Tom Fuller Memorial Park
LakesideRockwood's main public waterfront park, with a real boat ramp and a long fishing dock.
Tom Fuller is the public ramp most Rockwood-area boaters default to, and it earned that spot honestly. The launch is wide, paved, multi-lane, and well lit at night. Three long docks give you room to tie up while you park the trailer or wait out a tournament wave. The fishing pier extends out into the lake far enough to actually fish from. Parking is generous, with cameras over the lot, which keeps casual mischief in check.
The park itself is bigger than the ramp, about 55 acres of city-managed waterfront with picnic tables, sycamore shade, restrooms, and a pavilion. A 2.5-mile paved greenway connects the park to Gateway Avenue with sidewalks and bike lanes, and the trailhead at the comfort station has ADA-compliant bathrooms, a drinking fountain, and a bike rack. The city has plans on file for further improvements including a new ramp, beach upgrades, and additional pavilions.
The catches are small. Low-pool water levels (around 737 MSL in winter) make the ramp shallow enough to feel sketchy if you're towing a heavy rig, and parking can pinch on tournament days when the lot fills with bass boats. The older ramp surface has soft spots that the city has been patching. The portable toilets near the older ramp area are rough. This is the public ramp Rockwood and Roane County set the bar with.
Tips
- The ramp goes shallow at winter pool (around 737 MSL); plan accordingly if you're launching a heavy boat.
- Tournament weekends fill the lot fast; arrive early or pick a different day.
- The greenway trail is paved end-to-end and ADA-accessible from the comfort station; good for a walk if you're waiting on someone fishing.
- Bathrooms in the new comfort station are clean; the older portables near the original ramp are not.
What people love
- The wide multi-lane ramp with three docks, which keeps things moving on busy days.
- Security cameras and good night lighting; people leave vehicles here without much worry.
- The fishing pier, which extends far enough into the lake to fish productively.
- The greenway connector, which makes the park usable for walkers and bikers, not just boaters.
- New comfort-station bathrooms, an upgrade from the older facilities.
What to know
- The launch goes shallow at low pool; check water levels before towing a deep-draft boat.
- Tournaments happen here; if the parking lot is full of identical bass boats, expect a wait.
- The park is open 24 hours but the older ramp surface has known soft spots under repair.
- Future construction is planned (additional ramp, expanded beach area, more pavilions); some sections may be in flux.
Best time
Weekday mornings are quiet and the docks are usually open. Tournament Saturdays fill the lot before sunrise, so plan around them or arrive early.
First visit
Park in the main lot off Pumphouse Road and the multi-lane ramp is straight ahead, with the docks running parallel. The fishing pier and greenway trailhead are off to the side; the comfort station with the cleaner bathrooms is the newer building near the trail entrance.
With kids
The greenway is a safe, paved, level walk and the fishing pier is a fine spot to sit with a younger angler. There's no formal playground, but the open lawns and shaded picnic areas work for a casual lake afternoon.
Location
Frequently asked
When is Tom Fuller Memorial Park open?
Low-pool water levels in winter (around 737 MSL) make the ramp shallow; check before launching a heavy boat.
Is Tom Fuller Memorial Park good for families with kids?
The greenway is a safe, paved, level walk and the fishing pier is a fine spot to sit with a younger angler. There's no formal playground, but the open lawns and shaded picnic areas work for a casual lake afternoon.
How do I get to Tom Fuller Memorial Park?
Park in the main lot off Pumphouse Road and the multi-lane ramp is straight ahead, with the docks running parallel. The fishing pier and greenway trailhead are off to the side; the comfort station with the cleaner bathrooms is the newer building near the trail entrance.
What should I know before visiting Tom Fuller Memorial Park?
The launch goes shallow at low pool; check water levels before towing a deep-draft boat.
Last updated: April 30, 2026