Billboard complaint lacks facts
In Sunday’s edition, Terry Henderson wrote to the editor that “Chamber billboards were a conflict of interest”. He specifically mentioned a billboard at mile marker 108 on I-24, depicting Cumberland Caverns and Falcon Manor. He went on to say he did not think taxpayers should be paying for free advertising for privately owned businesses.
He particularly criticized Charlien McGlothin, as chairperson of the committee responsible for the chamber’s signs, of some kind of wrong-doing, since she also owns Falcon Manor. He was “infuriated” his tax dollars were wasted to benefit “someone else.” He ended by stating, “The chamber owes the people of Warren County an explanation and a lot of money.”
I would like to undertake the explanation requested. Mr. Henderson did not take the trouble to investigate the facts before publicly airing his complaints.
The billboard at marker 108 on I-24 depicting Cumberland Caverns and Falcon Manor was not one of the three signs erected by the county. It is one of four such billboards erected and paid for by the attractions themselves. His tax dollars were not involved at all.
When the county decided to go after tourism, signs on the interstate seemed the logical first step. The chamber formed a committee to make recommendations, and Charlien McGlothin was appointed chairperson since she was one of the few county residents who had worked with tourism.
She has also designed brochures for county projects and assisted in various promotional county efforts.
To infer she was self-serving or diabolical is mean, petty and untrue.
The choice of what to depict on the county boards was easy. We just looked for the major true tourist attractions that the county had to offer. There were only three – Rock Island, Falcon Manner and Cumberland Caverns. Two of these are privately owned. So What? The whole purpose is to get visitors off the interstate and into our community. Once we get them here, they are bound to eat, sleep, buy gas and shop. Outside dollars flow into the area and everybody wins.
And, if Cumberland Caverns and Falcon Manner become more successful, who cares? They advertise more, bring in more visitors, more taxes are generated, tourism grows.
But, for the sake of argument, leave out the two privately owned attractions. What’s left for us to brag about? Rock Island State Park is a given. But what’s after that?
There’s historic Depot Bottom or perhaps the birthing tree or scenic Rebel Hill or the site of the former Sedberry Hotel. Remember, a bonafide tourist attraction has facilities. Leave out the private attractions and you’re left with a real winning package of appeal.
Conflict of interest? Nonsense! Warren County says it wants to be in the tourism business. Let it be gracious enough to benefit from those already in that business.
The town’s name “McMinnville, Tennessee” appears in hundreds of thousands of brochures which are being bought and distributed by Cumberland Caverns and Falcon Manor each year. The name McMinnville is on our private signs wherever we erect them. When we are lucky enough to be on television or in magazines, the name McMinnville appears.
Why do we do this? Because we need our town, because we are proud to be associated with Warren County, because everybody wins. Tourism is what we’re after. By supporting one another, we support the whole concept. Tourism is what the attractions want and tourism is what Warren County says its wants. If we want the same thing, where is the conflict?
Mr. Henderson was infuriated his tax dollars were wasted to benefit “someone else.” Since the someone else mentioned is all of us, it remains a question as to whether our efforts are wasted or not.
So if we’re all wanting the same thing, why do we hear so much dissent? I can answer that one too. There isn’t much dissent. There is one disgruntled individual in the county who is eaten up with jealousy and hatred that he will go to any length to discredit the McGlothins and Falcon Manor.
This man has called everyone in the phone book to protest the private attractions being used to promote the county.
Do you suppose we’d be so choosey if Dollywood were a few miles down the road? Or Rock City or Ruby Falls or the Tennessee Aquarium? If the Grand Ole Opry were here, do you suppose we’d ignore them in our county advertising?
Cumberland Caverns has been in the business of tourism in Warren County since 1956. We even pre-date Rock Island State Park. Falcon Manor is more recent, but no one will argue that the McGlothins have wrought a miracle in turning a run-down, derelict, old hospital into one of the most beautifully restored Victorian mansions in the state.
No one goes to either Falcon Manor or Cumberland Caverns without being impressed.
Cumberland Caverns is a registered U.S. National Landmark and Falcon Manor is on the National Register of Historic Places, and has won several prestigious awards for its restoration.
A resident would have to be blind not have seen the buses of happy children going either to the Caverns or the mansion. The all-night trips to Cumberland Caverns have become legendary with boy and girl scout troops.
The attractions of Warren County are functioning and growing. We welcome Warren County to this wonderful, profitable and people-pleasing business. I can’t predict what success the signs on the interstate will have, but Cumberland Caverns and Falcon Manor will be putting up more and McMinnville, Tenn. will be on all of them. No charge.
Roy Davis, President
Cumberland Caverns, Inc.