White County will partner with Tennessee State Parks to house the Scott’s Gulf Wilderness Visitors Center at the new Chamber Office.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said it will take some time to build out the infrastructure at the park. Robinson said the partnership made sense for both sides.
“They are gonna essentially keep our chamber open seven days a week,” Robinson said. “They are gonna let their park stuff you know, come in and operate on the weekends so that’s gonna be great for the community and great for the parks and just a good partnership.”
Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park spans over 9,500 acres and unites Virgin Falls State Natural Area with Dog Cove and Lost Creek Natural Area. Robinson said the county is excited about the economic impact the park will bring. The park will celebrate its grand opening May 9.
“I think it was Baxter when the park over there I believe it was Cummins Falls I believe that opened up over there and I think it like double their sales tax revenue,” Robinson said. “I don’t think we will see quite that impact but we think it will be a very good large impact on the community.”
Robinson said it will take some time for the park to get all of the needed infrastructure. Robinson said the park still has to figure out what all it needs.
“My vision on this when we were talking about this I really wasn’t looking like a Fall Creek Falls type thing where you have an Inn, a restaurant, a pool, a golf course, and all of that,” Robinson said. “I kind of wanted this to be just a park. You do the park and we will let the private sector build around it you know, if there is a need for a restaurant let the private sector put a restaurant around it or something like that. I want the park just to be a natural area.”
Governor Bill Lee allocated $27.8 million to the creation of the park in 2023. White County Officials had worked for 30-plus years to get funding to create the park prior to receiving the funding. Robinson said he has come to appreciate how special the environment in White County is.
