Entry 127: Journey Through Time at Cedars of Lebanon State Park

While making the return journey from Kentucky, I took a delightful detour to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, just south of Lebanon, Tennessee. Nestled in the heart of Middle Tennessee’s Central Basin, this 900-acre park lies within the larger 9,420-acre Cedars of Lebanon State Forest. The park is home to a unique ecosystem known as cedar glades—open, rocky expanses of thin soil dotted with Eastern red cedar trees, which are actually junipers. These enduring trees reminded early settlers of the famed cedar forests of ancient Lebanon, inspiring the park’s biblical name. Beneath your feet lies Ordovician-era limestone, dating back roughly 460 million years, creating a karst landscape pockmarked with sinkholes, caves, and underground streams.

In the 1930s, a resettlement program and WPA-led restoration efforts transformed the battered cedar flats into a thriving forest and public recreational space. The area opened as Lebanon Cedar Forest in 1937, with the Tennessee government taking over two years later. By 1955 it had become today’s state park, complete with a historic lodge, cabins, trails, a swimming pool, and even an 18-hole disc golf course.

During my visit, I opted for a short trail—just enough time to stretch my legs and soak in the scenery. The trail wound through stands of hardy “cedars,” over exposed limestone slabs, and past dramatic rock escarpments that towered overhead. One highlight was walking to the mouth of Jackson Cave, a small karst cavern protected as a bat sanctuary—not open for deep exploration, but fascinating nonetheless. Each step felt like a dive into deep time, with the limestone bedrock beneath, the resilient trees, and the eroded cliffs all weaving together a story of geological and ecological endurance.

Cedars of Lebanon State Park leaves an impression with its rare ecosystems, its transformation through New Deal programs, and its natural drama in the form of karst features like sinkholes, escarpments, and the on-site cavern. As a quick stopover on your road trip, it offers a powerful blend of natural beauty and historical depth. Even a short hike lets you connect to ancient stone, resilient forests, and the park’s storied past, making it a brief but meaningful respite from the interstate and a place where landscape and legacy beautifully converge.

A Whimsical Stop: The Pelican Limerick Memorial

While exploring Cedars of Lebanon State Park, I stumbled upon a delightful and unexpected piece of literary history—a memorial dedicated to “The Pelican,” a famous limerick by Tennessee humorist and editor Dixon Lanier Merritt. Near the nature center, there is a metal sculpture of a pelican standing proudly, accompanied by an interpretive sign and a plaque featuring the full limerick:

A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican,
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week
But I’m damned if I see how the helican!

 This playful stop adds a layer of charm to the park, reminding visitors that nature and creativity often go hand in hand. Merritt, who spent much of his life in Tennessee, penned this limerick in 1910, and it has since become widely loved for its humor and simplicity. The memorial is a fun photo stop and a reminder of the rich cultural history woven into Tennessee’s natural spaces. If you visit the park, take a moment to stop by the sculpture and enjoy a lighthearted pause among the cedars and limestone.