The Upper Cumberland’s Waterloo Falls has been named to Hipcamp’s list of the 50 favorite camping spots in America.
Waterloo Falls is the only site in Tennessee to receive the national recognition. Owner Alice Davey said the honor reflects the positive feedback from guests who have visited the property to experience its two waterfalls.
“There’s so many different places to camp across the country,” Davey said. “And to be recognized as the top 50 and the only one selected in Tennessee is just, it’s outstanding and really just makes our hearts grow big.”
Davey said the site offers an authentic outdoor experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in nature while staying in a glamping tent or a primitive campsite. Hipcamp is the No. 1 camping platform on the app store.
Davey said the property features a “tent in the trees” that provides an off-grid experience equipped with a queen bed, cooking gear and battery-powered fans. Davey said the site is designed for guests to decompress and unplug from cellular service while being only a few steps away from a 36-foot waterfall in Overton County.
“We’re living in such this busy world right now that to be able to just escape into nature like that without traveling too far out of town is just a great way to reconnect with your loved ones, with yourself, with your dogs,” Davey said. “And you know especially to get that break from the busy world we all live in.”
Davey said the primitive camping sites cost approximately $55 per night, while the glamping tent is priced at about $130 per night. Davey said that while weekends are typically booked through mid-September, there is often availability during the weekdays for travelers.
“We genuinely care about every guest that comes here,” Davey said. “And to know that they, you know, have felt so fondly about us is just truly special.”
Davey said the management maintains a cap of 100 people per day for day-use visitors to ensure the area does not feel overcrowded. Davey said this policy allows overnight guests to feel as though they have a private waterfall once the grounds close to the public at 7pm.
“The state parks in our area are absolutely gorgeous but you are kind of sharing it with 500 other people,” Davey said. “To be able to still stay on a smaller end where you can almost at some times have the waterfall to yourself, um and especially for overnight guests as well since we do close at seven then you really do get your full immersive ‘Oh, this is almost my private waterfall’ feel.”
Davey said the business recently expanded by opening a new 20-acre campground called the Cascades located across from the original site. Davey said the expansion was necessary to meet high demand without crowding guests together, adding six private sites along a mile of creek.
“We’re just so honored to be able to give somebody this experience and to be able to come and again enjoy nature, sit around a campfire, bring your family with you and you know just get away from that hustle and bustle,” Davey said.
Davey said most of the camp’s booking is done through the Hipcamp app.
