Buffalo Springs Waterfall flows along Game Farm Road near Rutledge. Photo by Austin Dalton.
RUTLEDGE – As Grainger County commemorates 230 years of heritage, from April 22, 1796, to April 22, 2026, the Grainger County Journal is launching a yearlong series highlighting the places, stories and landmarks that have shaped the county’s identity across generations.
The first feature in the series focuses on Buffalo Springs Waterfall, a familiar and well-loved site along Game Farm Road near Rutledge. For decades, the waterfall and surrounding landscape have served as a quiet gathering place for residents, offering natural beauty, recreation and a connection to the county’s past.
Buffalo Springs is located within the Buffalo Springs Wildlife Management Area, one of the oldest wildlife management areas in Tennessee. The land was purchased in 1935 for the development of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, with plans centered on wildlife conservation and game propagation during the Great Depression era.
By 1938, the site became known as the Buffalo Springs Fish and Game Preserve, C.C.C. Company 3465, Camp Lynn W. Hoskins. Those early conservation efforts laid the foundation for a property that would continue to balance environmental stewardship with public access for generations.
Spanning Buffalo Creek at the edge of the waterfall, the original Game Farm Road bridge was built in 1935 and served the community for many decades. The bridge became a familiar part of the landscape for residents visiting Buffalo Springs, linking history, function and place.
As Grainger County marks its anniversary year, that crossing is entering a new chapter. Construction is now underway to replace the historic bridge with a new structure, reflecting ongoing efforts to maintain safe and reliable access to one of the county’s most cherished areas. While the work temporarily changes the scene, it represents continued care for infrastructure that supports public enjoyment of the area.
Construction is underway on the Game Farm Road bridge above Buffalo Springs Waterfall as the historic crossing is replaced to support continued access to the area for future generations. Photo by Austin Dalton.