Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

06/07/2026

Remember this is the last week to register your child for Junior Ranger Camp here at Old Stone Fort!
To register click this link or use the QR code:
https://tnstateparks.com/events/junior-ranger-camp-2026-4

06/06/2026

Flora-Fauna Friday- Common Eastern Firefly (since it was daylight, you'll have to spot the flashes)

06/06/2026

Flora-Fauna Friday- Common Eastern Firefly

06/06/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re so happy to be a Poplar staple for your Fridays, especially after talking about our state tree the Tulip Poplar last week. This week, as we celebrate longer days and warmer nights, we wanted to talk about everyone's favorite summertime insect: the Common Eastern Firefly (Photinus pyralis)!

- Common Eastern Fireflies, commonly called “lightning bugs” are a native species of flying beetle. They often measure between .4 and .7 inches long, with large eyes, black wing covers (known as elytra) that cover the full length of their thorax and abdomen. Their head shield (called a pronotum) is pale yellow, with a black dot in the center and surrounded by red or pink.

- The lifecycle of the Common Eastern Firefly follows the same pattern of all beetles with four unique life stages: egg, then larval, followed by pupa, and completing with a fully formed adult. Most of the lifespan is spent in the larvae stage where they feed, sometimes taking two years being going to the pupal stage. They will stay in the pupa for 1 to 3 weeks, before emerging as an adult. They’ll live approximately another 3 weeks to 2 months, where they will spend that time looking for a mate.

- During the adult stage, these lightning bugs have a reduced mouthpart and do not feed, meaning they rely on fat reserves stored during the larvae stage. The courtship is done through alternate flashing between males and females, with the males flying in a U shape, and producing a J-shaped light path. The female will remain on vegetation lower and flash once to show interest in a particular male.

- The range of the P. pyralis is a vast one, covering nearly all regions east of the Rocky Mountains. They have been found as far north as southern New York and as far south as southern Texas. It’s thought that they originated in Texas millions of years ago and migrated east between glacial periods.

- Bioluminescence is a part of all life stages of the Common Eastern Firefly, not just the adult stage. During the larvae stage, some can be seen as “glow worms” as they crawl at night. The pupae glow as well, and the light intensifies whenever disturbed. In the adult stage, they produce an enzyme called luciferase that is found within the cells of the “lantern.” The glow is then produced by the introduction of oxygen, luciferin, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This glow is used to deter predators, along with the chemical lucibufagin that is stored in their bodies that give them a terrible flavor.

- While listed as “Least Concern”, there are a lot of factors that can be found that could hinder our lightning bug populations. One of the biggest issues is light pollution, which can outshine their flashes and prevent successful reproduction. Other issues include broad use of pesticides, along with human development and building in suitable habitats.

- While we normally point out places in the park to find our flora and fauna, Old Stone Fort closes at sunset unless you are attending a program or ranger-led experience. Many parks (including Old Stone Fort) host firefly viewing programs so check under your local park and see what they have to offer. If you can't attend, we encourage you to take a few minutes one evening to step outside, turn off your outside lights, and see what nighttime creatures you might catch a glimpse of!

06/02/2026

Here is the Schedule for World Atlatl Days this weekend! We cannot wait to see you on the park for this event!

For more information or to register for this event click the link below:
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/old-stone-fort

05/30/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We were "rooting" to be back in your feed after talking about the Woodland Pinkroot last week . With the State of Tennessee turning 230 years old on Monday, we wanted to celebrate early by talking about the state tree: the magnificent Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)!

- Tulip poplars are a deciduous tree native to North America, that often have smooth and light gray to grayish brown bark as a young tree. It can grow to an average of 70-120 feet in height, but previous records measure taller than 190 ft! The crowns of a tulip poplar tree can stretch 40 to 50 ft wide with the trunks reach on average a diameter of 2-5 ft but have also been measured up to 12 ft.

- One easy way to identify this tree is by its leaves. Tulip poplar leaves are shaped similarly to tulips (hence the name). They are smooth on both sides of the leaf, roughly 3 to 8 inches across and as long, with a 2 to 4 inch petiole (or leaf stalk/stem). In the fall, they are reliably found turning golden yellow before shedding leaves for the winter.

- L. tulipifera have a range along most of the eastern United States and Canada. They can be found from north Ontario, Canada to the west to Michigan, and as far south as Louisiana. They often prefer full-sun locations that are rich in nutrients, moderately moist, well-drained, and loamy to gravelly in texture.

- Like many native trees, the Tulip Poplar has many different names it’s known by, including: Tulip Tree, yellow poplar, tulip magnolia, fiddletree, hickory-poplar, canoe tree, and whitewood.

- Tulip Poplars have been found to have many uses, both historically and more modern. Historically, the Cherokee people used the tulip tree to treat stomach issues, pain, fever, dermatological conditions, and snake bites. Some Native American tribes also used Tulip poplars for making dugout canoes due to their length and straightness.

- For more modern uses, it has been found to be a choice for use in musical organs and can be found for coffin boxes, panels for carriages, house siding and interior finishing. It can also often be found in houses and barn sills due to its reputation for being termite resistant.

- These giant beauties are found all throughout the park, especially on the Enclosure Trail closest to the Moat Trail. The can also be found along the Nature Trail

05/24/2026

Don't forget about World Atlatl Days coming up on June 5th and 6th!!

Atlatl Days is part of World Atlatl Day, a global event for atlatlists everywhere who wish to compete in an atlatl competition. The park will host two ISAC (International Standard Accuracy Contest) Events as well as a State Throw for those who have registered with the World Atlatl Association and wish to compete at the park. We will also be doing numerous other programs such as Atlatl history, hikes, and more.

Look at the individual programs posted here:
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/old-stone-fort

05/23/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We’re happy to be atop the mountain of your Facebook feed after learning about last week's Mountain Laurel. This week, we’ll be talking about one of our later season wildflowers that you can still see around the park: Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica)!

- Woodland Pinkroot is an upright perennial plant that grows between 12-28 inches tall and around 18 inches wide. It has emerald-green leaves that are opposite, measuring 1 to 4 inches long. They are often lance- to ovate- shaped, coming in 3 to 4 pairs per stem.

- The flowers are the most attractive part of the plant. Each stem has a terminal, one-sided deep red to scarlet tubular flower. The flowers each end in five yellow petal-like lobes, with a yellow-green interior. Flowers often only grow along the last 2 inches of the stem, and measure around 1.5 inches long.

- S. marilandica can commonly be found in a variety of soil types, but primarily in moist woodlands and forests. Often, the soil will be close to pH neutral, or circumneutral. Their range can be as far south as the panhandle of Florida, west to Oklahoma and Texas, north to Illinois, and across the southeast.

- Because of the shape of the flower, one of the most common pollinators for this flower are hummingbirds. It has become a common flower for home gardens, along with it being easy to establish!

- Woodland Pinkroot has come to be known as Indian Pink, Carolina Pink, and Pinkroot. It has also been used historically as a dewormer; however, it has been found to actually be mildly toxic.

- If you’re exploring the park, you can see Woodland Pinkroot along the Enclosure Trail (especially near Step/Little Falls) and near the Forks of the River Trail!

05/16/2026

Welcome back to Flora-Fauna Fridays! We cane’t believe to see you back this week after our Giant Rivercane feature last week. This week, as we start to reach historical peak bloom, we thought it might be best to talk about a true beauty: Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)!

- Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub that often grows 6-10 feet tall as a dense, rounded shrub. As a shrub, they are known to form very dense thickets. It can also grow as a small tree, reaching heights up to 32 feet tall, but that is restricted to the Appalachian Mountains.

- Leaves of this evergreen are oval, measuring between .75 to 4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. They have also been described as leathery, often a dark shade of green. The flowers, which bloom in May and June, range in color from light pink to white and grow in clusters. They’ve been described as bell-shaped and are very showy, although small in size, only measuring from .5 to 1 inch wide.

- K. latifolia often prefers cool, moist rocky or sandy soils. It can be found stretching from as far south as the panhandle of Florida, west to Louisiana, and north to Maine.

- While Mountain Laurel can be found with great abundance across the Appalachian Mountains and Eastern Tennessee, it might not have been this common. Some research has pointed to the loss of the American Chestnut trees, which shaded out the understory species, allowing for the population growth of Mountain Laurel. Other reasons may be due to fire suppression and logging, which would have also allowed more light to reach the understory.

- Historically, this tree was used by the Cherokee for analgesic (or pain relief) purposes by making an infusion of the leaves to place on points of pain. Consumption of this plant is not recommended, as it is HIGHLY toxic and can lead to death in many species, including goats, cattle, horses, and humans. Even honey from bees that frequent these pretty flowers can produce symptoms in humans.

- Mountain Laurel, which is reaching its peak here at Old Stone and Short Springs State Natural Area, can be found along the Backbone Trail creating a covered trail. It can also be seen along the Nature Trail in the campground and along some sections of the Enclosure Trail!