Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 29, 1991 TAG: 9103290576
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Seven of the 10 members of the Bi-County Commission met with Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Gary Everhardt, Virginia Tech officials and private consultants in a 4 1/2-hour work session.
The commission is made up of officials from Floyd and Patrick counties. They are studying development along the parkway, including the Rocky Knob proposal submitted earlier this month.
"Everybody feels a little more comfortable with what we are doing, that was the upshot of the meeting," said Commission Chairman Mac Deekens, who is the mayor of Stuart in Patrick County. "Up until then, there were so many suggestions made that we didn't have any exact ideas of what we moving toward."
Among those who made recommendations to the commission was Art Allen, former director of planning for the parkway. He said the park service should operate the museum and visitors' center, but not the performing arts center.
He also said the lodge-restaurant complex should be operated on a lease agreement where the devel oper would build the facility, operate it for 20 years and have first refusal on a new lease.
Ideas for the crafts and antiques mall ranged from having a barn-raising to using a pre-fab metal building. And subcontracting was suggested for the operations of the fairgrounds and exhibition hall.
The commission hopes to finish details for the proposed project at its April meeting. This will be used to decide if the project is economically feasible and help request federal funds.
Attractions already near Rocky Knob include the campgrounds at Rocky Knob, the Chateau Morisette Winery, Mabry Mill, Meadows of Dan and the Woodberry Inn.
by CNB