Oak Ridge Forest Unit | Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center

The 2,204-acre Oak Ridge Forest in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is headquarters for the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. Established in 1964, this forest is unique in that, other than the traditional function of conducting forestry and wildlife research on the total property, 250 acres are identified as an Arboretum with a mission of public education and public service. This area features interpretive nature trails and ecological points of interest. The Arboretum is a research, education and demonstration project with a collection of more than 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens.

Property Map

Location Map

Project Highlights:

Environmental and land use stewardship has always been an important aspect of the UT Forest Resources Center and Arboretum mission. Responsible stewardship begins with a knowledge of past land use. Through the years, the Arboretum has collected valuable historic information about the property, including early 20th century aerial photos, oral histories from early residents, property plat plans, and photographs. Our “Kerr Hollow Heritage Trace” highlights the properties of the original residents of what was known as Kerr Hollow.

Arboretum visitors who walk along Old Kerr Hollow Road are actually following the original road used by the residents who occupied the area before it became federal property under the Manhattan Project.

Click on the links below to read the history of the area prior to 1942, print a “Kerr Hollow Heritage Trace” map, and view historic photos of life in Kerr Hollow.

Kerr Hollow Properties

1942 Aerial Photo