Billboards aim to attract tourists: Chamber of Commerce responsible for three signs on Interstate 24

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

McMinnville/Warren County Chamber of Commerce representatives are highlighting new billboards placed on I-24 near Manchester, noting the aim is to attract more tourists to Warren County. (Amy Satterwhite photo)

Those wondering what Warren County can offer them don’t have to travel all the way to town now that billboards highlighting some area features have been placed on the interstate.

Officials want tourist spots in McMinnville and Warren County to attract those driving on I-24 near Manchester. The billboards were paid for with public funds.

McMinnville/Warren County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee Chairman John Jackson said with about $9,000 in funds requested last year, and $6,000 awarded from the city, officials were able to purchase three billboard displays. Two of those signs went up a few weeks ago, and a third, damaged from recent storms, will be going up as soon as possible.

Jackson said officials want to draw traffic from Chattanooga and Nashville. The signs depict attractions from Warren County. The billboard theme “For a day or a lifetime?” fits some who have visited Warren County for a short period and decided to stay, Jackson said.

“We’ve got several people who were driving through town and saw it and liked it and moved their families here,” Jackson said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The billboards are available for one year. Two billboards are located on I-24 near Manchester at mile markers 114 and 122, respectively. The other billboard is about a half mile from the Highway 111 exit if traveling from Nashville to Chattanooga, Jackson said.

“This is part of what we wanted to do to bring people to Warren County – to let people passing through the interstate know we have something to offer,” he added, noting about one million travelers came through Warren County last year and spent an estimated $17 million.

“We want to enhance that and we’ve encouraged local businesses to put up signs on how to get people to their businesses when they come off the interstate.”

The signs feature pictures of a kayak at Rock Island State Park, Cumberland Caverns, Falcon Manor, a nursery, a mountain scene and the Highland Rim Cycling Classic.

“You definitely want tourists to go, ‘Wow, there’s a lot going on. They’re versatile. Let’s go there,'” chamber representative Susan Barrett said. “We think it will be a good project. The tourism committee has worked very hard on this project and we appreciate all their hard work.”