| Pigeon
Forge, TN – October 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / The Old Mill, a
gristmill built in 1830 and still grinding corn today, now has something
in common with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Independence Hall
Association, the Bermuda National Trust, the Golden Gate National Parks
Conservancy and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
All are recipients of the
Phoenix Award from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Phoenix Awards recognize
conservation, preservation, beautification and environmental work that
benefits the growth and appeal of travel destinations.
“SATW Phoenix Awards are
rare,” said freelance writer Katy Koontz of Knoxville, Tennessee, who nominated
the Old Mill and Old Mill Square and who has written extensively about
the Great Smoky Mountains region.
“As I learned the story of
the Old Mill and the dedication that the owners have to its place in history,
I knew it warranted attention from SATW Phoenix Award judges,” she said.
Principal owner Al Blanton
and miller Chuck Childers accepted the award from Koontz, Tennessee Gov.
Bill Haslam and Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker at the Tennessee
Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism.
The Old Mill has played a
key role in the life of Pigeon
Forge.
It originally ground corn
and other grains for area farmers and became a regional gathering place.
It played a role in the Civil War when the power its turbine generated
ran looms to sew Union uniforms, and it later became a source of electricity
for a portion of town before general electrification.
In more recent years, the
Old Mill Restaurant was built adjacent to the mill and the Pottery House
Grille and Café opened nearby. Both restaurants use cornmeal and
flour from the mill. Adjacent to the Pottery House are several other retail
stores in Old Mill Square that carry a variety of regional and handmade
goods.
“The Old Mill and Old Mill
Square are great examples of how history can be the foundation for viable
contemporary businesses and provide a window into our past at the same
time,” Koontz said.
|
(L-R) Chuck Childers, Gov.
Bill Haslam, Al Blanton, Katy Koontz and Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker.
|
SATW began the Phoenix Awards
program in 1969. Other institutions and individuals to have received the
award include the Central Park Conservancy in New York City, Union Station
in Kansas City, the Charleston City Market in South Carolina, the Audubon
Institute in New Orleans and Lady Bird Johnson.
SATW is a professional association
of travel writers, photographers, editors, broadcasters and publicity specialists,
with members throughout the U.S. and Canada. It was founded in 1955.
Visitor information about
Pigeon Forge is available online at MyPigeonForge.com
and by calling 800-251-9100.
|
Media Contact:
Tom
Adkinson, APR
for Pigeon Forge Department
of Tourism
615-341-8796 |
