SPENCER, Tenn. – Van Buren County elected officials say they may take legal action to block Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to demolish and rebuild the Fall Creek Falls State Park inn complex.
At a special called meeting Thursday night of the Van Buren County Commission, 70 or 80 local residents listened as County Mayor Greg Wilson fretted about how the two-year closure would affect several dozen hospitality workers, as well as local businesses and tax revenues in the tiny, rural Upper Cumberland Plateau community.
Wilson said he intends to discuss the idea of seeking an injunction to block plans by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to close the inn on April 2.
“I do think that’s what it’s going to take,” said Wilson, noting the county and legislators successfully banded together to fight two prior Haslam attempts to outsource park hospitality functions.
Audience members, a number of whom had spoken against closing and tearing down the inn, erupted in applause, and commissioners indicated they were on board.