STANDING STONE: Location meant to be State Park now Rising City Park

Before its remnants were blown up by the Nashville & Knoxville Railroad, the Standing Stone once stood 16-ft. high and resembled an old gray dog. Believed to be carved by indigenous peoples called “mound builders,” it was later called by the Cherokee “nunyn,” meaning stone; and “gatoga,” meaning standing; or “Nunyugatoga.” They had no idea of its origin. It was carved at least 1,500 years before there was ever a Cherokee and about 2,000 years before Christ.

A fraternal organization, the Improved Order of Redmen, took an 812-lb. portion of what was left, had it engraved and set upon a marker in the town’s park, in Oct. 1895.

In the early 1930s, as a new Tennessee State Park, near Livingston, was being planned, it was suggested that the monument be placed inside this park, which then was suggested to be about five miles east of Monterey. State Park authorities disagreed with the location but kept the name. And the rest is said to be history. But there is a future.

It took nearly 90 years between the planning of a State Park, a coal mine to become an up-and-rising City Park. Meadow Creek Lake and Park, located yes, five miles east of Monterey (where a Statree Park was suggested in the 1930s), is an ever-evolving park. People can fish, kayak, walk trails and more.

Thanks to the foresight of then Mayor Bill Wiggins, the second city lake was turned into Meadow Creek Lake and Park. Originally using grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), to open it up, other state grant funding keeps coming in with the help of Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and State Sen. Paul Bialey.

 Volunteer groups such as the Southern Off-Road Bike Association (SORBA) have spent many hours and days of blood, sweat and tears building hike and bike trails around the lake and other places in the park. School groups have also cleared areas to make it easier for fishing around the lake. Look for unique features along the trails like the Gnome Village, waterfalls and such.

 A few years ago, the town partnered with Outdoor Experience, of Cookeville, to open the Outpost at Meadow Creek, a seasonal business that rents bikes, kayaks, fishing and climbing equipment, and will even teach you how to use all that equipment. Thanks to a State Tourism grant, there are kayak ramps to launch from. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWR) periodically stocks the lake with different kinds of fish.

Troyer’s Post Buildings, LLC, recently donated a covered pavilion for families to hold picnics while experiencing what the park has to offer. The town just recently poured a concrete floor for the pavilion.

In 2026, the town received yet another State appropriation from Speaker Sexton and Sen. Bailey of $500,000. Just watch the park grow! But be patient.

It was not meant to be Standing Stone State Park, but it was meant to be a park for people to enjoy. The park is located at 19195 Clarkrange Hwy., Monterey, TN. Come see us. For more information, visit www.ExploreMontereyTN.com, or call (931)839-2111.