Railroad proposes closing Dillsboro street for
eleven days
By Rose Hooper
A crowd of concerned merchants packed Dillsboro town hall Monday,
Nov. 24, asking, "If we don't close the street, will the
railroad pull out?"
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is requesting that Dillsboro
close a section of Front Street to vehicle traffic 11 days next
year during Thomas the Tank Engine's visit. The time frame, July
23-Aug. 2, includes the nine-day Thomas event, plus two days to
build and tear down tents.
The current license holders of Thomas, HIT Entertainment, and
the event coordinating company, Baker Leisure Group, have asked
GSMRR to expand the event site.
"They want to see an expanded, squared site – coming
across the railroad tracks, to set up entertainment tents,"
said Jon Schlegel, GSMRR's general manager.
"If we don't provide what they want and agree to close the
street to vehicles, will they take the event elsewhere?"
merchants wanted to know.
Some cited a letter from Kim Lyons, GSMRR marketing manager, to
Conrad Burrell, N.C. Department of Transportation board representative
for the 14th district, which said, "If the Great Smoky Mountains
Railroad is not granted permission to close the road to vehicular
traffic, we may be required to move the 2004 event to Bryson City."
"The GSMRR can't refuse the Thomas event," said Schlegel.
"We're going to have it but I'd like to keep the event in
Dillsboro where it originated."
Over the past five years the event has brought more than 120,000
visitors to Dillsboro and Jackson County, he said.
"For Thomas the Tank, we don't just sell the train, we sell
Dillsboro and Jackson County, where these families stay for overnight
lodging, dining and shopping," said Schlegel. "Yes,
we want to keep it here, but to do so we've got to comply with
these new guidelines."
Several merchants, who said they feared the popular event would
move to GSMRR's larger site in Bryson City, agreed it was a "no
brainer."
"We need to do what it takes to keep Thomas in Dillsboro.
If it means closing Front Street, so be it; I'm for it,"
said David Gates, new owner of Bradley's General Store.
"As a merchant who needs the business, I can't believe this
is even a question," said Mary Bumgarner, also a town board
member.
"Without Thomas, without the train, we'll just be another
little mountain town," said First Choice Real Estate owner
Shirley Coleman.
Objections to blocking Front Street for 11 days were expressed
by Mona Gersky and Leslie Rojohn, owners of Lighten Up! candle
shop, and others.
"Traffic is already a bottleneck," said Gersky. "We
only have 60 parking spots in Dillsboro and closing Front Street
would take 37 of those."
"At our store people say, "If I'd known Thomas was here,
I'd have never gotten in this circus' – traffic is just a
mess," said Rojohn.
"When Thomas is in town customers can't get to our shops,"
said Village Studio owner LouAnn Smith. "That costs us."
Delivery trucks won't be able to get there either if the street
is closed for 11 days, Gersky pointed out.
Speaking as the mayor, then stepping down to take a role in the
audience, Jean Hartbarger said, "We need to stop haggling
and think how we can work together."
Over the past five years business at the Jarrett House has increased
each August due to Thomas the Tank, according to owner Hartbarger,
who said "Thomas is good for Dillsboro."
When Best Western was considering moving to Dillsboro, the corporate
office said they wouldn't come here unless they could have their
standard large, lighted signs, said potter Rick Urban.
"Dillsboro worked out a compromise there; I think we could
work out one here, too," Urban said.
"What's your deadline for our answer?" board member
Jim Cochran asked Schlegel.
Schlegel said he was currently finalizing the 2004 schedule and
preparing 900,000 brochures.
"Why are you telling us it's crunch time now when you've
known about this since July?" said Rojohn, indicating that's
when Lyons's letter to Burrell was written.
Board members agreed to table the issue and could take it up during
their next meeting on Monday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m.
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