Buffalo River Blueway Praised by State Leaders

A group of leaders from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) visited Lewis County last month to tour some of the major attractions in our community.

Among those in attendance were Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner of Community and Rural Development; Jody Sliger, ECD Community Development Director; Sarah Elizabeth McLeod, CDBG Grants Coordinator; and Dr. Bridget Jones, a professional consultant specializing in collaborative leadership strategies and regional growth.

One of the main focuses of the groups visit was Lewis County's Buffalo River Blueway Public Access Point at the Mouth of Grinders Creek, which is located at 2581 Buffalo Road. There they met with Lewis County Mayor, Jonah Keltner, for a brief discussion and tour of the site.

Mayor Keltner welcomed the group, and expressed his gratitude to the state for awarding the county with nearly $200,000 in tourism-related grants over the last four years, which went toward the development of the Lewis County Blueway. Dr. Jones then gave the group a brief history of the project, and explained the county's plans to continue the expansion of its blueway in the future.

Tennessee is home to many beautiful rivers, and blueways are one of the fastest growing adventure tourism attractions in the state. Seeing the value of these outdoor assets, Governor Bill Lee recently included $20 million in his proposed fiscal year 2024-2025 budget for blueway trail development and waterway improvements across the state.

Lewis County's successful blueway project has been praised by state leaders, and is expected to be a model for other communities like Linden, Lobelville and Waynesboro, who are looking to attract tourists seeking to explore the great outdoors by developing their own respective blueways.

For more information about Lewis County's Buffalo River Blueway, please call County Chamber of Commerce Director, Debbie Landers, at (931) 796-4084.