A historic Rossville landmark that sits empty most of the year is about to open its doors to visitors for the summer, possibly bringing increased tourism to the city.
Beginning Thursday, the Chief John Ross House, thought to be one of Georgia's oldest structures, will be open to the public on weekends until school begins in August.
Though the house typically opens for the summer months, the economic slump for the past two years has forced it to close prematurely, said Larry Rose, president of the John Ross House Association.
"The last two years it's been so bad, we just didn't have anybody come in," Mr. Rose said. "When the economy went south, it just seems like it killed everything in this area, and around the country. People don't travel places as much anymore."
Mr. Rose said it costs about $1,500 to staff the house for visitors during the summer, which doesn't include maintenance or repairs. The house used to stay open throughout the summer, but with dwindling donations it's been difficult over the past few years to earn enough to pay to keep it staffed, he said.
But as the economy appears to pick up, Mr. Rose once again has been sweeping out the dust and dirt that's settled in the two-story log cabin over the winter months, readying it to open next week.
Preparing the house for tourists "takes a good day's work," he said, and includes cleaning each of its five rooms as well as making any necessary repairs to the roof or walls.
Rossville Mayor Johnny Baker said he hopes to see the house, which he called the focal point of the city, attract more tourists this summer to help boost the local economy.
IF YOU GO* What: Chief John Ross House opens to public* Where: East Lake Avenue in Rossville* When: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning Thursday* Price: $2 for adults 12 and older, free for children under 12
"The thing about it is, people have grown accustomed to it not being open," Mr. Baker said. "And with it being open, it's going to be very beneficial. They don't want to just go down there and look through the fence, they want to be able to go inside and see the history of it."
Built in 1797 by John McDonald, grandfather of the Cherokee Chief John Ross, the house tells the story of Cherokee Indians in the area. Mr. Rose said it gives tourists a picture of life 200 years ago, showcasing furniture and architecture of the time period.
Mr. Baker said the Chief John Ross House is especially important to Rossville because the city itself was named after John Ross. Over the course of the next year, he said, the Rossville Downtown Development Authority is hoping to improve the city and "really get something going in the name of the John Ross House."
"It would be so nice if we could get the train -- the excursion train that runs through Rossville -- to stop and have a little depot and little carts that would take people up to tour the John Ross House and see some real history," Mr. Baker said. "That's something that's in the vision."
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