Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady. Photography courtesy of Aerial Innovations Southeast.

On a recent chilly but sunny Saturday I drove to The Lodge at Pickwick Landing in Counce, Tennessee. It was an easy and pleasant drive from Jackson, and I looked forward to some much-needed “me” time.

Upon arriving at the Lodge at Pickwick Landing I was warmly greeted by the hotel staff. Before checking into my room, I did a mini self-guided tour of the newly renovated inn. What a transformation since I was last at this inn several years ago!

On October 9, 2020 Tennessee State Parks officials cut the ribbon to reopen the renovated Lodge at Pickwick Landing, an $11.7 million project at Pickwick Landing State Park. The Tennessee State Parks system has a vision for Pickwick Landing State Park to be a premier destination.

“This is an exciting day for Pickwick Landing and for Tennessee State Parks,” said Commissioner David Salyers of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We look forward to hosting visitors not just from Tennessee but from neighboring states to the outstanding accommodations here for many years to come.”

Commissioner Salyers proudly commented on the modern rooms, the restaurant, conference center and meeting space, lobby, kitchen, restrooms, and office spaces at the site. Room options include large windows with balcony views. The lodge also provides access to a pool, fitness room, swim beach, and boat ramps.

Just south of Pickwick Dam, the state park offers a variety of activities including boating, golf, fishing, paddling, swimming and hiking. The park is 14 miles south of Savannah in Hardin County, east of Memphis and north of where the Alabama and Mississippi state lines meet.

“The Lodge at Pickwick Landing is the best kept secret in West Tennessee.”

— Mary Jane Mills, General Manager, The Lodge at Pickwick Landing

A Massive Facelift

The Lodge at Pickwick Landing underwent a massive facelift beginning in November 2019.

With its stunning views of Pickwick Lake, it is like no other state park system and is already considered one of the best in the country.

The $12 million project includes new furniture, fixtures and equipment to upgrade guest rooms, a renovated restaurant and comfortable lobby, over 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space, gift shop and front desk, plus new audio and visual equipment for the conference center.

The restaurant’s upgrade and expanded full-service bar even has a new name to go along with the new look: The Table at Pickwick Landing.

“This is all very exciting,” said Park Manager Andy Wright. “We are very happy to see our hotel get a new look….It’s going to be an incredible change for this facility.”

One thing that did not change with the more modern image is every room at the inn has a view of the lake with an outdoor patio or balcony. Regrettably, it was too cool for me to enjoy my outdoor balcony when I was a guest at the inn. But at dusk from my guest room I enjoyed the lovely view of the lighted bridge and the barges. All of the guest rooms have been renovated with new furniture and new bedding, and the wall murals in each room come from photographs taken in the park.

The new-look inn, renovated rooms and conference center is an ongoing transformation of the state park in recent years as seven premium villas with lake views and spacious living quarters opened on January 1, 2017.

I was amazed at the changes that had occurred at the “new” Pickwick Lodge since I was last a guest there. As a former hotelier, I pay attention to details. The staff at the Front Desk was very friendly and accommodating, and a group from nearby Iuka, MS enjoyed conversing by the lobby fireplace. They told me they are regular guests at this inn.

I peeked in the new Gift Shop near the Front Desk, which offers a wide assortment of apparel, gifts, and souvenirs ranging from cookbooks and snacks to necessities like toothbrushes that guests may have forgotten to bring on their trip.

Mary Jane Mills, the hospitable General Manager of the inn, took me on a tour that included the new restaurant and bar at the rear of the lobby facing the Tennessee River, and she showed me the conference rooms with attractive carpet resembling water, and introduced me to Diana Barker, the very accommodating and efficient coordinator of Group Sales & Catering at the Pickwick State Park Inn.

The renovations make the lodge more sustainable. Lighting was converted to LEDs, and in the restaurant the new kitchen equipment is energy efficient. The new setup eliminated the buffet to decrease food waste, transitioning to menu and family-style dinners. Sunday brunch is very popular.

The evening of my visit, I had dinner at the on-site restaurant, which offers balcony lake view seating and a new menu. My grilled shrimp taco dinner was very good as was the service. My friendly server sent me back to my room with a late-night snack sampling of two delicious peach and plum cobblers to enjoy while reading and watching HGTV. How blissful it was to have some much-needed “me” time!

The Lodge has an indoor and outdoor pool. Pet and handicap accessible rooms are available upon request. Wireless Internet is available.

“We are committed to offering our guests a relaxing experience as well as the resort amenities of outdoor activities such as golfing, swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, and ranger-led programs,” stated Andy Wright, Park Manager.

The park has a full-service marina, 48 campsites in the main campground, 33 primitive campsites across the lake, and 17 cabins. Six picnic shelters may be reserved, the largest of which holds 300 people. Near the lodge are lakeside picnic tables, playground areas, and hiking trails.

Visitors to the Lodge or cabins should make reservations well in advance, especially during Pickwick’s peak season each Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Fourth of July weekend is also a huge time for the area. (In 2021 July 4th falls on a Sunday.)

Along with the facelift to the Lodge are recently updated park restrooms, additions to the aviary complex, and enforced COVID safety and cleaning guidelines for watercraft rentals and guest room services.

New in the coming months will be the addition of a dog park, a larger courtesy dock at the main boat ramp, and seasonal holiday activities for all ages. Depending on the status of COVID-19, hopefully the popular annual Christmas in the Park will take place in early December. Contact the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 731.925.8181 for more information or follow Tour Hardin County and Pickwick Landing State Park on social media.

“Millions of visitors around the world visit Tennessee State Parks every year,” stated Jim Bryson, Deputy Commissioner, Parks & Conservation. “Our parks’ uniqueness, natural beauty, and amazing staff consistently ‘WOW’ these visitors. Within Tennessee State Parks, we call these ‘WOW’ moments. They happen every day and are experienced by virtually every visitor. The parks’ inherent beauty, the outstanding customer service, and the various outdoor recreation opportunities naturally generate ‘WOW’ Moments and memories that last a lifetime.”

Bryson went on to say that with 56 state parks, there is one within an hour’s drive of every Tennessean. As one of only seven state park systems in the country that doesn’t charge an admission fee, our parks are always free to enter and enjoy. Never have our state parks been more valuable than they were during this pandemic-plagued year.…We are proud to provide natural places for our citizens to relax, recreate, and experience the ‘WOW Moments’ that create lifelong memories.”