Hikers enjoy the swimming hole on the Fiery Gizzard Trail, which is in Grundy County.
COALMONT, Tenn. – Powered by a certification as an “adventure tourism district,” Grundy County could become home to an off-roading park that is joined to the business community in the tiny town of Coalmont.
The community of about 840 is in the center of Grundy County, surrounded by wooded, rolling terrain, deep gorges, sparkling creeks and giant boulders. It’s perfect for the off-roading community, whether they just want to ride and enjoy the scenic beauty or test their stump-jumping vehicles against the toughest obstacles nature can offer.
2014 ADVENTURE TOURISM DISTRICTSThe Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Revenue issued Adventure Tourism District certifications to the following counties. The numbers in parenthesis show the number of districts certified in each county.Anderson (2)Blount (1)Carroll (2)Grundy (1)Jackson (5)Maury (1)Monroe (1)Overton (4)Perry (2)Putnam (6)Roane (1)Scott (2)Union (2)Warren (2)White (6)Source: Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association
The idea for the proposed Southern Gulf Off Road Park has been in the works for several years. But the recent tourism district designation could boost the project by allowing off-roaders to legally drive on public roads to gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses. That means they won’t have to put their off-road vehicles back on a trailer to get fuel or something to eat.
Coalmont’s was among 38 districts certified this year in 15 Tennessee counties by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and Department of Revenue.