Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area

Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area lies in the floodplain of the Middle Fork of the Obion River between the towns of Sharon and Greenfield in Weakley County. Its 330 acres contains bottomland hardwood forests and a variety of animal species including beavers and fox squirrels. The natural area was named for a huge cypress tree, once the largest and oldest bald cypress tree in the United States, which was destroyed during a thunderstorm in 1976 when a lightning bolt struck the tree. This tree stood 175 feet tall with a base circumference of forty feet and was estimated to be 1,350 years old. The park is a day-use area only; activities include hiking and picnicking.