Just eighty miles from Nashville lies an unscathed natural wonder–the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness. This majestic area has not been logged for over a generation, and thanks to Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. it will remain untouched for generations to come.
The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness consists of 10,000 acres of breath-taking wilderness that has been donated to the state of Tennessee by Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. The company donated 4,000 of the acres in 1998. The remaining 6,000 acres were recently donated in a news conference with Chairman and CEO Masatoshi Ono and Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist as part of the year-long Centennial celebration.
"This property is truly magnificent, and we felt very strongly about sharing this environmental treasure with the people of Tennessee," Ono said. "We took the property off the market several years ago because we did not feel a private buyer could ensure that the natural beauty would be preserved. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has done an excellent job managing the first gift from Bridgestone/Firestone, so we feel confident about entrusting them with the management of a second, more substantial donation."
In response, Governor Don Sundquist said: "It's not every day that the state of Tennessee receives a gift of this nature, and we sincerely appreciate Bridgestone/Firestone's generosity and commitment to safeguarding the scenic beauty of our great state." He went on to say: "The company has been a major contributor to this state's economic well-being since moving its headquarters to Nashville in 1992. The donation today reinforces Bridgestone/Firestone as a major contributor to Tennessee's environmental stability as well."
The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness, a part of Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, is home to a variety of wildlife. Deer, bobcat, red and gray foxes, wild turkeys, raccoons, and opossum roam freely; and rare species such as the peregrine falcon, gray bat, barking tree frog and jewel darter find a chance for survival here.
Surrounding all the creatures is a lush array of vegetation. The hillsides are covered with large-flowered trillium, pink lady's slippers, foamflower, and mayapple. As the seasons change, so does the plant life. Violets are replaced by Indian pink and crested dwarf iris, and mountain laurel shed their flowers among the ever-present ferns.
The beauty and splendor of many of the forms of life that grace this area are captured in the photographs by renowned nature photographer John Netherton and former Tennessee Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. To commemorate the donation of land, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. commissioned a full-color photo book that features the work of these two men. The book, titled "Scott's Gulf: The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness," also briefly chronicles the history of the inhabitants of this grand area.
To the right you will find links to excerpts of first-hand accounts of stories of the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness. You can also read more about "Scott's Gulf: The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness."
Excerpts from "A Hunting Life."
Excerpts from "Scott's Gulf Memories."
Excerpts from "Living off the Land."
Excerpts from "A Snake in a Brown Paper Sack."