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The effort to reopen Camp Montvale continues.

Bryan Roberson, executive director of the Friends of Camp Montvale, said the group is moving forward on its plans to reopen the camp.

"We are actually in the middle of a feasibility study," he said. "We have hired a consulting firm, who are interviewing community members and community leaders on our plans to reopen Camp Montvale. Basically, we are seeking their input on those plans.

"We are planning to reopen some services this coming summer (2010) for family events and community activities, following with a full return to services in 2011."

There is also movement on the financial front. In 2008, Knoxville auctioneer Sam Furrow purchased the $3.4 million debt that Harmony Property Group owes for the purchase of Camp Montvale from the East Tennessee YMCA, which closed the camp in 2006. Now, Furrow is working to acquire the ownership interest in the property in order to place it in conservation easements.

Rick Hinchey, CEO of Furrow Services LLC, said Tuesday that "we're working through acquisition of the existing ownership interest. When we got involved last year, we basically acquired the note. We didn't own anything in the property. ... We're in the process of trying to acquire the ownership interest of the entity that actually owns the property. We're going to move forward with the plan to put the conservation easements into effect."

The current owner of the camp, Harmony Property LLC, purchased the 400-acre-plus Camp Montvale property in December 2006, giving the Friends of Camp Montvale, a local nonprofit group, the chance to operate a youth camp on the site. The Harmony group spent $4 million to purchase the property, $3.4 million of the total financed by a promissory note to the YMCA itself.

In March 2008, the YMCA agreed to modify the terms of the promissory note to give Harmony more time to make payments. Furrow acquired the mortgage, funded through a Regions Bank loan, on Aug. 1, 2008.

Anyone with questions about Camp Montvale can contact Roberson at 865-235-4102 or through e-mail at info@camp montvale.org.