Hundreds of acres at McDonald Farm in Sale Creek are one step closer to becoming a state park, following the Tennessee General Assembly’s passage of the state’s 2026-27 budget Thursday.
Of the $58 billion budget, $81.6 million is designated for the creation of three new state parks, according to a press release from the state. From that amount, $45 million is for a state park on a portion of McDonald Farm in northern Hamilton County, Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus press secretary Molly Crawford confirmed by email.
State and local officials announced in February the plan to establish a state park on hundreds of acres of the historic Sale Creek farm once owned by the family of the late Roy McDonald, longtime publisher of the Chattanooga Free Press. The funds earmarked by Gov. Bill Lee would be used to develop and maintain the park, state officials said.
The park is planned to encompass about 1,300 acres, with 800 acres being in Hamilton County and 500 acres being in Rhea County. Hamilton County is supposed to retain about 800 acres of the farm, including 250 for a county park. The iconic farmstead will remain county property.
Hamilton County bought McDonald Farm in 2021 for $16 million under former County Mayor Jim Coppinger. The county intended to use the land for industrial use, but studies concluded the best use for the property would be agritourism and recreation.