Tour Day Planning
Mobility - Preparation
Arrive at Windrock Park General Store 912 WINDROCK ROAD, OLIVER SPRINGS, TN 37840 (phone 865-435-3492) at least 30 - 45 minutes before your scheduled tour. (0830 Tour - Arrive 0745 to 0800)
Pick up or Purchase your Windrock Park Permit from the Windrock Park General Store, located at the entrance. If you are close to exceeding seat specifications, consider speaking with our guide about test fit before permit purchase. (“Windrock Park” Permits must be purchased by each individual rider before attending “Earth Energy Tours” events, due to Windrock Park Private Property Liability Waivers needing your signature.)
The Windrock Park General Store opens at 8:00 am. Other customers will be purchasing permits and / or merchandise. Your Earth Energy Tours pre-tour check-in begins between 8 to 8:15am for the 8:30am tour. We recommend you arrive at the Windrock Park General Store before 8am. So your the first customers in line.
Proceed to the large parking lot across the paved road where Earth Energy Tours is waiting to begin your pre-tour check-in orientation. Look for the Earth Energy Tours banner.
Meet your guide at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time to show ID and check in.
Before your scheduled tour start time, your guide will provide a general orientation to the vehicle and a safety briefing. All tours will depart the parking area after orientation is complete and all riders’ questions have been answered.
Anyone arriving more than 15 mins late (ex. arriving at 8:30am for an 8:30am tour) will forfeit 100% of their tour cost unless you booked all 3 seats. Other EET customers deserve to start their scheduled tour on time. Please be considerate of other riders in your tour by arriving at least 30 minutes prior to your tour’s scheduled start time.
Your guide must verify each rider’s ID, confirm that each rider has a valid Windrock Park Permit, and secure all signed documents for Earth Energy Tours before the tour begins.
Your guide will help you select a helmet that fits and provide instructions on entering and exiting the UTV safely.
Please use the restroom one last time before the UTV tour begins. Not kidding.
Many people get excited and have to use the bathroom within the first 20-30 min of the ride. Still … not kidding. Don't panic. Your guide will stop as needed for nature bathroom breaks. Please plan accordingly. There are no restrooms, primitive or otherwise, along remote mountain 4-hr tour route. Only Nature…
Your guide will demonstrate how to adjust the 4-point harness system for best fit and safety to ensure you are safely secured in the seat.
Once all riders are secured in the UTV, your guide will make a final walk-around to confirm everyone is comfortable, strapped in, and ready to depart.
4 hr. tours last 3+ hrs. There is no way to extend a 4-hr tour. It is designed to be an introductory experience for first time riders.
If you are looking for a more immersive experience, consider selecting an 8-hr tour, which provides more time in Nature, 45 min. to 1-hr lunch break. It’s a better overall price with flexibility.
Unless all riders in UTV choose extreme experience. The guide will provide easy to moderate with a little extreme to add excitement. Every UTV is equipped with continuous video footage inside and outside the vehicle. EET video footage is for YouTube. Sharing the experience with others interested and those who may not be able to experience this adventure. And unfortunately, liability purposes.
WHAT TO BRING:
Sunglasses / Safety Glasses with dust shields - DOT Helmets provided have a full face shield meeting highway use requirements. Sunglasses or safety glasses with dust shields may be worn under the helmet if desired. We recommend that you bring your own DOT helmet if possible, for your comfort. Rental companies supply inexpensive $50-100 loaner DOT helmets that meet mandatory safety requirements, but have little padding for comfort. If any helmet is dropped on a hard surface 1 time, it must be disposed of to retain it’s safety specs. per Mfg. Making expensive loaner helmets cost prohibitive. Our guides use $300-600 helmets that cost more than our tours. We wanted to be sure our customers understood helmet details, to help make the best decision for their comfort.
Closed-Toe Shoes - Open-toe shoes are prohibited. Shoes must be securely fastened.
Clothes You Don't Care About - UTV has an open cab that may encounter trail dust, mud, water. The clothes you wear may get wet or stained. You can wear rain gear or poncho under safety harness, although they tend to get warm in some conditions. “Frogg Toggs” are some of the best light weight protection we have used.
Valid ID - See “Identification Requirements for Tour Participation” below.
Your Credit Card - We require a damage deposit hold of $500 per rider. This hold is removed upon tour completion without damage to any equipment.
Cell Phone / Camera - Bring at your own risk. This is an outdoor adventure tour and all items must be secured. Your phone will not fit comfortably on your body due to 4-point harness system and wrap-around race-style seats. A small, waterproof waist pack or micro-purse no larger than 8” x 8” x 3” which can be secured or stowed is acceptable. Small fanny packs, etc.
Gloves - You may want these, especially in colder temperatures. The guides wear light weight mechanic gloves.
We do not supply any gear besides DOT Helmet. Please come prepared for an outdoor adventure.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TOUR PARTICIPATION:
By signing Earth Energy Tours forms, you confirm ALL riders have entered their legal name, age, and disability status correctly in the checkout form and have agreed to all TERMS.
All riders 18 yrs or older must show photo ID with DOB.
All Guardians must show proof of dependents and sign that you are their legal guardian. Acceptable proof of Guardianship includes dependent’s Birth Certificate or Legal Guardian with Power of Attorney document.
Any dependents, riders without necessary and proper documentation will be prohibited from participating and forfeit 100% of their tour cost. Safety and Liability First.
If you haven’t experienced a UTV Adventure. The video below offers an example. Trl. 22 the first trail from main parking lot.
FYI: When watching videos, select playback speed 2 in setting/gear icon to increase playback speed. This is one example of thousands of videos available online. Search YouTube for “TN Valley Offroad” OR Windrock Park videos. Notice how fast UTV approaches Jeeps ? UTV rides much, much smoother. The trails are steeper and rocks are bigger than camera perspective shows. A very real, yet unfortunate action camera wide lens optical illusion doesn’t tell the whole story. If trail appears steep in video, it’s extremely steep in person.
RIDER CHECKLIST:
Passengers must meet the manufacturer's seat and harness specifications, unless otherwise approved by the tour guide, and fit safely in the seat.
Helmets and seat belts must be worn and secured properly whenever the UTV is moving.
Doors must always be closed properly whenever the UTV is moving.
Keep all body parts and items, inside the vehicle at all times.
Each passenger must ride in his or her own seat, not anywhere else on the UTV.
All riders must be free from health restrictions which could result in injury or additional injury from the tour. By signing the Liability Wavier, you swear that you are not aware of any prior health restrictions.
All riders must be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. By signing the Liability Waiver, you agree that you are.
Always stay in the vicinity of your guide. Never venture off on your own.
If the dust or debris gets too heavy, position your helmet accordingly. Your welcome to bring /wear a mask or hold one to your mouth if dust is a concern.
It is your responsibility to remain alert and aware of your surroundings and the environment.
Know your capabilities and limitations. Do not venture to the edge of a cliff and fall off. 911 Rescue will be called to retrieve your body. Guides aren’t responsible for emergency rescue services.
When the UTV is climbing over rocks, be prepared for a rough ride.
Notify the guide to stop immediately if you feel anything is wrong with you or another passenger. The guide will assess the situation and proceed accordingly.
If the guide determines you are endangering yourself or others, Earth Energy Tours reserves the right to end the / your tour immediately and return to the parking area for the safety of all passengers and the guide. The offender / offenders would encounter a security deposit charge, to refund other participants for their loss of paid tour expenses. Be Nice!
If you intentionally cause damage to any EET property, your tour will end immediately and you will be returned to the parking area. Obviously your security deposit would be used for repairs / occurred fees.
You agree to pay for all damages you cause. Damages must be paid in full within 10 days after your tour, unless other arrangements are made with Earth Energy Tours management. These charges will be applied to the credit card you provided in the financial portion of this contract. If legal action is required, you agree to pay all cost for all proceedings per TERMS regardless of ruling.
LOCAL LODGING OFFERS FULL ADA COMPLIANCE:
Hotels in Oak Ridge, TN from $50 to $150 per night.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Oak Ridge, TN
Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Oak Ridge, TN
Days Inn by Wyndham at Oak Ridge, TN
CAMPGROUND AND CABINS NEAR WINDROCK PARK:
Travel Options: Oak Ridge, TN is the largest town near Windrock Park, TN.
If flying.
The Knoxville, TN airport is just 30 min. from Oak Ridge, TN.
Easy access to car rentals, hotels offering full ADA compliance. Every major name brand shop or restaurant you can imagine in the Knoxville / Farragut / Oak Ridge area within that 30 min. drive.
Oak Ridge, TN was known as the “secret city”, during the secret DOE programs. Now a thriving little town with about 30k residents.
From Oak Ridge, you only have a short 15 min. drive to Windrock Park.
That’s where you leave civilization behind and the old mining mountain trails begin.
Tennessee Overview Map Showing Windrock Park
CENTRALLY LOCATED NEAR KNOXVILLE I-40 & I-75
POI people have asked about. You can easily drive here by car, we don’t offer tours to these locations.
New River Train 520
Some ask about the old abandoned train. Here are a few videos that tell the story. We don’t offer tours to the train. It’s on private property and has since deteriorated so bad beyond this photo, it’s not worth seeing these days. Remember it by watching the video links below.
Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.
You don’t know, what you don’t know… Let me enlighten you. Some call this place the gate to Hell. It was opened in 1896 to supply slaves for coal mining. Many stories / videos online, depicting its dark history. It’s not one we should be sensationalizing by turning it into a POI. (imho)
Hundreds of “Earth Bound Spirits” (Ghost) are contained within it’s boundaries. Research “Disembodied Spirits”. How they seek human sponsors.
Now for the mind blowing part. This place is now a distillery / grill selling and serving “Spirits”. How ironic, considering the consumption of distilled Spirits is what allows Earth Bound Spirits to enter your energy body. What? That’s why it’s called “Sprits”. It was once used during rituals to achieve what your doing willingly. Your life won’t be the same, If chosen by one of the convicted who died there. Good luck!
We don’t offer tours here. Google Map- 15 min. car drive from Oliver Springs, TN.
