Across Nickajack Lake from South Pittsburg sits the picturesque town of New Hope, TN. It graces the south side of a U-shaped bend of the Tennessee River, downstream from Nickajack Dam. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built the dam in the mid-1960s to create Nickajack Reservoir.

Historic Nickajack Cave can be seen from the Maple View Public Use Area in New Hope. A beloved landmark for hundreds of years, Nickajack Cave served as a shelter for Native Americans. The Cherokee town of Nickajack was once located between the cave and the Tennessee River. Before Nickajack Reservoir flooded the cave, the entrance measured 140 feet in width by 50 feet in height. Also, a river ran out of it and emptied into the Tennessee River.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) designated Nickajack Cave as Tennessee’s first non-game wildlife refuge in 1992. The entrance is fenced off in order to protect thousands of endangered gray bats that inhabit the cave from late April through early October. This is just one example of how Sequatchie Valley protects its natural resources.

Hales Bar Marina and Resort offers a serenity and respite for Sequatchie Valley visitors. Stay in a floating cabin or use the RV hookups.

New Hope is also home to The Shrine of Our Lady Virgin of the Poor, built by Benedictine monks in 1982 for spiritual contemplation. It is open to anyone of any faith. The Shrine is located on a 600-acre farm and opens from sunrise to sunset every day. It is a replica of the shrine in Banneaux, Belgium and includes a chapel, statuary, stations of the Cross, a small outdoor meeting area, a covered picnic area and restrooms.