Van Buren Co. Seeks To Block Inn Closure, Pushes For Relocation

The Van Buren County Commission has announced it will investigate possible legal action to halt the Haslam administration’s plans to demolish and rebuild the inn at Fall Creek Falls State Park.

The county has also recommended building the inn at a different location to allow current inn employees to keep their jobs.

Tennessee State Employees Association Executive Director Randy Stamps said he supports the idea and called the administration’s plan irresponsible.

“We are concerned about state employees, there’s no doubt about that. Some of those would be able to find jobs in other departments, but the bottom line is that it’s irresponsible to close down the most profitable inn in the state of Tennessee and not look at other ways to do it,” Stamps said. “There’s got to be a better answer.”

Stamps said he’s backing a county recommendation to build the inn across the lake, which would allow the current inn to remain open throughout the estimated two years of construction.

The state has plans to close the inn by April 2nd to get ready for the estimated $25 million project.