BottomShelfVodka
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This limestone quarry was a 10 minute drive from my house back in Tennessee. It was always my favorite getaway.
There's a small gravel parking lot off the highway, super easy to miss. Beyond the lot is a dirt path walking trail, and just about a mile into the trail, you will find this hidden gem.
This place isn't even well known amongst the residents of this small town, and I'm going to keep it that way.
Please respect the secret, but enjoy the beauty!
This was one of the many gorgeous butterflies swarming the area.
It's just absolutely majestic.
This was my getaway when life got a little too loud. It was my peace, and I miss it so much.
Happy Earth Day, guys!
perraCreator
That looks amazing and very tranquil. Nice hangout spot you got there
drduffer
Like Walden Pond for @OP. ⬆️
PigsWeGetWhatPigsDeserve
There’s been talk about orks on the east banks.
SuckMyFatOne
Such beautiful clean water. If I'm ever in Tennessee I'll have to swim here
GraemeDynard
It has monsters in it. Like Lake Placid.
shyasen
Tennessee's best kept secret is Republican policies are actively hurting Tennessee. And the Republican leadership enjoys it.
ModernVoodooApostasy
Is that where Box of Moonlight was filmed? Seriously.
TurboPuns21
I know what you mean by peace. Lovely place! Makes me miss Dale Hollow...man I gotta get back there...don't drown @op!
davesaint01930
I'm going to keep it a secret, but post it on the internet. Hurr durr...
BrdCdn
People downvote you but it's already been located by other commenter now lol.
Chefpnut
Enjoy the sound of silence.
Anxietymom
Is this outside of Knoxville? I think I've been here.
ClarkKentfield
I thought Tennessee's best secret was that its alright to have sex with your sister, but if there is a Tran anywhere in the state you have to go after them like a dog who has not eaten in months
dischunter731
It really is. Come here and we may screw you too but not like you want
SerenePrincess013
I have a place like that in Southwestern Virginia. Haven't been there in way too long.
IShouldBeStudyingRightNowInsteadOfBrowsingImgur
Ellet Valley?
SerenePrincess013
No, but close. It's in Floyd Co, & when the sun shines just right, with the wind blowing just right, for just a moment, you can pretend you're the only person in the world. Quiet, peaceful, & the air is so pure that it almost feels sinful to breathe it.
TheResolver
Hmm, let's see, could be Limestone TN, or out in Greene, or could be out around the Knox and Oak Ridge area. I don't think it's in the Tri cities, though there is one in Gray. Could be somewhere near Grainger, or Hamblen, but I would suspect not. Keep it secret.
awesalots
It’s beautiful! What a special little corner of the earth.
LoniceraStimpyvirens
Fellow Tennessean here. Lived in a similarly small town with a similar little-known quarry. The owner of the land turned it into a place for scuba instructors to certify new divers and as well as more advanced certifications, on top of plain ol' recreational diving. I miss my home state
TheResolver
Gray?
psychologisttheologist
TheColorsOfRain
@OP, please check out the DM I send you
ilovebigmutts
Must be a secret, there's no garbage.
hockey4mal8
Same thought, quarries near me are trashed with litter and graffiti.
thezombiearrrrghsforthee
It's not too secret: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/oak-ridge-west-and-north-boundary-greenway-loop
phinneassrg
Yeah, I work in oak ridge, not too secret. Tons of the hikers like it for an early evening hike.
Sendmeyourpuppypics
I wish my country had nature like this
BottomShelfVodka
What is your country?
kibbypie
It looks a lot like one of my favourite hiking trails in Quebec.
iamjackscompletelackofcompassion
Wonder how many bodies are in there
Illinifan88
It's unfortunate that some of the most beautiful places in America have some of the most absolute shit human beings.
HankScorpioAndHisAllGirlBand
🎶 like a limestone quarryyy 🎶
DrR5
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know.
FatBastardVegetarian
Couple hundred feet deep?
grayman222
Beautiful Earth
thezombiearrrrghsforthee
It's a greenway on AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/oak-ridge-west-and-north-boundary-greenway-loop
TheResolver
Somebody always has to be "that" person.
CapitanRedbeard
I don’t know why people are downvoting you. The guy literally posted it to a public space.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
If only Tennessee was safe to travel in
EndofDaisies
Beautiful state. Shame about the government.
Imademyselfsquirtle
And certain people. The racists.
bordzbyjames
TN is safe to travel in, as safe as anywhere these days.
BrdCdn
Unless you are black or have a womb.
Ercoupe2054
“safe place to travel in”. In case you haven’t figured it out, life is not safe. You live. You love. You die…. kinda’ been the way it’s always worked, ever since Cain picked up a rock
rezorrand
I would prefer not to be shot in my car, or on the sidewalk by a gun toting lunatic or a scared police officer just because I'm bit lost, or at wrong place at wrong time, like nearly everywhere else in the world.
BabeAfett
Spoken like someone who doesn't understand their privledge.
eromitlab
not sure if referencing insane state government, or insane drivers
OperationRustysBlanket
Sundown towns
Gibleteousjack
Yes
ahorseelbowdeepinme
Government.
eromitlab
I know it's the psycho drivers that keep me out of Tennessee most of the time. The psycho governments don't help.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
I drove in Korea and Kuwait. There's a reason they aren't in Nascar, they would win every race
TurnsOut42WasASlightMiscalculation
Very pretty water, but is there anything living in it? Might not be the best idea to swim there. Old mine pits generally have pretty poor water quality and can be very acidic
BTanner13000
First sentence says limestone. JFC, does no one listen in basic high school chemistry? No, it's not acidic.
PitterPatterGetAtEr
I live relatively close. They sometimes do diving training there. I haven’t been but I’ve heard it’s a nice place and clear water
potatorat45
it's *limestone*. It won't be acidic...
rgraz65
Limestone quarries, as long as they didn't leave a huge amount of equipment inside, may have some very good water. The limestone filters the water leaching into the pit. YMMV
ShiftingPattern
Quarries aren't like mines. There's no chemical extraction of ore.
phinneassrg
But if theyre totally closed they can just slowly build up nasty things.
ShiftingPattern
I'm having a hard time imagining why they would build up nasty things any worse than a regular lake. Definitely still a risk of amoebas and what have you, but why would it be worse?
catsmeowgetscatswow
Aww shoot, I was about to ask about swimming in there. Water looks awesome.
TinnyOctopus
While it's generally true that swimming in abandoned pit mines is a poor idea, this is a limestone quarry. Limestone (calcium carbonate) is 1) a base and 2) very insoluble in water. So, in terms of acidity/alkalinity, this water will be kept fairly close to neutral because acid will be neutralized while nearby sources of alkalinity remain the bedrock. I won't speak to other dangers, but it's likely much safer than the water from gold mines out west, which tend to have soluble, acidic minerals.
SilverHornet
It'll be alkali, not that that is any better; and yes the odds are it has little living in it. Also likely a LOT of rusty metal.
98zmc6gpk6
No reason why not. Those brim with life in Alsace. Why wouldn't they in America ? https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1144996568885389
SilverHornet
Well, the obvious is that it's not connected to any other aquatic ecosystem. Less obvious is that the PH is probably not a friendly range. There was a beautiful one in England called the blue lagoon; the PH was basically the same as bleach.
BottomShelfVodka
I mean, I definitely did swim in there, and I was super bummed when I didn't gain any radioactive superpowers...maybe a little cancer though..only time will tell.
spookyu
A lot of old quarry pits in PA where I grew up, every summer I'd hear about someone diving into one and hitting a rock or old piece of mining equipment they couldn't see and dying (they often left equipment in place instead of hauling it out if it was junked). Stay safe man, it's gorgeous and I hope you continue to enjoy it without any of that.
BottomShelfVodka
I swam in it, but never dove or cannonballed. I'm stupid, but not that stupid.
catsmeowgetscatswow
Did you try drinking the water?
BottomShelfVodka
Damn, you're right. I didn't try hard enough.
undeadyesunpersonno
What was the water temp like? In Scotland, we love to drown by cold water shock in inviting quarries like this one!
BottomShelfVodka
It was like cool bath water in the peak of summer. Small water pool, so not too much to heat.