By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Buchanan, Tenn.—Emotions ran high at a public input meeting Thursday night called by the State of Tennessee to discuss the future of the Paris Landing Inn, which state officials earlier announced would be torn down and replaced with a smaller facility.
Some 150 people from both Henry and Stewart Counties crowded into a conference room at the Inn for the session, which at times devolved into disorganization, magnified by lengthy periods in which many people were talking at the same time.
The main topic of discussion was the new inn, restaurant and conference center. The new inn will feature 65 mixed-style rooms and is targeted to open in the summer of 2020. The state already has budgeted some $26M for the new facility, which has been in the planning stages for the past couple of years.
State officials at the meeting included Brock Hill, Deputy Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and David Benton, Tennessee State Parks director of land and facilities management.
State officials distributed hand-outs describing the upcoming project and provided information on proposed renovations versus the total reconstruction that is planned and also displayed maps showing the upcoming project.
Plans are for the Paris Landing Inn to close in August and for the new construction to occur in the same location because state officials said, it affords the best views of the lake and its proximity and central location to other park features.
The meeting became very heated very early, as people in attendance asked questions such as, “Is this a done deal? Is there any need for us to even be here?” Concerns were raised for lost jobs and lost revenue to the county while the Inn is closed.
Benton said the state has considered renovations to the present facility but that costs—estimated at $14.5M in 2013—would be prohibitive. He also said that the building is 45 years old “and has reached the end of a useful life” and that it is in deteriorating shape with very low occupancy, at 30 percent.
Bruce Griffey of Paris asked why the project couldn’t be delayed until after the new governor takes office. Griffey is a Republican candidate for the office currently held by State Representative Tim Wirgau, R-Paris.
Benton said the funding already is there for the project and that the current Inn “was overbuilt. It was too big for the local market.”
Paris Landing State Park Superintendent Joan Williams said, “We constantly get comments from the public saying we need an upgrade here. Let us proceed with the project. We need a new Inn to bring the customers here and to provide a positive experience for them. It’s in the best interests of the taxpayers to build a new Inn…we want our economy to grow. This is an exciting time for Paris Landing. We should be tickled that the state is giving us money for our park.”
Audience members Todd Atkins and Darrell Howell, both of Dover, presented copies of petitions that they said have some 300 signatures objecting to the project. They and others in the audience said they are happy with the Inn as it is now. They also wondered why the Inn wasn’t just remodelled to upgrade it.
State officials kept trying to close the session and asked audience members to look over the plans they brought. Wirgau was late to the meeting due to a wreck on Hwy. 641N. The meeting had seemingly ended and then started up again when Wirgau arrived.
Wirgau gave an impassioned argument for the new project, saying, “Other areas of the state would be happy to have a new Inn that you’re complaining you don’t want. Other communities would be thrilled to death to have a $26M project in their community.”
“We’re turning this into a political issue over a real issue,” Wirgau said. “We do have gem here. Something to be proud of. Don’t be upset about something that others would be proud of.”
Wirgau also noted that if the project is delayed, as some have asked for, the money that already is budgeted for the project by the state may not still be there in the future. “My greatest fear,” he said, “is that if we return the money, they’ll call off the project.”
In a press release from the state issued a short while after the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Hill said, “We appreciate all who came out to express their interest in the future direction of Paris Landing State Park. Public input is critical to the future direction of our parks and we will be reviewing the comments we heard tonight as we seek to constantly improve our park system.”
“The current facility does not meet today’s hospitality standards or the expectations of state park guests,” said Patrick Neuber of GMC Network, who is serving as the architect for the new design. “If renovation was pursued, I would have concerns about costly and burdensome maintenance with an aged facility like this.”
Beyond facilities, other recent updates at the park include new golf course greens and upgrades to the sewer system. Better signage is currently being installed as well as renovations to cabins, including new furniture. Proposed long-term projects include adding an additional 30 rooms to the Inn and constructing a dedicated RV campground.
Tennessee State Parks will continue to receive public comments until May 24, 2018. Comments may be submitted online at https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/tspbusiness_plans_comment or sent via mail to Tennessee Tower, 2nd floor, Attn: Christina Treglia, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville TN 37243.
Five additional public meetings will be held at other state parks on April 24. For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/ppo-public-participation/ppo-public-participation/ppo-general.html.
Photos: State Rep. Tim Wirgau speaking at the end of the session; David Benton of the Tennessee State Parks addresses the crowd as Bruce Griffey asks a question; Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill discusses plans for the Inn with Marc Wiggins and Jim Bundy of Paris. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
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