John “Thunder” Thornton, left, and Dane Bradshaw stand in front of a waterfall that can be seen from one of their bluff view lots at the new 9,000-acre residential development Jasper Highlands. One of the mountains in the Marion County development will be named today for University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt.Herman Cain may not have been successful with his presidential campaign last year, but his 9-9-9 slogan continues, at least among some East Tennessee developers of resort property.
Lakefront and mountaintop properties are being pitched today near Kimball and Vonore, Tenn., for no more than $99,999, or only about half of what such properties were selling for before the recent recession.
In both the first phase of Jasper Highlands in Marion County and at the Legacy Shores on Tellico Lake in Loudon County, developers want to sell 99 lots in the next 99 days.
John “Thunder” Thornton’s project atop Jasper Mountain is the first phase of a 9,000-acre development he hopes eventually will include up to 3,200 home sites.
One of the mountains in Jasper Highlands is being named for University of Tennessee’s legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, who will appear at Jasper Highlands along with former UT Football Coach Phillip Fulmer from noon to 3 p.m. today. The event will aid the Pat Summitt Foundation and is expected to lure hundreds of fans and potential lot buyers today.