‘Thunder’ Thornton’s River Gorge Ranch developed on ‘Swiss cheese’ of mine shafts, says neighbor

March 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.

by Ben Benton

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / John "Thunder" Thornton, CEO of Thunder Enterprises, looks off Aetna Mountain toward the Tennessee River Gorge in November 2021. The Marion County Commission is looking into concerns brought in February about a possible "Swiss cheese" system of old mine shafts under Thornton's 7,400-acre River Gorge Ranch development on Aetna Mountain, near Haletown, Tenn.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / John "Thunder" Thornton, CEO of Thunder Enterprises, looks off Aetna Mountain toward the Tennessee River Gorge in November 2021. The Marion County Commission is looking into concerns brought in February about a possible "Swiss cheese" system of old mine shafts under Thornton's 7,400-acre River Gorge Ranch development on Aetna Mountain, near Haletown, Tenn.

A new residential project in Marion County by Chattanooga developer John "Thunder" Thornton could be sitting on a "Swiss cheese" system of abandoned coal mine shafts, according to nearby residents.

Ronnie

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