Fontana Village maybe closing.

[2talltim]

Seen this on FB a little bit ago and the first thing that crossed my mind was. Didn't they sell discounted gift certificates over the winter months that some of y'all bought?

 

 

Edited May 28, 2020 by 2talltim

[what]

Bummer, I liked Fontana and its location. Good news for Townsend I guess.

[2talltim]

7 minutes ago, what said:

Bummer, I liked Fontana and its location. Good news for Townsend I guess.

Yea its always be a great location and amenities just had been mis managed for years. And its potential closing is proof of that. That place should be a gold mine if managed properly.

[Tonik]

Might explain why it fell into such disrepair. Hard to justify capital improvements if you are just leasing.

[snot]

Investment opportunity for ORdN?

[Wahoo]

I recall someone bought $1,000 worth of gift cards for $500, but can’t recall if it was here or on ADV.  If Fontana Village files bankruptcy, gift cards are general unsecured creditors - translation is gift card holder likely get nada.  Really sucks especially if they knew the finances were questionable even before covid 19 struck. 
 

In my past life we called that fraud.

[Casper]

 

Aged like old milk. 

[Casper]

29 minutes ago, Wahoo said:

I recall someone bought $1,000 worth of gift cards for $500, but can’t recall if it was here or on ADV.  If Fontana Village files bankruptcy, gift cards are general unsecured creditors - translation is gift card holder likely get nada.  Really sucks especially if they knew the finances were questionable even before covid 19 struck. 
 

In my past life we called that fraud.

Paging @Uncle Punk. 

[Killer_kaw]

I was pissed the sale had sold out by the time I got to it. Feeling better about it now. 

[NinjaDoc]

Fontana used to accommodate and absorb a lot of gappers, we talking a major chunk of traffic. If they close the surrounding locations including Airbnb’s going to be busy or sold out early on making it hard to find some one or two day overnight stays.  

[2talltim]

11 hours ago, NinjaDoc said:

Fontana used to accommodate and absorb a lot of gappers, we talking a major chunk of traffic. If they close the surrounding locations including Airbnb’s going to be busy or sold out early on making it hard to find some one or two day overnight stays.  

I'll just camp at the gap resort more. A lot cheaper anyway. 

[TimTheAzn]

Pitch a tent at the overlook. Morning piss would be glorious. 

[Pauly]

12 hours ago, NinjaDoc said:

Fontana used to accommodate and absorb a lot of gappers, we talking a major chunk of traffic. If they close the surrounding locations including Airbnb’s going to be busy or sold out early on making it hard to find some one or two day overnight stays.  

Someone will build another place to stay if the market demands it. This is hardly the end of motorcycle trips in the Smokey Mountains. 

[Tpoppa]

AirBNB and VRBO are already filling the void.

[blue72beetle]

Somebody will probably buy the place. There's a lot of infrastructure there.

[Tonik]

30 minutes ago, blue72beetle said:

Somebody will probably buy the place. There's a lot of infrastructure there.

It's currently owned by the Feds, it is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. They lease it to whoever operates it. It has been further complicated by the area around the dam becoming its own town and they get lots of tax dollars from it. They are very screwed if it does not open.

Yes, someone will pick up the lease and run it again, but not this year is my bet. Too many unknowns.

[NinjaDoc]

On 5/29/2020 at 11:52 AM, Pauly said:

Someone will build another place to stay if the market demands it. This is hardly the end of motorcycle trips in the Smokey Mountains. 

Hopefully soon, already without Fontana even in these covid days places to stay near gap fills up fast and last minute economical booking is next to to impossible for good locations. Airbnb etc always has options which also is filling up fast these days. 

[Pauly]

I have a GSA and a tent. The world is my Airbnb. 

[Bad324]

Bummer, I always liked Fontana but it did get shittier and shittier every year

[Howabusa]

The TVA has taken over Fontana and will be making an announcement soon about the future of Fontana.

[2talltim]

Yup here was the post...

 

 

[Casper]

Honestly, TVA taking it over might be a huge blessing for that place. 

[what]

10 minutes ago, Casper said:

Honestly, TVA taking it over might be a huge blessing for that place. 

until they leave it to park rangers to run and it turns into concentration camp levels of rules and regulations.

[Howabusa]

The latest.

[Uncle Punk]

On 5/28/2020 at 9:09 PM, Casper said:

Paging @Uncle Punk. 

They got my nephew and me both for $500 each, they also got a local riding buddy/friend of mine for $250.

Hoping that the TVA runs it for a couple years before someone buys the lease and that the TVA honors the gift cards. I really doubt a new for profit company leasing the contract will be honoring the gift cards.

I doubt that this was blatant fraud, while they might have been in trouble there was no way for them to predict the pandemic. It was a great way for them to generate some operating capital.