Dunn's Falls is a 65-foot waterfall on the Chunky River in the hills of south Lauderdale County, and the fall is man-made. John Dunn, an Irish immigrant, created it in the mid-1850s, and the falling water still turns the park's water wheel. Beside it stands an 1857 grist mill, which was moved here from Georgia in 1987.
The park belongs to the Pat Harrison Waterway District, which manages a chain of river parks in this part of the state. Dunn's Falls is mainly a day-use park. Nature trails wind through the forest around the falls, and the river offers fishing, canoeing and swimming. The mill pond is stocked with catfish; a fishing permit is required, and catfish you keep are charged by the pound. Primitive campsites and a single cabin are available for overnight stays, reserved by phone.
It lies near Enterprise, roughly a dozen miles south and west of downtown Meridian as the crow flies. It is a short trip from the Meridian museums, and the park has a picnic area. Check the district's listed hours before you drive out. Alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park, and pets must be leashed.
The closest stops worth working into your route