The recently refurbished Augusta Quarry is now open to the public for recreational use again.
One of Knoxville’s outdoor jewels, the quarry underwent a three-year process dedicated to making it an engaging place of enrichment.
New additions to the quarry include bathrooms, a changing room, an outdoor shower and a water fountain. These features make the area more enticing and accessible for visitors, in addition to the already magnificent landscape the site provides.
“… This little oasis of nature in the hills of South Knoxville is unmatched. Sheer rock cliffs, beautiful flat water, overhanging tree canopy, and 3 miles of trail. The quarry is a very nice place to be,” Augusta Quarry Coordinator Ben Epperson said.
What used to be a site ridden with illicit activities has become a Knoxville staple for family-friendly fun. Prior to the renovations of the Augusta Quarry, visitors were not always met with a calm environment. Some visitors, like UT Professor Shannon Scovel, saw a more rowdy crowd.
“I had been in 2023. … It was a little bit more of a party scene than I was expecting,” Scovel said. “There was loud music, more drinking, it just felt like more of a teenage recreational space than the family-friendly environment of Mead’s Quarry.”
Visitors enjoy Augusta Quarry, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2025.
In 2017, the city of Knoxville acquired the property and added a few features such as roads and parking, making this outdoor spot more accessible for illicit activities to take place.
“Increased access, without oversight, only meant that more people could be at the quarry and misbehave without having any eyes on them,” Epperson said. “Adding amenities changes the culture of the quarry from an illegal hidden gem to a prominent feature of downtown.”
Rules and regulations have also been set in place at the quarry to maintain the work of the project and to keep attendees safe. The city has banned alcohol and glass at the Augusta Quarry for visitor and staff protection.
In addition to these bans, Epperson said vertical cliff climbing and high cliff jumping are no longer allowed. The city is looking into providing a safe diving platform in the future.
To bring the quarry closer to the envisioned outdoor haven, the city added a vendor partner, so there will now be a representative on site whenever the quarry is open.
“Just having a host on site has dramatically changed the types of usage we have seen, making the quarry more family-friendly and less of an opportunity to misbehave out of (sight),” Epperson said.
Knoxville’s culture leans into the outdoor opportunities provided by the natural landscape, opportunities that are often utilized by students and resident families. A goal of the refurbishing project was to turn the area into an eminent part of the city, adding to its recreational culture. Many visitors of the Augusta Quarry since the refurbishment have had positive experiences. Hannah Lamb, a junior at UT, recently attended the site.
“There was a mix of college kids, families and couples, so I’m glad everyone can enjoy the quarry,” Lamb said. “It’s fun to have outdoor spaces that are free, especially as a college student.”
The renovation project focused on changing the culture of the quarry to be more positive and inclusive. Funding for the project came from the Aslan Foundation, one of the city’s largest funding partners, who brought in architects like Sanders Pace Architecture, the main designer of the quarry’s infrastructure.
