Mt. Zion Church and Cemetery

Mt. Zion Church is a rectangular wooden structure situated on a small peninsula within the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, accompanied by a cemetery that contains several hundred graves. The building rises on elevated ground overlooking the refuge wetlands and waterways that surround the property.

The church was established in the middle of the 1800s and served as a gathering place for the local community from its earliest days. When the Tennessee Valley Authority acquired the property in the 1940s for dam construction, this building was one of the very few structures allowed to remain standing while surrounding properties were relocated.

Members of the Western District Baptist Association gather annually on the first Sunday of July for a homecoming celebration, a tradition that has continued since the 1930s. This annual gathering keeps the community connected to the church and its heritage, drawing families who maintain their connection to the place through these reunions.

The property is open to visitors who can explore the church and fenced cemetery from the outside without advance arrangements. The site is maintained by local volunteers, and visiting is best during drier months when the access paths are easier to navigate.

Though built on elevated ground, the structure received special protection during the construction of the Kentucky Dam in the 1940s while hundreds of other buildings and properties in the region were demolished or relocated. This exceptional decision made it the sole surviving landmark from its original district.

Location: Tennessee

GPS coordinates: 36.37167,-88.04194

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:44