Observation Knob Park

Donna Sarver

My birthday weekend and my cousin told us about observation knob so we booked a weekend there. The camp ground was clean. Well taken care of. The people that work there are awesome. We had so much fun there that on our way back to Florida we booked a week there. Observation knob is a keeper.

Shanna Thomas

We went to visit my friend Lori and had a great day out at the lake!

TNonmymind2026

I’ve been visiting this campground for five years. Initially, the ambiance was always inviting, with friendly, hospitable staff. There are several positives to highlight, including secure key card gates, a well-maintained playground for kids with lighting after dark, numerous lakefront sites to choose from, affordable nightly rates, and of course, the stunning beauty of the lake and mountains. However, since new management took over three years ago, there are now significant drawbacks to consider. This year has been my worst experience yet. **General Observations** Many of the picnic tables are decaying and in need of repair or replacement. There aren’t enough 50 amp sites available, and not every site comes equipped with a grill. It is not handicapped accesible. Additionally, there is only one trash disposal location, which is inconveniently far enough that a drive is necessary to reach it. **Bathrooms and Bathhouses** The locks on the doors in two of the three bathhouses are malfunctioning. The sinks and showers are constantly clogged with mud. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper just in case, as the cleanliness leaves much to be desired. **Staff, Rules, and Regulations** The individual who dropped off my camper mentioned that the staff member who let him in was quite rude. The excessive number of places requiring signatures or initials for each rule can be overwhelming. The designated quiet time of 10 PM, from Monday to Sunday, on a holiday weekend seems unrealistic when live bands play at the marina until 11 PM, followed by fireworks. The young manager seems to lack the experience needed to handle the complexities and issues that can arise with campers and appears biased against certain guests. I witnessed security personnel enforcing quiet time by sneaking around campsites, eavesdropping from behind campers. There was an incident where a group of campers was warned for being slightly loud past quiet time. Even after they agreed to lower their volume, they were told to extinguish their fire and go to bed because the manager instructed security to “take care of it.” You can't force grown adults to go to bed. The following night, the same security person targeted this group again, despite their noise levels being perfectly acceptable. I heard threats of arrest, and the behavior exhibited was both unnecessary and disrespectful, especially considering another group was allowed to make noise for hours beyond quiet time without consequence. The additional fees for exceeding four people per site, more than two vehicles, multiple tents, golf cart passes, jet ski passes, boat passes, or day visitors are also concerning. There seems to be no security presence during the day; I observed kids under 16 driving golf carts, one child riding on the side of a vehicle, younger kids in unsafe situations on golf carts, and multiple dogs barking excessively at a single site. As much as I have loved my time here, the negatives are beginning to outweigh the positives. The county needs to invest more in maintaining the campground. There should be management and security staff in place who are fair and consistent, ensuring the well-being of every guest. The park deserves to be operated without bias and should not be driven by power dynamics.

Santana Bowman

This is the best place to visit and camp! The prices are honestly unbeatable for what you receive. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation here. We took time to speak with Chris and he informed us of their trails that most people are unaware of! We took the time to explore those trails and what beautiful views! Our camp site was super flat and clean as always and we had easy access to the water in multiple places! The bathrooms are super clean always. We stayed at T2 from 07/31 until 08/05! The only complaints I have is water temperature for the shower was pretty cold but it felt good while it was super hot outside to shower. Also , our table was a little broken but was still able to be used and fully functional our entire trip! A plus was the dog park! It’s plenty of space for my babies to run and be able to be off leash for a little bit of time while visiting!

Carrie Carter

Observation Knob Campground and Park is absolutely incredible!!! The entire place is gorgeous! The Park director Chris has done an exceptional job of making this a beautiful place to come and spend time with family and friends. The continous improvements are amazing and are adding to the experience for everybody! There truly isn't a bad campsite in this park. You have views of South Holston lake and the mountains, absolutely breathtaking!!!! I would highly recommend booking a stay at this campground, you definitely won't regret it!!!