Sept. 24, 2019 – Discovery Park of America, one of the largest attractors for tourism in this region, was the location of the Tourism Works for West Tennessee Summit held Tues., Sept. 24.

A reception for attendees took place on Monday evening at Blue Bank Resort.

The event was organized by State Representative Mark White; Rob Mortensen, president of the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association; Marty Marbry, West Tennessee division manager of the Tennessee Department of Tourism; Lindsay Frilling, CEO at Obion County Joint Economic Development Council; and Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park of America.

Around 100 attendees participated in the event that included those in tourism and government interested in working together to increase revenue from tourism for rural communities.

Panelists included Colleen Coury, public affairs coordinator with the State of Tennessee Department of Agriculture; Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; and Sammie Arnold, assistant commissioner of community and rural development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum joined organizers Mortensen and Marbry in moderating the panel.

Williams led a breakout session in which attendees worked in teams to answer questions relating to the challenges of growing tourism in northwest Tennessee and how we should go about doing it.

During the panel discussion, Commissioner Ezell pointed out that investing in tourism pays off in additional sales tax and other revenues for rural communities. Mortensen agreed sharing a metaphor featuring sunflowers. He said if you have a bag of sunflowers, you can eat them and they are gone, or you can plant them and grow more sunflowers.

Sponsors of the event included Discovery Park of America, the University of Tennessee at Martin, the West Tennessee Economic Development Caucus, the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Leadership Tennessee, the Northwest Tennessee Development District, the Southwest Tennessee Development District, the Memphis Area Association of Governments and the Northwest Tennessee

Sept. 17, 2019 – What a great turnout we had on Sat., Sept. 14, for the Discovery Dash 5k / 10k. Over 100 participants ran/walked the course through the beautiful grounds of Discovery Park of America. All proceeds of the race went to support the mission of Discovery Park of America, which is to inspire children and adults to see beyond.

This was the first event of the Obion County Cornfest and was sponsored by CrossFit AutoBody.

Discovery Dash 5K Results

Discovery Dash 10K Results

July 23, 2019 – A stylish and affordable place to spend the night nearby is one of the most frequent requests we hear at Discovery Park of America.  Especially among our guests who arrive without realizing just how much there is to see and do here.  Now, thanks to three hotels near completion right next door to Discovery Park at Houser Creek Crossing, that wish will soon be reality.

Scheduled to open late Aug. 2019 are the new Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites by Choice Hotels and scheduled to open by summer 2020 is the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.  Each will have a private entrance to Discovery Park making a trip back to the hotel for a nap or time at the pool quick and easy.

You won’t have to wait for another exciting addition to the area.  The Pavilion at Houser Creek is now open and ready to host events from farmer’s markets and concerts to weddings and family reunions.  Built by Homestead Timber Frames, it’s one of the largest timber frame structures in Tennessee and provides an exciting, warm and inviting outdoor space.  Every timber in this artisan timber frame structure was handpicked to ensure the highest possible quality to create a unique and fascinating venue that will no doubt become an iconic part of a visit to Union City.

Because of nearby Reelfoot Lake, a 15,000-acre biodiverse ecosystem created by a series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, the area has long been a mecca for hunters, birdwatchers and outdoor water sports enthusiasts.  Today, with a new museum and heritage park, hotels, restaurants and wineries, a whole new audience is discovering all there is to see and do in Northwest Tennessee.

Open Late Aug. 2019
Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites by Choice Hotels
1111 Blue Heron Lane, Union City, Tennessee
731-599-7272

The warm colors, soft lighting, nature-inspired designs and modern furnishings throughout the hotel will offer a perfect place to unwind after a day at Reelfoot Lake or Discovery Park of America. Guest will also enjoy:

• Kitchenettes in MainStay rooms
• Free hot “Morning Medley” breakfast
• Free Wi-Fi
• Guest laundry
• Indoor Heated Pool
• Meeting Room
• Exercise Room
• Outdoor Patio/ Grilling Station

Open summer 2020
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
810 Bream Blvd., Union City, Tennessee
731-599-7990

This impressive, new hotel features 59 standard rooms, 15 spacious suites and four themed KidSuites inspired by the exhibits at Discovery Park of America.  Only here can families enjoy suites with decor inspired by space, dinosaurs, trains and tractors.  At the hotel, you’ll also find:

• Free Hot Express Start Breakfast
• Free Wi-Fi
• Guest laundry
• Indoor Pool
• Business Center
• Meeting Space
• Fitness Center
• Smart Car and Tesla Charging Stations

For a group rate or to book any of the Houser Creek Crossing hotels or The Pavilion contact Zoe Ramage at zoe@housercreek.com or call (731) 335-6282.

For a group discount for students or adults on tickets to Discovery Park of America, contact a Discovery Park of America reservations team member at reservations@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call (731) 885-5455.

You can find out more about group visits to Discovery Park of America on the groups page of our website.

Union City, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America has announced the return of the popular Antique Tractor Show for the third year. The unique event, sponsored by Mahindra of KenTenn, will be held on Fri., Aug. 2 and Sat., Aug. 3 at Discovery Park of America.

“Each year we are amazed at the number of incredible tractors that show up for our tractor show,” said Karl Johnson, a director at the park and one of the organizers of the event. “It’s also one of our most popular events and attendance had grown each year as people tell their friends and family members about it.”

Anyone who has an antique tractor they would like to display should take it to Discovery Park on Fri., Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. or Sat., Aug. 3 from 8 until 10 a.m. to have it displayed in the show. Everyone who enters a tractor for display will also receive two free passes to Discovery Park.

On Fri., a special announcement regarding a future Discovery Park agriculture exhibit will take place at 1 p.m. in front of the tractor barn at the park’s Ag Center.

Another crowd-pleasing part of the tractor show each year takes place on Sat. at 2 p.m. when the tractors on display drive around Discovery Park in a unique, one-of-a-kind parade. Guests can enjoy the parade in comfort by lining up along the road that circles the park. The Tractor Show will end following the parade, but Discovery Park will remain open for guests to continue exploring the museum and park.

Discovery Park of America is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tues. through Sun. and has a mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond. For a complete list of upcoming events and educational opportunities, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com.

Union City, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America will be joining the rest of the nation in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first humans to land on the Moon this Sat., July 20, 2019, with activities planned throughout the day. Apollo 11 landed on that date 50 years ago with astronaut Neil Armstrong making history as the first “man on the Moon.” As Armstrong exited the spacecraft Apollo and took his first few steps on the Moon, he made the famous declaration that Apollo’s successful mission and his first step on the Moon was “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

DPA will offer hands-on, space-related activities throughout the day. Dr. Lionel Crews, Associate Professor of Physics at UTM, and Russell Orr, a certified NASA Solar System Ambassador and DPA Education Specialist, will provide programming from 10:15 a.m. until noon in Dinosaur Hall. Additionally, Orr will provide a special presentation beginning at 3 p.m. in the Reelfoot Room, called, “The Rainbow behind the Moon.” This presentation is one of Orr’s favorites as he shares interesting facts in an entertaining way about how people were making amazing space exploration discoveries one hundred years before the Apollo landing.

Russell Orr, certified NASA Solar System Ambassador

Out at STEM Landing, guests will experience a live audio feed from NASA’s mission control, synchronized to the second so it can be heard just as the astronauts and mission control heard it 50 years earlier. Additionally, the 1969 CBS live news coverage will be televised in the Tennessee Room. Both will lead up to the Moon landing at 2:17 CST. These two areas will allow guests to hear and watch the same coverage that fascinated the people of this nation at the exact same time 50 years ago.

“At Discovery Park of America, we’re proud that our mission includes taking STEM teaching out of the classroom and lab and applying it in hands-on, state-of-the-art experiences,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO at Discovery Park. “A day-long celebration of this incredible moment in history is the perfect example of how we can take exciting moments in history and use them to inspire a whole new generation of explorers.”

All of the commemorative space programs and activities this Saturday are free for members or anyone with park admission.

Discovery Park of America is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tues. through Sun. and has a mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond. For a complete list of upcoming events and educational opportunities, visit the park’s website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com.

Union City, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America has announced that students participating in the next production of Historical Theater Academy will produce a performance about Serbian-American engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla and American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison’s race to be the inventor of electricity. Support for, “Telsa and Edison: The History of Electricity,” is made possible in part by a financial gift from Warner Law Firm and Third & Church of Union City.

The Historical Theater Academy is a unique program designed for students in grades 6-12 that takes place at Discovery Park twice each year. Academy participants receive instruction in multiple aspects of theater and historical research then stage a performance of the original work they create. In addition to gaining experience in numerous disciplines including acting, set design, costuming, writing and historical research, students learn how to work as a team.

“As a longtime fan of the all work being done in our area by Discovery Park for students, I am especially fond of this program, as it also supports the arts, something I am passionate about,” said John Warner, member of Warner Law Firm who has contributed financially, along with Third & Church of Union City, to the program. “Our hope is this support will allow even more students to participate and perhaps discover a passion for the arts they will have for the rest of their lives.”

The Historical Theater Academy was begun in 2017 by Discovery Park’s education director, Polly Brasher, and volunteer John Hall. Since then, classes have covered a variety of topics including Casey Jones, the history of flight, the Salem witch trials and the duel of Hamilton and Burr.

“The mission of Discovery Park is to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Brasher. “Those of us fortunate enough to work on this program get to actually see the inspiration take place. We watch as the students discover a passion for the arts many of them never knew they had because programs like this are not offered in many of the schools in this area.”

In addition to the support from Warner Law Firm and Third & Church of Union City, this year Discovery Park is partnering with the Obion River Regional Library Center, which serves 9 counties and 20 different libraries across Northwest Tennessee

This program is available to all students in grades 6-12 and will be held at DPA on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning August 6 and the performance will take place on Sat., Dec. 14 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The total cost to participate in the upcoming session of the Historical Theater Academy is $100 for first-time students and $50 for returning students. To find out more about scholarships or to register, contact your local library, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/HTA, email info@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call 731-885-5455 and ask for the Education Department.

Union City, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America has announced a $30,000 gift from Jimmy Rickman of Murray, Ky. to support improvements to the museum’s War Remembrances Theater.
The theater, located in the military gallery, features a video presentation of local residents sharing first-hand, wartime stories about their military service. Included are local veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

“Discovery Park of America provides an incredible opportunity to make certain the stories of our local veterans are shared with future generations,” said Rickman. “As a veteran myself, I think this is such an important part of the work they do that I wanted to make a contribution to making certain that area of the museum is everything it can be.”

Rickman was born the next to youngest of seven children on March 12, 1926 in Murray, Ky. to Ed and Lucy Johnson Rickman.

He was only 12 years old when he began helping his father and brothers in their house-moving business by emptying wheelbarrows of dirt.

Attending Murray Training School until the eighth grade, he later worked at a local grocery store.

After being drafted into the U.S. Navy, Rickman was able to put his experience of truck driving, farming and carpentry to good use.

Rickman served two years and, after the war ended, headed back home to Murray where he continued working in construction.

“We’re so grateful to Jimmy Rickman for making one of the most popular exhibits we have here at DPA even better,” said DPA president and CEO, Scott Williams. “His generosity will touch thousands of lives for many years to come.”

Rickman’s gift will be used to upgrade the seating, technology and audio-visual equipment in the War Memorial Theater and add more stories for DPA’s guests to view.

UNION CITY, TENN. – Those who have been attending the summer music series Rhythm on the Rails at Discovery Park of America’s train depot were already excited about the upcoming performance by Keith Paluso, a popular contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.” His set has now been moved to Thurs., June 13 to accommodate his exciting new role as the lead singer of 10-time Grammy-nominated, 3-time Grammy-winning band Blood Sweat and Tears. “I have some enormous shoes to fill, with vocalists like David Clayton Thomas and more recently Bo Bice from “American Idol” in the band’s history. I’m hoping I can honor those people and make my own mark on what is now a musical tradition,” said Paluso. “I love performing at Discovery Park of America and I’m really looking forward to being on the Rhythm on the Rails stage June 13.”

When he became a Tennessee park ranger, Paluso hung up his guitar and put music on the back burner. After the birth of his first child, he was inspired to get back into the entertainment business. Selected by Blake Shelton during the Blind Auditions, he was stolen by Adam Levine after the Battle Rounds then saved by Kelly Clarkson following the Knockouts.

Keith’s unique sound is a blend of different styles ranging from rock and country to the rootsy blues that are a deep part of his Memphis heritage. His soulful, husky voice has been compared to the likes of Chris Stapleton, Marc Broussard, and JJ Grey.

Also performing on June 13 are Jimbo Bondurant and Chad Karnes and The Missing Fifth.

Rhythm on the Rails is sponsored by Blue Bank Resort, The Citizens Bank, Volunteer Distributing and Williams Country Sausage

Thursday evenings, May 2 – June 27, 2019
Doors open at 5 p.m.
DPA Members Free, Non-members $5
Cash bar, Food trucks available
Please, no outside food or beverage allowed.

For more information, go to DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/rhythm

UNION CITY, TENN. — Discovery Park of America, a 100,000-square-foot museum and 50-acre heritage park in Union City, Tenn. has launched a weekly podcast that can be downloaded from iTunes, Soundcloud and on the organization’s website.

Just like the museum where it is produced, the mission of the podcast is to celebrate the region while inspiring listeners to see beyond wherever they currently are in their lives. Hosted by DPA president Scott Williams, the podcast features notable guests who are West Tennessee influencers from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, tourism and more.

“Topics are chosen and the tone of the show is designed to ignite interest in the things we discuss and to inspire listeners to want to discover more,” said Williams. “West Tennessee is full of fascinating, creative people who are making some incredible things happen both around the world and right here at home, so we want to contribute to making their stories known.”

This week’s episode features Lee Wilson, founder of Jackson Escape Rooms. This West Tennessean was a contestant on the CBS reality show “Hunted” where he and close friend Hilmar Skagfield ran from former CIA agents, FBI agents, U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security, the NSA and others. They eventually won the $250,000 first prize.

In addition to sharing his tips on winning a reality show, Wilson gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how he and his partners are finding success in the world of escape rooms with his latest passion, Jackson Escape Rooms.

Following each interview, listeners will be taken behind-the-scenes to discover something new at the museum and park.

New episodes of “Reelfoot Forward: A West Tennessee Podcast” will be released each week.

The next episodes feature: Union City fashion entrepreneur Paige Burcham Dennis; Memphian Jireh Breon Holder, a playwright, director and writer on NBC’s hit show, “New Amsterdam;” and Danny Walden from the Dyer County Historical Society sharing the origin, location and details of the lost town of Menglewood, Tenn. that is referenced in “New Minglewood Blues” performed by the Grateful Dead.

“Reelfoot Forward: A West Tennessee Podcast” can be downloaded from iTunes, Soundcloud and on the organization’s website.

Guest Writer Chris Armstrong

May 9, 2019 – New life is sprouting in Discovery Park of America’s 1800s settlement with the introduction of a Heritage Garden. Historical interpreter Mike Ramsey has begun a heritage garden that will serve as a long-term educational and demonstration project. A labor of love for those who work in many different departments at DPA, the multipurpose garden will display samplings of traditional heirloom plants used for produce, flowers for dyes and even medicinal herbs for Ramsey to utilize in future demonstrations.

“The first year will be for experimentation, the second year for adjustments and the third year we’ll really go for it,” said Ramsey. Due to the poor quality of the soil, he predicts it could take three years of cultivation for the garden to meet his expectations, but he’s excited about sharing the transformation with DPA guests.

Heritage Gardens are designed to honor the cultural and natural heritage of specific areas like West Tennessee while utilizing sustainable gardening practices. They promote the use of native plants, sustainable landscape and gardening techniques and educate communities about the history of their region.

The project won’t come without challenges. Only through persistence and good fortune combined will the garden flourish. Ramsey repeatedly mentioned, “Mother nature will need to be kind,” a sentiment sure to resonate with many of those in the agriculture business in the area. While concerns like diseases, poor weather or soil issues are universal to the farming experience around the world, DPA also has a share of unique complications that Ramsey has to consider. Due to the cooperative nature of the project between multiple departments, all care given to the garden will need to be carefully recorded as just one mistake could ruin months of preparation. Diligent supervision will be required to ensure the garden isn’t harmed by guests or one of the park’s frequent visitors after-hours—rabbits.

Because of its location in The Settlement, Ramsey intends to primarily use resources and techniques that were common practice in the 1870s. Heirloom seeds and plants will be on display, and he intends to utilize “companion planting” techniques, where nearby plants will provide benefits to other crops to increase the overall productivity of the garden. While crops might change due to the experimental nature of the garden, some staples like corn, okra, peas, and older versions of modern hybrid flowers are all expected to make an appearance.

Jennifer Wildes, DPA’s exhibits director noted, “Everyone involved with the garden understands their responsibilities and is excited about learning new tasks and finding new things to share with our guests as it evolves.” Ramsey enthusiastically shoulders most of the responsibilities that accompany this venture. Any DPA guest who would like to learn more about his farming techniques, what the future of the garden has in store or his extensive history with similar programs are encouraged to visit The Settlement on Saturdays when he’s on hand to interact with visitors to the museum and heritage park.

UNION CITY, TENN. – The Education Department of Discovery Park of America in Union City, TN recently hosted a Trivia Night to raise money to help children from the Boys and Girls Club in Union City take field trips to the park. The park raised $3,888 which was used to purchase tickets to give to the park.

The picture was taken as the DPA employees delivered 485 tickets to the Boys and Girls Club to use for their summer program. Scott Williams, CEO, said that DPA will continue to have fund raisers to help children in the region visit the park, including an easy online donation link so that people from near and far can contribute to this effort.

The online donation link will be activated soon. In the meantime, to contribute to DPA’s mission to inspire adults and children to see beyond, you can call the park at 731-885-5455 and ask for marketing.

Pictured are Discovery Park employees (back): Mary Nita Bondurant, Scott Williams, Tracy Boucher (Boys and Girls Club Director) Andrew Gibson and Katie Jarvis along with children from the Boys and Girls club including (Front) Jayla Turner, Aujani Moss, Kamarion Steward, Amiya Robinson, and Anai Ambrosio.