State Parks Economic Impact Studies
TN State Parks 2024 Economic Impact Study
Tennessee State Parks have an economic impact of $1.9 billion dollars in the state and support employment of 13,587 people, according to an analysis by a leading economic consulting firm.
Based on figures from fiscal year 2024, the report by Impact DataSource says the parks created $550 million in annual household income for Tennessee families. Because of the strong performance, state parks generated $111.8 million in state taxes and $22.1 million in local tax revenue. Overall, Tennessee State Parks account for $1.1 billion of Tennessee’s gross domestic product.
“We have made significant, strategic investments in conservation in our state, and these figures show the impact Tennessee State Parks have in that plan,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Tennessee’s natural beauty and rich resources not only bolster success in our state parks but lead to powerful economic benefits, especially in rural communities. The parks are the cornerstone of those efforts.”
“We are proud of the impact our state parks have on the Tennessee economy,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We are grateful to Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for having such vision and commitment to conservation, and the figures show how that works for all Tennesseans.”
The governor’s conservation strategy, launched in 2023, includes the most new parks in any administration. The plan balances the state’s economic growth, especially in rural areas, while protecting the state’s natural resources. Admission to each of the Tennessee State Parks is free.
The conservation strategy makes new investments in Tennessee State Parks lodges and maintains a focus on making Tennessee’s state parks the most accessible in the nation, identifying and eliminating barriers that may exist for parks visitors.
The analysis presents the impact of state park visitors' spending in the local region and state, along with expenditures in operations, maintenance, capital, and grants.
Impact DataSource, is an Austin, Texas, economic consulting, research, and analysis firm founded in 1993. The firm has conducted over 2,500 economic impact analyses of firms, projects, and activities in most industry groups in Tennessee and in more than 35 other states.