News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Elected officials and Van Buren County residents gathered Friday morning for the ribbon cutting of Fall Creek Falls Visitors Center.
The new building accommodates park guest with informational needs, 24/7 bathrooms and a gift shop. Park Ranger Jacob Young said the 4,800 square foot center will serve as a hub for incoming visitors.
“Traditionally, finding where to go when you visit this park was hard,” Young said. “Folks were not sure whether to go to the office, the camper check in, the nature center or the lodge. So, we really needed a highly visible building, and this new visitor center has done that.”
The visitor center is located on Village Camp Road and is the first structure you see entering the park. Young said the building also provides the administration staff upgraded office spaces.
“We got a great place for you to come in, look at the maps, buy some things if you need wood or ice or a snack, figure out what it is you want to do while you are here,” Young said. “Make that plan and go out and do that.”
Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and Senator Janice Bowling both spoke at the event. Sexton recognized the past Tennessee officials who paved the way for state parks.
“Governor Winfield Dunn was governor,” Sexton said. “And, he was the one who started the process. The state parks and saw the vision, him and his wife, the first lady at the time. And, we have progressed, but we owe him and his wife a debt of gratitude for seeing what Tennessee could be and what we could become and putting these spots in the most beautiful places in our state. So that not only could we enjoy them, but visitors can enjoy them more importantly.”
The Tennessee Building Commission first allocated funding for the project in 2017 . Construction began last summer and was completed under budget and on schedule. Sexton said until recently parks were pushed aside by past administrations.
“Governor Haslam when he came into office. He was a huge outdoors person,” Sexton said. “And when you started looking what was happening to our state parks over the years. The lack of maintenance. The lack of differed maintenance was building up. Different things were not being upgraded or kept up with state resources or state dollars. It just was not a priority for previous administrations.”
Now, Fall Creek Falls continues park improvements with a new 85 room lodge set to open in fall 2021. Sexton said the investments in the park will have positive economical impacts for Van Buren County.
“I would say close to over 50 million dollars of total investment just to this park alone,” Sexton said. “Not only will help the local economy, and (Spencer Mayor) Mickey is here and he can talk to it about what it means for Van Buren County and what it means for his city and trying to get people to go outside the park and visit the other areas.”
Over 350,000 people visited the park during the month of June. The park estimates up to 1,500 people could come through the center daily. Bowling said the state will make sure the investments are maintained and beautified.
“What they are doing now at the Department of Environment Conservation and the parks in particular,” Bowling said. “They are creating a revenue stream, so that you not only have these wonderful facilities, but when you walk away, the routine maintenance, the routine upgrades, the routine things that have to be done on any property are being done.”
The Fall Creek Falls Visitors Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The outside has a fire pit and picnic tables for public use. The inside also includes a conference room.
