By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–State and Henry County officials, Doster Construction supervisors and construction workers gathered for a “topping off ceremony” at the construction site for The Lodge at Paris Landing.
A “topping off ceremony is a long-standing tradition in the construction industry which commemorates the placement of the final steel beam atop the structure. Placement of the final beam represents completion of the exterior structure and that they can now begin on the interior of The Lodge.
Present for the ceremony was Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway, Paris City Manager Kim Foster, Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce CEO Travis McLeese, State Senator John Stevens, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers and Deputy Commissioner Jim Bryson, Doster Construction Senior Project Manager Weston Burt, Paris Landing Park Manager Zach Tinkle, other park officials and construction workers who have worked on the project.
Ridgeway said, “State officials are excited about this project, but we, of course, are ecstatic. It is such an impressive facility. The rooms are gorgeous and the views for people staying at the Lodge will be spectacular.”
The facility includes a swimming pool, fire pits, dining area, suites and more. The Lodge will consist of four levels and house 90 rooms. The project is still on target for completion by the fall of 2021.
“It’s just tremendous,” Ridgeway said.
McLeese said, “This will be the crown jewel of the state parks system. People are going to come from all over the country to stay here. And every room has a waterfront view.”
Burt told everyone at the ceremony that 450 tons of steel have gone into the 100,000 square feet project.
“This will be really great and will have a tremendous economic impact on Henry County,” McLeese said. “It will include suites, which the former Inn did not have. And we can accomodate all types of events here. There will be conference rooms here that will allow us to host state conferences here.”
McLeese said, “The Lodge will have an economic impact like it never was before. It really gave us chills to see everything it has to offer.”
Everyone at the ceremony signed a cardboard sign. The sign, a U.S. flag and a small tree were placed on the center beam as it was raised to the top of the Lodge. Placement of the tree is part of the tradition.
Miss D’s Kitchen of Springville catered at the ceremony.
Photos by Sam Hutson of Crove Media.