Rocky Top officials ask for support for resort, golf course
City of Rocky Top officials are asking for the support of Anderson County Commission in pushing forward the development of a future golf course and resort that would bring revenue and several jobs to the county.
The location of the golf course and resort would primarily be in Campbell County, officials said, but to enter the resort visitors would go through portions of Anderson County via US 441.
The land in question would encompass approximately 159 acres in Campbell County, officials said.
“The money has already been set aside for the project. It’s a $100 million investment. We need the retail revenue from this and a letter of support from the state architect to help move this project along,” said Tim Isbel, Dist. 4 commissioner, to fellow commissioners on the county’s operations committee at the operations committee meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, discussing the latest developments in Rocky Top.
“I’m asking that we, the full board of county commissioners, push this along because Gov. Bill Haslam has recently pulled back on this,” Isbel stated.
In attendance Monday night to discuss the project to commissioners on the operations committee were City of Rocky Top officials City Manager Michael Foster and Mayor Michael Lovely.
According to Foster, the cost to build the golf course and resort is coming entirely from private funds and no taxpayer money is being used. Although the resort would be located outside the city’s limits, Foster said it would greatly boost Anderson County tourism.
“The City of Rocky Top is supporting this. Any support you can do for the project, we would appreciate it,” said Foster.
Since the City of Rocky Top changed its name a few years ago city officials have put a number of policies and changes in place to prepare for growth. Approving liquor by the drink and updating the city’s zoning laws are just a few examples of what Rocky Top officials have done to gear up for expansion, Foster said.
“We’ve been working hard to put things in place so we can be ready for growth. Supporting the resort is a no-brainer for us,” he said.
Lovely added that the project, which he said started about two years ago, would bring jobs and money to the area.
“It’s estimated there would be about 100 something jobs from the golf course alone,” Lovely said.
“Anything that’s good for Rocky Top is good for Anderson County,” commented Steve Emert, Dist. 3 commissioner, in support of the project.
Dist. 6 Commissioner Steve Mead, who is also in favor of the project, stated he sees this as a positive development not only for Rocky Top but for the entire region.
“This is not really localized, but more of a regional thing,” Mead pointed out.
Lovely told commissioners on the Operations Committee he would like county commission to send a letter of support for the project to state legislators in Nashville to get the project moving along.
“Right now it’s at a standstill,” Lovely said. “It needs to be on the agenda in Nashville. We’re wanting to see a letter of support sent to Nashville so it will be moved up on the agenda as a priority by state officials.”
The motion was made to send a support letter to Nashville to be read by the county’s state representatives, urging their commitment to the project in moving it up as a priority project. An amendment to the motion was made by Mark Alderson, Dist. 2, to also include “a personable letter” of support to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, a native of Anderson County, with the hope that McNally could use his influence to get the project some attention among state officials and make it a priority.
The Operations Committee voted unanimously to approve both the original motion and Alderson’s amendment and forwarded the requests to the full board of commission for them to vote on next week at the Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 18.
Commission will likely approve the requests for support.
