House Mountain (Knox County, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House Mountain |
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View from the northwest, looking to the east-southeast. The tower barely visible between the two peaks is not on top of the mountain itself, but rather, about 50 feet (15 m) down the north slope, on the western end.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,064 ft (629 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Knox County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Parent range | Ridge-and-valley Appalachians |
| Topo map | USGS John Sevier |
House Mountain is a cool mountain near Corryton, Tennessee, in the United States. It is about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Knoxville. Standing 2,064 feet (629 m) tall, House Mountain is the highest point in Knox County.
The House Mountain State Natural Area was created in 1987. It covers 527 acres (2.13 km2), mostly on the mountain's south side. House Mountain is famous for its huge sandstone rocks and many kinds of birds and plants. You can also see amazing views from its two peaks. On a clear day, you can spot the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau.
No one knows for sure how the mountain got its name. But a local story says that early settlers thought it looked like a house roof.
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Exploring House Mountain's Nature
House Mountain rises from a big flat area in eastern Knox County. It is part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. This area has many long, narrow ridges that stretch from northeast to southwest. These ridges are usually next to fertile river valleys.
House Mountain is over 3 miles (4.8 km) long and covers about 2,500 acres (10 km2). The mountain has two main peaks. One is on the southwest side, and the other is on the northeast end. The southwest peak is the very top, but both peaks are over 2000 feet tall.
How House Mountain Was Formed
House Mountain is a "synclinal outlier" of Clinch Mountain. This means it was once connected to Clinch Mountain. A creek called Flat Creek helped separate the two mountains over a very long time. Like other mountains in the Ridge-and-Valley area, House Mountain was formed about 250 million years ago. This happened during a time when huge forces pushed the Earth's crust up.
Plants and Trees on House Mountain
The bottom of House Mountain is covered with a forest. You can find trees like maple, tulip poplar, ash, and buckeye. On the steeper slopes and higher parts of the mountain, you will mostly see chestnut oak and table mountain pine trees.
House Mountain State Natural Area
The House Mountain State Natural Area is 527 acres (2.13 km2) big. It is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Knox County Parks & Recreation. The Trust for Public Land bought the land in 1985 and sold it to the state of Tennessee in 1987.
In the early 1990s, they built a welcome center, picnic spots, and about 5 miles (8.0 km) of trails. These trails are great for hiking and exploring the mountain.
Broadcasting History Near House Mountain
About half a mile east of House Mountain, there is a very tall broadcasting tower. It is 1,751-foot (534 m) tall. This tower was built in 1963 for WBIR-TV, a local TV station.
The station wanted to build a shorter tower right on top of House Mountain. However, they could not buy the land they needed on the mountain. So, they had to build a much taller tower in the valley below. This tower, now owned by South Central Communications, is the tallest man-made structure in Tennessee.
Eventually, WBIR-TV moved its antenna to a shorter tower in downtown Knoxville.
Photo gallery
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Looking southwest across the crest of House Mountain
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Looking west across north Knox County
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Looking southwest from the West Overlook; McAnnally Ridge is below
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The summit of House Mountain
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Red Oak tree along the Right Sawmill Trail
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Sandstone outcropping along the West Overlook Trail
