Pickwick Landing was a riverboat stop dating from the 1840’s. In the 1930’s, during the depression, the site was chosen for one of the Tennessee Valley Authority's dams on the Tennessee River. What today comprises the park was once the living area for the TVA construction crews and their families. The property passed from TVA to the Tennessee State Park system in the early 1970’s. It was during this time that the inn, cabins, marina and picnic shelters were developed. Today Pickwick Landing is one of the most visited parks in the system.