and Auntie Ruth’s Donuts & Pretzels in Limestone TN shortly after 10am. Attendees can eat a late breakfast here under the covered pavilion and check out the shop. Depart around 10:45am for a short 3-minute drive to Bright’s Zoo.

Bright’s Zoo is a small private zoo with a surprising number and variety of animals, including red pandas and a tapir (named Barry), both important living relatives of animals found at the Gray Fossil Site. The zoo also has the world-famous spotless giraffe named Kipekee.

Minimum: 10 participants

Maximum: 28 participants

Cost: TBD (includes transportation to/from the host hotel and zoo admission)

Worley's Cave

More information coming soon!

Minimum: 5 participants

Maximum: 10 participants

Cost: TBD (includes transportation to/from the host hotel, entrance fee, and a boxed lunch)