Chapman Highway

Trail begins at 101 Colonial Dr., 37920

This trail is a two-part story made up of Colonial Village on the West side of Chapman Hwy and Lake Forest on the east.

Colonial Village is a wonderful example of a neighborhood developed during the post-World War II building boom. Most of the homes here were built during the 1940s and 1950s, so ranchers and cottages abounded with their modest sizes and larger yards making them perfect for young families. Today, this quaint community is a diverse mix of many age groups, and its large mature flowering trees and shrubs offer a beautiful springtime display.

Across Chapman Highway, the trail continues into the Lake Forest community where examples of Tenneesse Pink Marble are found in the architecture of its homes. Once mined by over 35 quarries in the Knoxville area, larger blocks of marble were used in buildings all over the U.S., including Washington D.C., and carved into monuments, such as the famous lion statues in front of the New York Public Library. Local builders used the smaller left over pieces to construct retaining walls, arched doorways, chimneys, patios, and whole houses. To celebrate the heritage and architecture of the neighborhood, a five-ton pink marble entry sign was added in 2014.

East Lake Forest Drive leads to an entrance to The Urban Wilderness Loop, a popular outdoor recreation spot, which connects to the William Hastie Natural Area (3.5 miles of trails) with Ijams Nature Center where you can enjoy early spring wildflower hikes.

For more information, please visit dogwoodarts.com/dogwoodtrailssouth