Old Forest State Natural Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆 126-Acre Memphis Old-Growth — Ancient forest within Overton Park — a national conservation landmark
Old Forest State Natural Area preserves 126 acres of old-growth forest within Overton Park in midtown Memphis — one of the largest and most significant urban old-growth forests in the United States. The forest was the subject of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe (1971), which established a precedent for protecting public parkland from highway construction that influenced environmental law nationwide.
The forest contains trees estimated at 200-300+ years old, including massive oaks, tulip poplars, and American beeches that predate European settlement of Memphis. A network of walking trails threads through the canopy, providing an immersive old-growth experience in the heart of the city.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Overton Park, Memphis, TN |
| Size | 126 acres |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Forest | Old-growth (200-300+ year trees) |
| Legal Landmark | Supreme Court: Overton Park v. Volpe (1971) |
| Trails | Network of walking paths |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Overton Park Supreme Court case?
In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not route Interstate 40 through Overton Park without exhausting all alternatives. This landmark decision strengthened protections for public parks nationwide and is taught in every American law school.
Insider Tips
Memphis old-growth: The Old Forest in Overton Park is one of the largest old-growth urban forests in the US — 126 acres of forest that has never been logged, right in the middle of Memphis. Pro tip: The forest supports 340+ plant species and 172 tree species — more tree species per acre than the Great Smoky Mountains. Saved by protest: The forest was nearly destroyed for a highway in the 1970s — a Supreme Court case (Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 1971) saved it.
Best Time to Visit
Spring: Wildflower bloom and warbler migration. Fall: Diverse foliage from 172+ tree species. Summer: Cool shade. Winter: Tree architecture study — every species is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did a Supreme Court case save the forest?
In 1971, the US Supreme Court ruled in Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe that the federal government could not route Interstate 40 through the park without proving no feasible alternative existed. The landmark decision strengthened environmental law nationwide and permanently protected the Old Forest. It’s considered one of the most important environmental legal victories in US history.
🌳 Visit Old Forest SNA
126 acres of ancient forest in Memphis — saved by the Supreme Court, older than the city.
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