A Facebook post by Rhea County's executive that mentions an amusement park possibly landing there is drawing a lot of interest from area residents.
Rhea County Executive George Thacker said "there has been a lot of talk and speculation concerning the amusement park possibly coming to Rhea County." Thacker's Facebook post on Thursday had already attracted 87 comments and 244 shares.
Thacker said he called the developer, who will have a meeting soon to discuss "next steps."
"I will share any new information that I learn as soon as possible," the county executive said.
On Thursday, Thacker did not return a phone call seeking comment.
John Bamber, executive director of the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, said there's a meeting next week that should shed more light on what is or isn't going on.
"There's not much more to the story but a lot of smoke," he said. "We're always open for some great growth. This is a wonderful community. It's not anywhere official."
Bamber said the property in discussion is a large tract about five or 10 minutes from Dayton near Rhea County's airport.
Chattanooga businessman Greg Vital, who owns property in that area, said there have been some groups looking at land in Rhea and adjacent Meigs County. He said the groups have been eyeing parcels in the north part of those two counties.
Rhea County has seen ups and downs in its jobs sector in recent years.
Last October, Nokian Tyres opened what its officials said is one of the most modern tire production plants in the world and the company's largest-ever individual investment. The Finland-based company's $360 million factory plans to have 400 workers on board when the plant is at full production.
Just a month earlier, furniture-maker La-Z-Boy opened an $18 million innovation center employing 75 people that's located next to its 1,400-worker production plant.
But auto supplier IAC this year announced plans to close its longtime production plant.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.