Kingsport, Tn. -- One of the most unique parks in America is located here near the border of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.
A pack of gray wolves inhabit the Bays Mountain Park here, along with bobcats, rattlesnakes, deer, birds, catfish, and other assorted wild creatures.
Bays Mountain Park is a 3,550-acre wilderness paradise where visitors can interact with the wolves and get a fantastic look at all the natural wonders of East Tennessee.
Plus, you can check out the planets of the universe at a planetarium, get a look at what turn of the century country living and country stores were like, take a ride on a secluded 44-acre lake or hike/bike one of dozens of forested trails. If there is enough snow around you can even do cross-country skiing.
Located about 110 miles east of Knoxville, Bays Mountain Park is a place where you can get an up close and personal entertaining look at Mother Nature's handiwork.
Thousands of school kids from five states each year visit the park to learn about ecology and the natural wonders of the region, but there are dozens of exhibits and displays that could prove interesting to adults, too.
One of the biggest attractions for Bays Mountain Park is its gray wolves habitat, where a pack of eight gray wolves roam through a 1.75-acre wired enclosure.
Visitors can get within a few feet of the wolves and park officials will be glad to help you start up a howling session -- with the wolves joining in -- if you like. "I have done a lot of howling to help get things going," said Rhonda Goins, one of the park naturalists. "People seem to love to hear the wolves answer ourr howling. Park staff are considered part of the pack"
The gray wolves are believed to be the only ones in the state since a government effort to establish a wild gray wolfpack fizzled out over the past few years.
Goins said volunteer coordinator Robert Cole “and others at the park have actually taken their turns sleeping with the wolf pups. "When we bring in new wolves, such as the four new pups we got in April 2007(each now over 100 pounds) from South Dakota, we try to get them acclimated to us. So the staff and volunteers sleep in the little wooden dens, or huts, inside the puppy enclosure, separated from the big wolves," said Cole. "We have never been bitten."
Park officials feed the wolves fresh road-kill deer at least every three days, said Goins. "Local and state officials and citizens call us when they find a road-killed deer and we pick it up. We won't give the wolves anything more than a couple of days old, depening on the weather. But they really rip into those deer. It is quite a sight."
Goins said the wolves are also given some packaged horse meat from time to time when deer meat is not available. "And when an occasional racoon, bird or something gets into the enclosure they will eat that . . . but little else."
The eight wolves in the Bays Mountain Park are gray, brown and black and each weigh over 100 pounds (up to about 120 pounds), with five males and three females. The former alpha male, Nayehi, died a few weeks ago at age 12 and the remaining wolves are still sorting out who is going to be the new alpha (lead) wolfe.
Bays Mountain does not breed its wolves, vasectomizing the males and replacing those who die. "We don't have the facilities to let them breed and develop into a larger pack," said Park Director Tom Bowman.
If you take a stroll along one of the many nature trails there is an outside chance you will see a wild bear. "We think we have about 5 to 10 black bears on the mountain," said Bowman.
The park's aquatic center has tanks containing numerous types of fish, turtles, etc., the raptor center has various kinds of birds (including vultures, hawks and owls), the herpetarium (snake) center has live rattlesnakes, copperheads, etc.
There is an exhibition building, The Farmstead, featuring pioneer home living and a general store recreating an 1800s look.
There is also an outdoor amphitheater seating up to about 500, with local musicians presenting concerts through much of the year.
A barge takes visitors on rides around the lake daily.
The lake was formed from a stone dam built on Star Branch Creek in 1915 to create a water supply source for the fledgling city of Kingsport. The lake was the primary water source for the city until 1944.
The park's 40-foot dome planetarium is currently undergoing renovation and will be closed for a few months. When the planetarium reopons it will be a state-of-the-art multimedia theater.

An effort is underway to build a recreated Indian village at the park, replicating the type of life of the Yuchi tribe which once inhabited the region. "We are discussing the plan with the current Yuchi chief, Lee Vest, and with government officials," said Bowman. "We hope to make it a reality." .Vest said earlier the concept for the Bays Mountain project is for the Yuchi to recreate an authentic village from the 1750 era, about the time Europeans settled in the area. Vest said initially the village would include two or three houses, a council house, ceremonial grounds in the center along with a dozen to two dozen activities.
The park (open year around) is owned by the city of Kingsport (one of the largest city-owned parks in the country), with businesses and individuals supporting the operations with financial donations and volunteer work.
"We get about 150,000 visitors a year, making us one of the state's top 10 attractions," said Bowman.
Park entry fees are very modest at $3 per carload (with boat rides extra at $1.50 each).
Regional schools are encouraged to schedule class field trips to the park, where they will get special guided tours, said Bowman.
Other points of interest in the Kingsport area include the 1800s Netherland Inn (www.netherlandinn.com), the natural history farm Exchange Place (www.exchangeplace.info) and in July of each year the city's annual Fun Fest celebration, a weeklong series of musical and entertainment events which attracts nearly 200,000 each year. For more info: www.visitkingsport.com.
For more information on Bays Mountain Park, visit www.baysmountain.com (the web site also includes a wolfcam). Directions to the park for motorists: Take Interstate 40 to the intersection with Interstate 81. Take Interstate 81 north toward Kingsport/Bristol and get off at the Interstate 26 exit (exit 57-B) toward Kingsport. Follow Interstate 26 north to Exit 3 (old exit 52) and turn left at the light onto Reservoir Road. Travel Reservoir Road for about three miles to the Bays Mountain Park road (follow that road to the park, staying to the left when the road forks). There are also signs to the park all along the road from the interstate. If you get lost, call the park at 423-229-9447.

This story was published on 26 Mar 2008.