Montgomery Bell State Park Information

Waivers   Registration Information   Vendors

Montgomery Bell State Park
Highway 70
White Bluff, TN 37187

Driving Directions:
Use Google Maps to get directions to the park entrance. Montgomery Bell's address has been pre-filled for you, just enter in your address.

Directions to group camp one from the park entrance:
1) When you enter the park, take the right fork. You will pass the gift shop on your left and the main office on the right. Drive under 15mph. They will say nasty things to you otherwise.
2) Continue until you see a large grassy field on the right. There will be a fork leading downhill on the right at the end of the field. Take it. It is easy to miss!
3) Now, take the next left fork, the one that will lead you over a wooden bridge and past the ranger's house on the left.
4) All you have to do is drive straight now and you will find yourself in our camp. It is a small, twisty road, so lookout for deer and cars leaving the park.

Phone Numbers:
Pay phone in the feast hall: 615.797.9213
If someone needs to reach you or you get lost on the way, that number is your best bet.

Park office: 615.797.9052
They will not be able to find someone for you unless it is an emergency. But, they can help you with park info, directions, etc.

Check in:
Check in will begin on Thursday at 6pm (so you may not want to arrive too early) at the Troll. Everyone needs to check in at troll to receive event tokens, a parking tag, last minute instructions, settle cabin or tenting arrangements, etc. There will be tournaments at the event, many of which need preregistration. Please see the troll for sign up or instructions for these tournaments.

Facilities and Local Shopping:
There is about anything you would need a few miles down the road in Dickson. Groceries, Fine Dining, Gas, Retail, Lodging . . . it is all within your grasp. Just turn left out of the park entrance and then turn right at the second light.

Montgomery Bell Park also has some sort of lodge plus dining and a bunch of less-than-medieval fun stuff to do. Check out the park site for more info.

There are showers (with hot water!) and bathrooms in the group camp. Feel free to use the kitchen in the main hall (unless they are preparing the feast on Saturday evening, then they will say rude things to you.)

The 4 and 2 man cabins have beds (no sheets!) and they all have electrical outlets. Come prepared to tent if you did not pre-register for a cabin.

1000 Commandments
What follows is a list of various site rules. Here are the 3 main rules that have been issues in the past:
1) Thou shalt not create Open Fires
No open fires are allowed in the Group Camp, but you may bring portable grills or stoves. Portable grills and stoves should sit at least 12 inches off the ground. Nightly bonfires will be held at the lake and, if cool enough, in the Great Hall. The kitchen is available for general use, but closed to all on Saturday in preparation for the Feast.
2) Thou shalt be responsible for your Minor
Chaperones must be 21 or older and must list their charge(s) on their waiver. If you are listed as a chaperone and your charge is requested to leave by the hosts or sponsors of this event, you MUST leave with your charge. You may return to the event after you have dealt with the offender.

Here is everything else. Nothing unusual here if you are accustomed to acting like a reasonable human being and have attended a few events. They are only listed here so we can say "I told you so" to the idiots.

LIVE STEEL is NOT allowed on the battlefield during battles. All live steel should remain in a sheath or scabbard unless you're showing it to someone. Anyone drawing live steel in any way resembling a threat will be expelled from the event without refund and banned from future events.

PARK RULES: Montgomery Bell State Park, Group Camp I, is rented State property. We reserve the right to refuse or deny admission, or expel those who would jeopardize the safety of the park, Group Camp I, or any individuals therein. Infraction of the following rules may result in expulsion from the site without refund:
    * Do not vandalize State property
    * No firearms or fireworks allowed
    * Do not cut standing or green trees or shrubs, take only deadfall.
    * All animals should be kept on a leash. Clean up after your pet.
    * No swimming between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
    * Do not move any mattresses from any of the cabins.
         There is a $100.00 charge for any moved mattress.
    * There is a $25.00 charge for each torn cabin screen.
    * Smoking is not permitted in the Great Hall. Smoking is allowed in the cabins.
    * Do not argue with any of the park rangers, park officials, or with security personnel. Security patrols will be on and patrolling the site. These people will know where the hospital is, ranger stations and nearest telephones are located. They will also have access to a first-aid kit and flashlight, access to jumper cables and local map. Security patrols have the right to enter cabin with reason. Security will gladly escort anyone to any location in Group Camp I. Security patrols have the right to ask for proof of age or identification. If someone approaches and announces themselves as an officer of the law please remember an officer is an officer even if they are not in an official uniform.

EVENT TOKENS: The event token will be given to you at check in. Please keep it with you at all times. Your event token is your receipt. If you cannot provide your event token when asked for it by security or by a Beltaine representative you may be asked to leave. If you leave the Group Camp I area, each person within the vehicle will be required to show their event token to Troll before being allowed to re-enter.

ALCOHOL: No one may distribute or sell alcohol without a proper license. The legal drinking age in the State of Tennessee is 21. Violations of laws regarding illegal substances will not be tolerated.

VEHICLES: If you have a cabin, you may park at your cabin. No vehicles should be parked on the road. Be kind to vegetation. If you are tenting then you must park in one of the main parking areas after unloading. The road encompassing the camp is gravel and dirt, so please be aware of the dust and rocks you produce when driving. CAMP SPEED LIMIT IS 10mph. Please do not park in the small parking area in front of the Great Hall. This area needs to be kept clear in the event of an emergency. If you leave your vehicle in this area and we cannot locate you, your car will be towed at your expense.

COSTUMING: Beware of the Fashion Faeries! Period costumes are expected to be worn throughout the event. What you wear in your cabin or tent, camp, to or from showers, swimming area, or into town is your business, but to attend any of the fighting or non-fighting activities, you must be wearing at least the minimum garb requirements. Failure to meet the basic requirements when attending these functions may get you a visit from the Fashion Faeries. The Fashion Faeries will rip into you until you leave or produce sufficient garb. It is an established fact that these creatures cannot see well dressed medievalists. Minimum acceptable costuming that will protect you from the Fashion Faeries:

• solid-colored sweat pants (no logos)
• solid-colored shoes or tennis shoes (no logos)
• basic T-tunic that covers the waist band of your pants.

The following items are considered favorite (but not limited to) targets of the Fashion Faeries and these items may be ripped from your body and eaten:

Although most store-bought pants have not been outlawed, the color must be appropriate and the pockets must be covered. You must be wearing something period for it to be considered costuming. Simply wearing sweats and footwear does not cut it. Try to dress your character appropriately for your culture and period.

WEAPONS CHECK: ALL weapons must be checked and passed by Heralds before taken onto the field. If you are caught on the battlefield during a battle or tournament with a weapon that has not passed at weapons check you will be subject to expulsion from the event, without refund, and may be banned from attending future events.

Questions? Troubles with this page? Please e-mail Ora