Mattress storein Johnson City, TN

Okay, I should just go ahead and get this first paragraph out of the way. We’ve heard this before, right? On at least three and perhaps four previous occasions, over the last ten-plus years, we have heard or read that Wolf Ridge Resort, in Mars Hill / Wolf Laurel, North Carolina was under new ownership. The truth is, those kind of “news shares” happened a few times further back than that.

SkiSoutheast.com has covered “the story” of changes in ownership at Wolf Ridge Resort since 2010.

In 2013, we posted this “announcement” that an outfit called Peak Resorts, Inc (no, NOT that Peak Resorts) had taken ownership. Some money ($250,000) had changed hands as was shared in a 2014 Asheville Citizen Times article, such that would a group to take over the resort.

There were a couple of others as well. As late as two or three seasons ago, we are aware of private conversations between Orville English and another group to “take over ownership”. None of those materialized. There were new websites debuted that claimed a “new Wolf Ridge”; there were rumors of investment; there were fires that destroyed much of the improvements that were made around 2007 +/-.

It’s been a soap opera over there in Madison County, North Carolina.

…and NOW, News or Rumor of Another “Transfer of Ownership”?

Late on Saturday evening I received a text that Wolf Ridge Resort was “at it again”. I did a quick search on any sale of the resort and found none. I DID hop over to their website Wolf Ridge Resort and you would THINK that if there was some significant handover of MONEY to drive this “transfer of ownership” that all parties concerned would have updated their own website in advance of any press release or announcement.

There is no mention of a sale.

Next up was a visit to Wolf Ridge’s Facebook page and ALAS it’s there. BIG NEWS. We shared it last night and more than 3300 people quickly popped in and read the release. Dozens of RABID (pun intended) Wolf Ridge Resort fans quickly chimed in with comments. Most were very positive and hopeful. Some were expressing the sentiment of “here we go again”. I texted Kenny Griffin and Matt Laws from our team and quickly got the same response, “Boy, we’ve heard THIS before.”

Is this one legit?

Okay, the news hit Facebook ONLY late on Saturday and it is now early Sunday morning and we have to get a FirsTrax news and Snow Report out – so we haven’t had a chance to follow-up just yet. However, we did want to let you guys know that we’re “on it” and we’ll update you as soon as possible.

I WILL state hear that the News Release (which is pasted below) is a bit “Odd”. First, the “For Immediate Release” date is March 4th, but the tagline is dated March 10th or 5 days FROM NOW???

Then there is the suspect wording. Instead of stating clearly that the new owners (Deborah and David Hatley of Johnson City, Tennessee) have PURCHASED the resort, they wrote, “…pleased to announce the transfer of ownership. Again, we have seen THAT before.

We have calls into Wolf and the Hatley’s and we will update you when we have news. Another “oddity” is that this young couple (the Hatley’s) have ALSO been actively sharing news that they were opening a couples only, luxury retreat in Unicoi County, Tennessee. That has been reported by various, local television stations and the reports share that the couple has invested $30M dollars and back in 2021 the resort was meant to be open by the Fall of 2023. The latest is that they have gone through the permitting stage and they DO have lots and lots of architectural renderings to share…and now the expected debut is late in 2024.

All of this WHILE purchasing Wolf Ridge Resort?

As I said, we have some calls in and hope to be able to get some insight and really good news to share soon.

In the meantime, here again is the “Press Release”.

Editor’s Note: The Tri-Cities is growing and News Channel 11 wants to keep you informed of new construction underway commercially and residentially. Our weekly series “Who’s Building That?” uses public documents, research, community connections and hard work to bring you information about who’s building or renovating what, where, and for what use. You’ll also get facts and figures about project costs and potential property tax revenue as well as trend data. Don’t drive by and wonder anymore!

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Some type of restaurant— the official drawings mention Texas Roadhouse — is coming to an acre of empty space at The Mall at Johnson City’s main North Roan Street entrance.

Washington Prime Group, the mall’s owner, isn’t saying much and neither is Texas Roadhouse about the 7,999-square-foot building shown in preliminary drawings submitted to the City of Johnson City.

But the site just south of the Chipotle and Chicken Salad Chick has been approved for a site permit with an estimated $600,000 worth of work to be done by GCS Inc. for Glimcher Properties (Glimcher sold the mall to Washington Prime a number of years ago).

“Along with our more than 80 national, regional and local retailers, we continue to focus on providing the best possible experience for our guests with a mix of retail, dining and entertainment options,” The Mall at Johnson City General Manager Ashley Grindstaff said in an email response to a News Channel 11 inquiry.

“Our leasing team is in discussions with a potential new tenant to fill the space and we will announce plans when we are able.”

The only signs of potential activity at the site now are a smattering of small flags marking gas lines and the like. The permit describes completion of a stone building pad, lighting, storm sewer, curbs and landscaping.

“Future tenant will submit a separate set of construction drawings for the building portion of the project,” the permit says.

Texas Roadhouse already has a location barely more than a stone’s throw from the mall on the opposite side of North Roan and slightly south. It is smaller than the proposed new building.

The site permit is good for 180 days and was issued Feb. 13.

WHAT: A site permit for a new restaurant building on a 1-acre lot.

WHERE: 2005 N. Roan St., Johnson City. Next to Chipotle.

WHO: The Mall at Johnson City. A separate entity would get the building permit, with Texas Roadhouse mentioned in the permit drawings.

WHEN: No work has begun. Site permit is valid until mid-August.