Outdoor center fits the pieces together

The Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center is located on the shore of the Tennessee River just off Neyland Drive in downtown. It’s a setting that’s almost too perfect to have been an accident, but indeed the center’s facility was built for another tourism purpose and sat empty for years prior to Outdoor Knoxville taking shape.

The downtown adventure center is the result of dedicated outdoorsmen and Legacy Parks Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to preserve land, expand parks, create trails and greenways and create recreational opportunities for everyone.

On the facility’s ground floor, gear from national companies is available to help get adventurers suited up for bike and boat rentals via River Sports Outfitters. The goal is not just to provide those who already know how to get rough and tumble with an outdoor experience near downtown—rather staff can facilitate completely introductory adventures like paddleboarding down the Tennessee River. There are also maps, flyers and other outdoor resources available; plus the center itself features a small theater, and a community room that looks out onto a large patio with a waterfall.

Outdoor Knoxville is about more than what’s going on down by the river though. At outdoorknoxville.com, regional clubs—bicycling, disc golf, hiking, padding, rock climbing, running/walking, ski and snowboard—are listed to facilitate connecting and getting involved. Various outdoorsy events like disc golf doubles or beginner greenway rides can be found.

For more information about any of the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center’s offerings, visit outdoorknoxville.com.