Knoxville Quarry Transformed into Recreational Oasis

Sanders Pace Architecture and Port revitalize neglected Augusta Quarry with new amenities and trails

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The once-neglected Augusta Quarry in Knoxville, Tennessee has been revitalized into a vibrant recreational destination thanks to the efforts of local firm Sanders Pace Architecture and landscape architecture studio Port. The project, funded largely by municipal capital expenditures, has introduced a formal entryway, winding gravel roads, accessible pathways, floating docks, and a series of weathering-steel pavilions housing restrooms, a dressing room, and a vendor kiosk. The transformation has been enthusiastically received by the public since opening last summer.

Why it matters

The revitalization of the Augusta Quarry is part of a larger effort by the Aslan Foundation to develop the Knoxville Battlefield Loop, a network of connected ecological, cultural, and recreational destinations in the area. The project highlights how abandoned industrial sites can be repurposed into vibrant public spaces that enhance a community's livability and access to nature.

The details

The Augusta Quarry, which opened in the early 20th century to mine limestone aggregate, ceased operations in the 1970s and was donated to the city government in 1994. The Aslan Foundation, a local nonprofit, purchased nearby Loghaven in 2008 and commissioned Sanders Pace Architecture to renew the site as an artists colony. This led to the development of a master plan for the surrounding area, including the Augusta Quarry. The project scope included a formal entryway, a winding gravel road, accessible pathways, floating docks, and a series of weathering-steel pavilions housing restrooms, a dressing room, and a vendor kiosk.

  • The Augusta Quarry opened in the early 20th century.
  • The quarry ceased operations in the 1970s.
  • The quarry was donated to the city government in 1994.
  • The Aslan Foundation purchased nearby Loghaven in 2008.
  • Sanders Pace Architecture was commissioned to renew Loghaven as an artists colony in 2014.

The players

Sanders Pace Architecture

A local architecture firm that was commissioned to renew the Loghaven site as an artists colony and develop a master plan for the surrounding area, including the Augusta Quarry.

Port

A landscape architecture studio that was added to the design team in 2016 to collaborate on the master plan for the Knoxville Battlefield Loop, which includes the Augusta Quarry project.

Aslan Foundation

A local nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen cultural assets and livability in Knoxville. The Aslan Foundation purchased the nearby Loghaven site in 2008 and commissioned the design work for the Knoxville Battlefield Loop.

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What they’re saying

“We called it the outlaw quarry. There was no parking area, and an unmaintained gravel ramp led to the lake. It was a mess that was unsafe.”

— Andrew Moddrell, Founding Partner, Port (Architectural Record)

“We decided to turn this into five discrete open-air buildings that could be completed in phases, should funding be cut. They are also lighter-weight and have less of an impact infrastructurally on the landscape.”

— Brandon Pace, Principal, Sanders Pace Architecture (Architectural Record)

What’s next

The Aslan Foundation and the design team plan to continue developing the Knoxville Battlefield Loop, with additional trails and sites to be added in the coming years.

The takeaway

The revitalization of the Augusta Quarry demonstrates how abandoned industrial sites can be transformed into vibrant public spaces that enhance a community's access to nature and recreational opportunities. The project is part of a larger effort to develop the Knoxville Battlefield Loop, showcasing the potential for collaborative, community-driven initiatives to breathe new life into neglected urban areas.