Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and Fort Loudoun State Park offer a surprisingly fun and scenic day on the shores of East Tennessee’s beautiful Tellico Lake. The kids will love the opportunity to run about the re-created walls of an actual fort while pretend firing a musket, picnicking by the lake, and learning a bit of history along the way. For a child, that’s not a bad way to spend the day, especially among the elementary school set.
If it’s hot outside, you can end the day on a kayak or SUP rented from the Fort Loudoun Visitor Center. Sounds pretty great, right? Even better, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is just next door to Fort Loudoun so you can easily combine the two to make a full day of history and fun.
Because the sites are a bit off the beaten path and relate small events (albeit significant) in American history, these two places tend to be uncrowded and overlooked despite being high quality attractions. Our families have always enjoyed a day trip here, both kids and adults.
Location
Located in tiny Vonore, Tennessee, both Fort Loudoun and the Sequoyah Museum share the same island on Tellico Lake.
Fort Loudoun State Park takes up all of the land north of the road crossing the island, while the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum takes up the small part of the island south of the road. It is very easy to get from one site to the other.
Getting Here
Fort Loudoun State Park and Sequoyah Birthplace Museum are located just a few miles outside Vonore, Tennessee which is 37 miles south of Knoxville and 90 miles north of Chattanooga. You can take I-75 to Sweetwater, then Highway 68 east to Madisonville, and then head north on highway 411 to Vonore.
Parking is easy at both the museum and at the fort.
Map of Southeast Tennessee
Seqoyah Birthplace Museum and Fort Loudoun share the same island just off Highway 411 in Vonore, Tennessee
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
A super cool large talking painting of Sequoyah kept the kids riveted and we watched it several times in a row
Start your day at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. As it will require the most focused attention of the kids, it is best to do it first. It is a really neat place, and covers a small but important part of our area’s history.
It takes about an hour or less to go through the museum, depending on how in depth you read the exhibits. Afterwards, you can stroll the grounds to see some of the recreated 19th century buildings on site, such as the dog-trot cabin and the blacksmith.
Sequoyah invented the Cherokee alphabet, enabling his people to read and write in their own language, a difficult quest that took him years to accomplish, especially as he was illiterate himself.
It was a phenomenal feat and one of the few times in all of human history that a preliterate person created an effective writing system. After proving his symbols worked using his daughter to demonstrate, the Cherokee quickly adopted his system and had a higher literacy rate than the settlers.
The museum is operated by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and does a nice job of explaining Sequoyah and telling his story. The exhibits cover a lot of information but you’ll find interactive portions that the kids will enjoy. The small size is perfect for smaller kids as well.
Do be sure to walk to the far end of the grounds on your stroll and check out the burial mound. When Tellico Lake was created in 1979, much of the surrounding land was inundated, including Cherokee burial sites found at the nearby archaeological site at Chota village. They were re-interred here in 1986.
The burial mound has plaques for the different clans of the Cherokee Nation and the kids were fascinated by the names- Paint Clan, Long Hair Clan, Wolf Clan, Deer Clan, Blue Clan, Bird Clan, and Wild Potato Clan.
*Pro Tip- The big amphitheater will probably be the most appealing thing on the grounds for some kids, especially of those who love to put on a show. I sat through a few “performances” before we were able to move them on from the stage.
The Details
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is open 9am-5pm Monday- Saturday, and 12pm-5pm on Sunday. They are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Admission is $5 but kids under 12 are free.
*Trivia Alert! The giant sequoia trees on the west coast were named in honor of Sequoyah.
Fort Loudoun State Park
After you finished learning all about Sequoyah and his remarkable alphabet, then hop in the car and drive across the road to Fort Loudoun State Park. The fort itself is located at the very end of the road, where you will find a kayak/SUP dock, a parking lot, a large picnic area, and the Visitor Center.
Fort Loudoun on the shores of Tellico Lake and the Little Tennessee River
The Fort
The fort was originally constructed during the French and Indian War and has been thoughtfully rebuilt. Walk down a short, paved path behind the Visitor Center to get to the fort at the very tip of the island, reading the informational plaques along the way.
Explore the ramparts with their cool cannons, notice the differences between the enlisted mens’ quarters and the officers’ much nicer houses, ogle the huge bellow in the blacksmith forge, read the stamps on the barrels in the storeroom, and admire the view from the grounds just beyond the fence. You could easily spend an hour exploring the fort and its environs.
The kids will love imagining themselves sleeping on the supremely uncomfortable- looking straw mattresses on the soldiers’ bunks and we had a good time asking them where the soldiers kept their clothes (they kept looking for closets until we pointed out the chests on the floor). Or you can stump the kiddos by asking how the soldiers could see at night--eventually someone will notice the candle holders on the wall.
Do walk around the outside of the fort along the lake as well. I particularly like the use of locusts trees as an outer wall around the fort, an ingenious use of an otherwise horrible plant. And be sure to check out the two recreated Cherokee dwellings- one for winter and one for summer. Again, an ingenious adaptation to the demands of the local climate.
The Details
The fort is open from 8am- sunset and is free.
*Pro Tip- Check the calendar for “Garrison Days,” when reenactors re-create frontier life during the 18th century. You’ll find blacksmith and medical demonstrations, a Cherokee camp, plus they fire the cannons- always a kid favorite! These weekends are free and events last 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-2pm on Sunday. The kids love them and the reenactments are pretty special, but they can get quite crowded so I would strive for “the earlier, the better.”
The Visitor Center
Stop in at the Visitor Center on your return to the parking lot and check out the small museum with its collection of artifacts. Mostly, you are stopping for the good 15 minute film about the fort’s history. (And for the AC if you are here in the summer.)
The Visitor Center/Museum is open from 8am-430pm and is free.
The Visitor Center/ Museum at Fort Loudoun State Historic Area
Other Activities At The Park
Paddling- You can inquire about SUP and kayak rentals at the Visitor Center if you are ready for a refreshing break on the lake. Prices are very reasonable ($20 for 3 hours for a kayak/SUP and $30 for a tandem kayak) and they have life jackets. You are also welcome to bring your own kayak or SUP and use their specific kayak launch but there is not a boat ramp. Most people just do a paddle right round the island, keeping close to shore to avoid the recreational boat traffic on the eastern side of the island.
Hiking- There are 3 trails around the state park- Meadow Loop (2.3 miles), Ridgetop Loop (1.5 miles), and Lost Shoe Loop (0.5 miles). None are particularly strenuous and you are likely to see deer. Get a free trail map from the Visitor Center if you want to explore the trails.
Fishing- You’ll find a long fishing pier adjacent to the picnic area but you can also fish from the banks. Don’t forget your permit if you are older than 12- buy one at just about any local gas station or hardware store.
Also, check out the website for the Fort Loudoun Association as it has more good videos, information, and pictures.
Lunch
There are quite a few picnic tables near the Visitor Center at Fort Loudoun State Park, with several tables right on the banks of the lake. You’ll find bathrooms (and some vending machines in case you forgot your food) nearby in the more wooded section of the picnic area. Fort Loudoun is a lovely place for lunch with a nice view, so I would definitely picnic if you can.
If the weather is not cooperating or you just don’t like to picnic, you can always head back into the nearby town of Vonore for lunch-it is only 5 minutes away by car. Your choices are fairly limited, however, as Vonore is a very small town.
Options include Mexican food at Cielito Lindo, the pizza at Pizzeria Venti, or the sandwiches at Lakehouse Grill (only open seasonally so check the website). All 3 of these places are within a few miles of the state park, on Highway 411.
If you need picnic supplies, Sloan’s is a small hardware store at the corner of State Highway 360 and Highway 411, right where you turn to get to Fort Loudoun. It has a small selection of groceries and it also has fishing licenses if you want to take advantage of Fort Loudoun’s great fishing pier.
Where To Stay
This area makes for a perfect family weekend getaway if you are looking for lake and mountains. Unfortunately, you won’t find many hotels in the area, unless you head north to nearby Maryville, which is about 30 minutes by car on Highway 411.
There are, however, lots of vacation rentals in the area as many people have lake houses on Tellico Lake. So find a house perfect for your family, rent a boat, bring some kayaks with you, and spend a gorgeous weekend enjoying the lake, area golf courses, and nearby hiking trails. If you bring your own watercraft, you will find numerous public boat launches on Tellico Lake and nearby Fort Loudoun Lake.
Heads Up: We do participate in affiliate marketing with some of the companies that we personally use. They don’t pay us to write, we simply get a commission if you enter those sites through our “gate” as opposed to say a Google search. We never accept free gifts or comped stays and we recommend places that we don’t get a commission from as well. Full Disclosure Statement
Located on a Deep Water Cove on Tellico Lake This 4 BR/3 BA house is large enough to let the kids invite some friends and everyone can spend their days jumping off the beautiful dock in the backyard. Averages $265 a night.
Farmhouse on 5 Acres, Many Attractions and Destinations Nearby This 1 BR/ 1 Ba charming cottage is immaculately decorated and can sleep up to 7 with 2 pull-out sofas and an inflatable mattress. Averages $87 a night.
Allegheny Falls Mountain Escape- Maryville TN This 3 BR/ 2 BA house sleeps 7 and has a private waterfall behind the house. It is a little farther away from Fort Loudoun (about 30 min) but also closer to the shops and restaurants of downtown Maryville (about 25 min). Averages $156 a night.
Sequoyah Landing This marina offers lakefront cabins for rent so you can maximize your time on the water. Cabins come in 3 sizes, sleeping 6-8, and range in price from $250- $350 for the weekend. Since the marina also offers pontoon boat rentals and has a good restaurant onsite, you could easily spend most of your weekend here and have a great time.
I hope you enjoy your family day of fun at Fort Loudoun State Park and the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. They have all the hallmarks of places I love to visit again and again- beautiful scenery, educational exhibits that the kids actually enjoy, good picnic facilities, opportunities to hike, and even better, paddleboard. (East Tennessee in the summer can be hot!)
Everybody loves Fort Loudoun!
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