In days past, steamboats left the Mississippi River and ventured up the Forked Deer river to land at Dyersburg for lumber, grain, and general commerce.  However, due tp the rise of railroads, autos, and the decline of the river systems due to various power and dam projects, the presence and influence of the Forked Deer was largely forgotten by local residents.

That state of affairs took a decided turn for the better on July 19th when noted outfitter and nautralist John Ruskey of Clarksdale, MS  (www.island63.com) visted Dyersburg to host a canoe tour by a group of Downtown Development backers and civic leaders on the Forked Deer. The purpose of the trip was to better assess how to provide public use and access to the river for activities ranging from hiking to birdwatching to Scouting expeditions.

The trip was a resounding success, not only in terms of the purose stated above, but also in that Mr. Ruskey is now exploring opening a "Forked Deer Outfitters" facility in Dyersburg to assist NW Tennessee outdoorsmen and naturalists.

In a followup communication with City officials, John made several noteworthy comments, including 
"Downtown Dyersburg is ideally situated for river access: canoeing, kayaking, & bicycling from your downtown. There are very few places in the Mid-South that have this kind of riverfront access. Bravo to the City and County for making plans to develop this!  He went on to say later: "If you took an imaginary Bicycle wheel and laid it on the map of NorthWest Tennessee, with Dyersburg at the center, the spokes would lead to rivers in ALL DIRECTIONS!  You guys are at the center of river action. 

Now, with the support and assistance of the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development and Main Street advocates, and enthusiasts like John Ruskey, the new Dyersburg chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association, and many civic leaders, Dyersburg"s "Return to the River" is virtually assured.

Stay tuned for more...both here, and at the Chamber link on the sidebar. Come see the river, and stay a while !!