Chilhowee Park and Exposition Center

Founded by college professor F.C. Beaman (1836), Chilhowee Park first developed as an attraction in the 1880s, and by 1890 it was hosting multiple annual events.

In 1910, the first Appalachian Exposition was held at Chilhowee Park. Held again in 1911, the goal of the exposition was to demonstrate progress of Southern industry. Of the nine major buildings built to house displays and attractions, only the Chilhowee Park Bandstand still exists today. The bandstand was made of Tennessee marble and designed by architect R. F. Graf.

In 1913, the park hosted the National Conservation Exposition, which promoted environmental conservation in Southern Appalachia.

Launched by Hugh Faust and Harcourt Morgan, the Tennessee Valley Fair has been an annual mainstay at Chilhowee Park since October 1916, although it did not acquire this name until the 1980's. The Tennessee Valley Fair is an annual fair, held in September, showcasing East Tennessee heritage, agriculture and the arts. (For more information, please visit www.tnvalleyfair.org.) The fair was originally the East Tennessee Division Fair until 1933, when the name shifted to Tennessee Valley Agricultural and Industrial Fair.

By the early 20th century, Chilhowee Park had evolved into “Knoxville’s Only Amusement Park,” offering a carousel, miniature train, Ferris wheel, shooting galleries, bumper cars, and roller coasters, all of which were removed in the 1980's due to disrepair.

More about its history can be found at:

http://www.chilhoweepark.org

http://www.knoxmercury.com/2016/09/07/lets-go-tennessee-valley-fair/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilhowee\_Park

http://knoxfocus.com/2016/08/dont-know-chilhowee-park/

Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center is an 81-acre, multi-use, venue owned by the City of Knoxville. It is located blocks away from interstate access and minutes from downtown Knoxville. The facility includes a 3 acre lake, bandstand, 4500 seat amphitheater, 57,100 sq. ft. exhibition hall, barns, arenas, a playground and picnic shelters. It is the perfect place to have trade shows, bike rallies, fairs, festivals, concerts, animal events, car shows, banquets, corporate events, sporting events, tractor pulls and more!

With more than 80 acres of park-like setting, large paved parking lots and a fulltime staff, Chilhowee Park is a complete, year-round exposition center.

How to Get There

3301 East Magnolia Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37914

From North of Knoxville (Clinton, LaFollette, Lexington)
• I-75 South toward Knoxville
• Merge onto I-275 South toward Asheville
• Take Exit 3 toward Asheville
• Merge onto I-640 East
• Follow I-640 East and merge onto I-40 West toward Nashville
• Take Exit 392A (Rutledge Pike/Knoxville Zoo Drive) onto Rutledge Pike/TN-1 US-11W
• Follow signs to Chilhowee Park

From Northeast of Knoxville (Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City)
• I-81 South to I-40 West
• Follow I-40 West to Exit 392A (Rutledge Pike/Knoxville Zoo Drive) onto Rutledge Pike/TN-1 US-11W
• Follow signs to Chilhowee Park

From South of Knoxville (Chattanooga, Athens, Cleveland)
• I-75 North to I-40 East
• Follow I-40 East toward Asheville
• Take Exit 392 (Rutledge Pike/Knoxville Zoo Drive) onto Rutledge Pike/TN-1 US-11W
• Follow signs to Chilhowee Park.

From East of Knoxville (Newport, Asheville)
• I-40 West to Exit 392A (Rutledge Pike/Knoxville Zoo Drive) onto Rutledge Pike/TN-1 US-11W
• Follow signs to Chilhowee Park.

From West of Knoxville (Crossville, Cookeville, Nashville)
• I-40 East toward Knoxville
• Follow I-40 East toward Asheville
• Take Exit 392 (Rutledge Pike/Knoxville Zoo Drive) onto Rutledge Pike/TN-1 US-11W
• Follow signs to Chilhowee Park

Time Period Represented

1880s to present

Park hours: Monday-Sunday 8am - 9pm; Office hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m

Seasons Open

year-round

Visitor Fees

free, unless entering at time a specific event