Rockwood / Eagle Furnace
The Rockwood corridor runs along the north shore of Watts Bar Lake from roughly Tennessee River Mile 550 to 556. It is more residential and functional than flashy, with the lake's heaviest-use bass-tournament ramp, two RV-marina combinations, and strong support for anglers and trailerable craft.
| Tennessee River miles | TRM 550–556 |
|---|---|
| Wind exposure on the main channel | Low in creeks |
| Typical traffic | Medium |
What's there
Tom Fuller Memorial Park at 1360 Pumphouse Road, Rockwood is the largest public ramp in this stretch and a heavy-use bass-tournament base. On tournament weekends, takeoff in the morning and weigh-in in the afternoon are showtime for spectators interested in seeing big bass boats. The park has a courtesy dock, parking for trailers, and shore amenities.
TVA Lakeshore Park in Harriman is a two-lane concrete ramp with a courtesy dock, suitable for routine launching and lighter use than Tom Fuller.
Caney Creek Marina (caneycreekrvresort.com) sits up the Caney Creek arm with a fixed bridge clearance of 22 feet that limits taller boats from upstream access. The marina includes an RV resort and is now home to Oakey's on the Water, a spinoff of Oakey's Sports Grill in Oak Ridge. Address: 851 Caney Creek Rd, Harriman.
Rockwood Marina & RV Resort (rockwoodmarinarvresort.com) is the area's newer amenity-first marina, with a sit-down restaurant, full RV resort, and seasonal pool. It is a north-shore base for visitors who want lodging plus marina access in one place.
Whites Creek Marina (smaller and less promoted) and Roane County Park (a picnic and shore-access area on the lake) round out the local options.
For bait and local intel, Jerry's Bait Shop at 815 S Gateway Ave, Rockwood is the long-running local source for current patterns. Phone: (865) 354-1225. Two Sisters Market operates inside.
Best for
- Practical launching for trailerable boats. Tom Fuller and TVA Lakeshore are workhorse public ramps. Tom Fuller is the heaviest-tournament ramp on the lake.
- Tournament basing. Most major Rockwood-anchored bass tournaments stage out of Tom Fuller. Spectator viewing is straightforward at takeoff and weigh-in.
- RV camping and full-service marina in one stop. Caney Creek Marina and Rockwood Marina & RV Resort both include RV resorts on site.
- Family day use with shore food. Caney Creek's new Oakey's on the Water and Rockwood Marina's restaurant give Rockwood-side cruising a sit-down anchor.
On-water character
The Rockwood corridor is north-shore-facing and centered on the Caney Creek embayment. The Caney Creek arm runs in from the main channel and offers protected water inside the embayment that stays manageable when the main lake is choppy. Wind exposure on the main channel between Rockwood and mid-lake is moderate. Inside Caney Creek, exposure is low.
Traffic patterns center on tournament mornings and weekend afternoons. Tom Fuller is the busiest ramp by trailer count on busy weekends. Rockwood Marina and Caney Creek Marina see steady weekend traffic in season but rarely match the city-park scale of Kingston or the dock-and-dine churn of mid-lake.
Notes for visitors
- Caney Creek bridge clearance is 22 feet. Boats with taller superstructures (some cabin cruisers, some sailboats) are limited from getting past the bridge into the marina basin. Plan accordingly.
- The Rockwood Steam Plant (TVA fossil plant on the south shore opposite town, decommissioned) is a recognizable landmark but no longer active.
- The local convenience-store and bait selection in Rockwood proper is good for last-minute supply runs. Walmart Supercenter at 1102 N Gateway Ave and Walgreens at 103 N Gateway Ave are central.
Related on this site
- Caney Creek Marina
- Rockwood Marina & RV Resort
- All Watts Bar marinas
- Fishing on Watts Bar Lake
- Events on Watts Bar Lake
Frequently asked questions
Where do bass tournaments launch on Watts Bar Lake?
Most major bass tournaments anchored on the Rockwood end of the lake stage out of Tom Fuller Memorial Park at 1360 Pumphouse Road, Rockwood. Tournament takeoff is in the morning and weigh-in is in the afternoon. The City of Rockwood and Watts Bar Open are recurring annual fixtures.
Does Caney Creek Marina have a restaurant?
Yes. As of 2026, Caney Creek Marina is home to Oakey's on the Water, a spinoff of Oakey's Sports Grill in Oak Ridge. Older sources may list Caney Creek as having no on-site restaurant; that has changed.