Cumberland Mountain State Park is situated on the Cumberland Plateau approximately halfway between the plateau's Walden Ridge escarpment to the East and the plateau's western escarpment to the West. The southern fringe of the Crab Orchard Mountains is just to the East of the park and the northern tip of the beautiful Sequatchie Valley is just to the South. Crossville is the closest city.
The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, arrived in the area in 1934 to build the recreational area's facilities as part of Rosevelt's New Deal program. The construction of Byrd Creek Dam began in 1935 under the direction of the National Park Service and was completed in 1938, creating the 50-acre Byrd Lake. The dam is constructed of a native sandstone commonly called Crab Orchard Stone.
This building houses the restaurant and the gift shop. If you are lucky, you can get a table with a great view of the dam.
