Pickett's Trout Ranch originally opened in 1965 but the lore of our land is far older.
As long ago as 10,000 years the native people's enjoyed what is now called Cookston Cave for its sweet, pure spring and cool breezes. Ancestors of the Cherokee and Creek tribes enjoyed the prosperous game and plant life of this area.
Our spring is fed from many miles of the Cumberland Plateau in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. Our original dam was built during the Civil War. It was a water reserve and provided Saltpeter, an essential ingredient of gunpowder. The current reserve provides clean drinking water and an ideal environment for aquaculture.
Today, the spring provides gravity fed freshwater to the second oldest trout farm in the state. Each group of over 50,000 eggs is carefully hatched in a temperature controlled pen and then raised in a series of holding areas for 12 to18 months. Then they are released into Fishout Lake where visitors can also catch a glimpse of waterfowl, frogs, crickets, songbirds, darters, suckerfish and brim, while fishing or relaxing.
We look forward to seeing you here too!
