South Knoxville: Bridging different worlds

You could say South Knoxville bridges different worlds. Several bridges connect the community to downtown and the University of Tennessee.
There are also many facets of South Knoxville, including two hospitals, a nature center, greenways, dogwood trails, student apartments, old farmsteads, and Island Home Airport with one runway.

Marble Springs Tennessee State Historic Site features the home of John Sevier, Tennessee’s first governor. The dwelling stands on a 38-acre site along with several outbuildings at 1220 W. Governor John Sevier Highway, between Knoxville and Sevierville. Marble Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The nearby Ramsey House Plantation was built in 1797 for the Ramseys, one of the first families to settle in Knoxville. They were vital in developing civic, cultural and educational institutions such as the University of Tennessee.

The Ramsey House, also on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 2614 Thorngrove Pike, off Governor John Sevier Highway.
The new face of real estate development in South Knoxville includes a student condominium complex on Cherokee Trail near the University of Tennessee. The Woodlands of Knoxville is practically a gated country club, with five swimming pools, gazebo, bathhouse, walking/running/biking trails, and a movie theater with digital surround sound.

On the business end, South Knoxville is a mix of national franchises and homespun local businesses. There’s Emery’s 5-10, an independent variety store on Chapman Highway; Stanley’s Greenhouse on Davenport Road, and King Tut’s Grill, an Egyptian restaurant on Martin Mill Pike.

Commercial projects near Chapman and Governor John Sevier highways in recent years include a First Tennessee Bank call center, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Home Depot, Carson Pointe shopping center, South Trader’s Landing, and South Grove shopping center anchored by Lowe’s home improvement store.

• University of Tennessee Medical Center, 1924 Alcoa Highway (544-9000, www.utmedicalcenter.org) is the only academic hospital in the Knoxville area. A leader in research and updated treatments, the hospital collaborates with the UT Graduate School of Medicine and other academic programs.
• Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, 137 Blount Ave. (632-5011, www.baptistoneword.org) sits on the banks of the Tennessee River. Built in 1948, the medical center has been named one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals and top 100 cardiovascular hospitals.
• Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Avenue (577-4717, www.ijams.org), is a wildlife sanctuary with wooded trails on the river, a visitor center and exhibit, and environmental education programs from bug nights to day camps. The grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free.
• Fort Dickerson Park, 3000 Fort Dickerson Road (www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/parks/fortdickerson.asp) just off Chapman Highway, has an earthen Civil War fort and three replica cannons. The 85-acre park offers both educational and physical activities. A short hike leads to a breathtaking overlook of an old rock quarry. Unpaved trails stretch throughout the park. Fort Dickerson has two shelters and a picnic table.
• Sam Duff Memorial Park, 4060 Chapman Highway (www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/parks/samduff.asp) has been a favorite with walkers and runners for years. Tucked away behind the Krystal restaurant, the 12-acre community park includes a football/soccer field, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic tables, playground and Duff Field, the walking/running track.
• Charter Doyle Park, 5100 West Martin Mill Pike (www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/parks/charterdoyle.asp), features an open green space with a backstop for baseball or softball games. Charter Doyle Greenway circles the playground, shelter and tennis courts. The Mildred Doyle Nature Trail, named for the late school superintendent, ribbons through the woods in the 26-acre park.
• Will Skelton Greenway (www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/greenways/skelton.asp), with entrances at 3003 and 3140 McClure Lane, begins at Island Home Park, runs through Ijams Nature Center and ends at the 300-acre Wildlife Management Area. The greenway has panoramic views of the Tennessee River.