It’s no secret how Hidden Lake got its name. Situated out of sight between two bluffs and now a protected part of Harpeth River State Park, the lake’s historical marker puts it simply: “Hidden Lake is a small area but its history and experiences run miles deep.”
Maybe you’ve walked the short trail to the body of water and saw nature reclaiming left behind structures. Perhaps you read about the area at the trailhead. Either way, you might have been left with more questions than answers.
We sat down with park manager Bill Morton, who provided some insight into Hidden Lake’s past — first as a limestone quarry, then as a resort destination.
🪨 Stepping stones
Morton said the original 640-acre property can be traced back to 1796 when it was gifted to Revolutionary War soldier William Mathis as a form of payment for his service. The land was divided as time went on, and by the early 1900s, the Newsom Crushed Stone and Quarry Company began operating on the site.
A spur track known as Fuller’s Siding was built to assist the movement of rock to the railroad. Similar to mining towns, it’s believed several small houses and company buildings occupied the area, creating the community of Fuller’s Siding. Today, a trail leads you along the route of the old track.
The company eventually relocated in 1913 and the quarry was flooded three years later, producing Hidden Lake.
🛝 The resort rolls in
In June of 1931, the property was converted into a resort. According to Morton, many steps were put into place to ensure it was considered one of the “swankier” local options.
That meant draining the quarry, asphalting the bottom, and pumping water from the Harpeth River back in. The water was treated, creating “essentially a very cold, glorified swimming pool,” Morton said. In fact, a newspaper clipping from the time suggested you could “swim in drinking water” when you visited.
While the resort was only operational for a couple years, the idea was met with a lot of excitement. A lodge was built atop the bluff, a dance floor hosted performers from the Big Band era, and a water slide ran from the northwest corner of the quarry wall into the lake. Other features included diving boards and a white sand beach, golfing, and a small pond for fishing.
💎 Gems you might see
Believe it or not, there’s still evidence of Hidden Lake’s storied past along the trail, including a buried train car. A crumbling building known as the “caretaker’s house” can be seen, though it’s not clear the purpose it served. Journeying beyond that, up the steep hill, you’ll run into what’s left of the dance floor from the property’s time as a resort.
If this piqued your interest, keep an eye on Harpeth River State Park’s event page, and you may get to learn more in the future. In October, one of the featured programs was a Hidden Lake Night Hike and History Tour.
