NR 14-010: Corps invites the public to tour Old Hickory Lock and Dam

Published May 8, 2014
Old Hickory Lake Park Ranger Courtney Eason speaks with the public during an Old Hickory Lock and Dam tour about the 400-foot by 84-foot navigational lock chamber Saturday, June 29,2013.

Old Hickory Lake Park Ranger Courtney Eason speaks with the public during an Old Hickory Lock and Dam tour about the 400-foot by 84-foot navigational lock chamber Saturday, June 29,2013.

Hickory Lake Park Ranger Amy Redmond speaks with the public inside Old Hickory Powerhouse about the four 25 megawatt generating units during an Old Hickory Lock and Dam tour Saturday, June 29,2013.

Hickory Lake Park Ranger Amy Redmond speaks with the public inside Old Hickory Powerhouse about the four 25 megawatt generating units during an Old Hickory Lock and Dam tour Saturday, June 29,2013.

OLD HICKORY, Tenn. (May 8, 2014) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Old Hickory Lake is now accepting registration applications for the Saturday, May 17, lock and dam tour beginning at 11 a.m. at the Old Hickory Lock parking area. Free to the public and approximately 75 minutes in length, the guided tour will give registered participants an opportunity to not only view the facilities, but also learn about the lake’s history and important role the navigational lock and powerhouse facilities play with the cities and towns along the Cumberland River.

Tour size is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  All guests including minors are required to submit a request form at least five business days prior to the tour and receive confirmation. Monthly tours are also scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday June 21, July 26, and Aug. 9.

“We encourage the public to visit the Navigational Lock throughout the summer recreation season,” said Amy Redmond, natural resource specialist. “Even though lock staff will not be readily available to answer questions throughout the week, interpretive signs and pamphlets will be onsite to answer basic questions our visitors may have.”

Registered tour participants that have received an email confirmation are required to check in at the parking lot located on the dam adjacent to the lock in Old Hickory, Tenn. approximately 15 minutes prior to the designated tour time to receive a brief introduction prior to beginning the tour. 

To request a tour registration form and to learn more about the tours’ rules and details, please call the Old Hickory Lake Resource Manager’s Office at (615) 822-4846, or visit the Old Hickory Lake website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/OldHickoryLake/OpenHouseTours.   

Applications can only be accepted within a 30 day window prior to the actual tour date.  The Old Hickory Navigation Lock is located at 1188 Cinder Road, Old Hickory, TN  37138.  The Resource Manager’s Office is located at 5 Power Plant Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075.  Please note an increase in threat conditions or scheduled maintenance to the powerhouse and/or lock may result in an approved tour being modified to only allow limited access or cancelled with little advance notice. The Corps regrets any inconvenience this may cause. For more information, please contact Redmond at (615) 822-4846 or (615) 847-2395.

(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. More information is available at Old Hickory Lake’s web page at www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/OldHickoryLake and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/oldhickorylake.)
Contact
Bill Peoples
615-736-7161
william.l.peoples@usace.army.mil
or
Lee Roberts
615-736-7161
leon.a.roberts@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-010