Sitting in the middle of the Tennessee River Downtown Chattanooga, Maclellan Island is an 18.8 acre nature sanctuary accessible only by water. Maclellan Island is the backdrop for a good portion of the paddle boarding episode.  Some claim it’s haunted, research is happening on that as you read this. Until an answer to why people believe that is found here are 5 quick facts you can use to win Chattanooga trivia this week.



The island hasn’t always been called Maclellan Island



Originally Ross’s Landing Island the island in the middle of the river Downtown Chattanooga was also called Chattanooga Island, Crutchfield Island, and Audubon Island before settling on Maclellan Island as we call it today.



Maclellan Island was once farm land



In the 1800s and early 1900s Maclellan Island wasn’t the nature sanctuary that it is today. The island was farmed before floods covered the island and sent most of the earlier settlers to drier lands. It is even rumored a farmer survived the 1867 flood by holding on to his cows horns while they swam to shore.



Maclellan Island used to be a place to party



In the early 1900’s Maclellan Island held frequent and rowdy parties. I’m not sure if 1910 rowdy is the same as 2022 rowdy but based on other history I’ve read around that time in Chattanooga I would imagine it was pretty uncivilized. If I had a time machine I would totally go watch that show.



Chattanooga Audubon Society now owns the island



In order to try and end the loud parties on the island a group of “Cliff Dwellers” bought the land together and eventually Robert Maclellan bought out the other owners. Robert Maclellan donated the Island to Chattanooga Audubon Society in 1954 for preservation.



You can explore Maclellan Island during the day or camp overnight



After getting to the island by canoe, paddle board, or however you choose to get there you can explore the island’s mile and a half of trails. Camping is allowed on Maclellan Island by permit and only one group is allowed to camp on the island at a time. If overnight on the island sounds amazing to you get your permit here.