Tourism board seeks concept plan for property

By Iva Butler
of The Daily Times Staff

Townsend leaders and business people met Wednesday to brainstorm on how to use 32 acres up for sale next to the Townsend Visitors Center.

Among those ideas: a meeting center where at least 200 people could be seated.

The Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau has an option to buy 10 acres beside the visitors center, an option that expires in 2009. Another 22 acres is up for sale adjacent to that property.

Herb Handly, executive director of the visitors bureau, said a concept plan with possible uses for the site is needed before the group begins trying to raise funds to buy at least the 10-acre site.

The visitors bureau hired Hedstrom Design Landscape Architecture of Knoxville to prepare a plan. Thirty-five people turned out for Wednesday's idea session.

"We come here with no preconceived notions of what should be there," said Sara Hedstrom. "This property can accommodate a number of different uses."

Jim Hind of Richmont Inn said, "My viewpoint is that we attract events that generate overnight lodging." That would be events of two days or more.

Townsend Mayor Shannon Skidmore suggested an equestrian arena as a possible use for the property.

"We need to consider seasonal things, not just events for hot weather," he said.

Handly said Townsend currently relies on generating tourists during only half of the year.

"We have six months to get the business, the summer months and around October. This is a real opportunity to create something on that property that is a destination 12 months a year."

Byron Begley, vice chair of the Blount Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Travel Council, said a structure is needed to accommodate events. He is involved in a fundraiser for Trout Fest and has had to use tents for the crowd.

"We need a place to seat at least 200 people," he said.

Maribel Koella, a Realtor, suggested developing a crafts community similar to the Southern Highlands in North Carolina.

That sort of tourist draw is a growing trend, according to Handly.

"One thing we're seeing in the tourism industry is not just to be a destination, but to be a destination because of the activity in our community," he said.

Handly, Matt Alexander of Dancing Bear Lodge and Don Headrick of Highland Manor all said Townsend needs something more for visitors to do other than simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Sandy Headrick of Highland Manor said that over the years the town has tried to draw people by having events such as small-scale dog shows, motorcycle rallies and antique car clubs.

"We've been constrained because there is no event place," she said.

Tommy Enos of Woodland Homes said, "One of the things that attracted me to this area is that it's not a Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. We have a good basis to build on if we focus on heritage."

Enos mentioned hiking, fishing and rafting, Little River Railroad Museum and the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center.

Entertainment was also mentioned as an attraction for visitors.

"One of the more successful events we had her was "Christy the Musical," said Jim Hind, suggesting a performance theater might be a good fit.

Alexander said, "It seems we could all get our way. The front could be a ski village with shops, the middle area could be for festivals with a theater and conference area and the back could be sports fields. Functionality and paying for it is the big things."

And there is always the matter of money.

"That's a large piece of commercial property," Skidmore said. "We need to make sure what is put there is something that brings revenue to the city."

There are only 243 people living in the city limits.

"One thing that limits us is we can't afford to get too big," said Vice Mayor Ron Palewski. "We have a small volunteer fire department and police department. I don't think we can have 50,000 people come in here."

Ed Stucky, chairman of the Townsend Planning Commission, noted the town does not want to lose the qualities that have drawn visitors for years.

"The success of Townsend has been due to its quietness and because people come to hike fish and enjoy the outdoors. We don't want to be extreme and run off what has sustained Townsend for the last 30 years," he said.