DeKalb: Center Hill Lake, Arts and Crafts, and Culture

Center Hill Lake is a 54-mile-long reservoir in DeKalb County. Its shoreline stretches for 415 miles and is largely undeveloped; the 18,200-acre body of water is deep and clear. A trip to DeKalb offers two distinct areas of focus: the lake, its natural surroundings, and the park on the one hand, and arts and crafts, architecture, and events around Smithville on the other.

Center Hill Lake, Park, and Camping

Edgar Evins State Park is a mostly wooded, 6,000-acre park on the shore of Center Hill Lake in DeKalb County. To reach the park, take I-40, Exit 268, and State Highway 96. There are five campgrounds at Center Hill Lake. They range from developed sites with extensive amenities to basic wilderness sites. Swimming is allowed, except in the boat ramp areas. In addition, there are nine commercial marinas on the lake with boat docks and overnight accommodations. If you plan your trip around the lake, you can choose between a stay in the wooded park, different types of campgrounds, and the marinas’ offerings.

Arts, Crafts, and Studios in Smithville

The Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville offers hands-on workshops in blacksmithing, ceramics, textile design, glass, metal, and wood. The gallery displays works of art by more than 150 regional and national artists; the Center has also presented exhibitions featuring national and regional artists for several decades. The difference lies in the format: workshops focus on hands-on work, while the gallery and exhibitions focus on the works on display. This gives art enthusiasts different ways to engage with crafts and art.

Beyond the Center itself, there is the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. Local craftspeople established it in DeKalb County in 1999. This three-day, self-guided art experience connects studios in DeKalb, Cannon, and Warren Counties. Its scope therefore differs from a visit to a single exhibition venue: the tour includes studios in three counties. If you include this option in your travel plans, allow for its three-day duration.

Architecture and Events

The Susie Foster Log House in Smithville was built between 1946 and 1950 using logs from older houses in the Caney Fork River basin, before Center Hill Lake was created. Its exposed logs, original mantel, and original windows and doors illustrate the 20th-century Colonial Revival movement. This architectural classification thus applies not only to the log house but also to its original features.

The Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree has been held annually since 1972 on the Friday and Saturday closest to July 4. If you are planning a trip around the Jamboree, it’s a good idea to confirm that year’s dates before booking. The DeKalb County Fair in Alexandria has been running since 1856 and returns every summer with carnival lights, traditional entertainment, and competitions. The events offer different timing cues: the Jamboree takes place over two days near July 4, while the Fair returns in the summer.

Discover more destinations: Smithville, Carroll County, Obion County, Wilson, Jefferson County, Marshall County, Sequatchie County, Roane County.

For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.