Visitor Center sold, Tourism Council will have to move
The Anderson County Tourism Council, also known as Adventure Anderson County, is moving.
Stephanie Wells, the organization’s director, said the new office will be on the second floor of Stephenson Realty & Auction’s building at 210 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd., and the lease will be $1,300 per month, paid from the county’s tourism funds.
It will be open to the public, but won’t be an official welcome center.
“This was the best property that was suitable for our needs at this time,” Wells said, adding she did not know how long Adventure Anderson County would stay.
“Right now, there are no plans to be anywhere else but there,” she added.
The county sold the visitor center building at 115 Welcome Lane to someone who bid $642,500 Thursday, May 25. Wells and Jason Deel of JD’s Realty and Auction confirmed that bid, although Deel said the total contracted price was $706,750, and the county will receive $674,625.
Neither Wells nor Deel disclosed any information about the buyer’s identity or plans for the building.
The Anderson County Commission voted for the organization to sell the building at its April 17 meeting.
First District Commissioner Tyler Mayes said he wanted to move quickly because of mold at the 115 Welcome Lane location.
“We don’t need to talk about some kind of lawsuit or heath concern,” Second District Commissioner Denise Palmer said at the meeting, regarding the mold issue.
The Adventure Anderson County phone number will still be 865-457-4542 at the new office, and the email will be info@adventureanderson.com.
