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By Bode Brooks
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STANTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – To some Kentuckians, the Red River Gorge is a resource not being marketed to its potential. To others, it’s already being loved to death. Some people who live there fear more development could wipe out the region’s tranquility.
The Group Red River Gorge United (RRGU) has been opposed to a proposed resort development ever since its conception roughly a year and a half ago, comparing it to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They believe it will lead to an overdevelopment of the area and they’ve launched a fundraiser in the hopes of sizing it down or putting a stop to it altogether
“Basically, all the people that live and work and have businesses in that area are worried and concerned about this resort,” Dan Shields, head of communications for Red River Gorge United told FOX 56. “We are ultimately opposed to the large hyper-concentrated large-scale nature of this 5 floor $300 a night, two restaurants, corporate distillery – a very large amount of things all in one area,” he said.
Shields said not only would there be a big impact on the infrastructure of the area, but it could also create safety issues
“People that are inexperienced being out in nature and inexperienced with the dangers of a place like red river gorge, land experience, leave no trace principles and they’re more likely to either damage the environment, hurt themselves, or cause irreparable damage without really realizing it,” he said.
The $60k fundraising goal will go towards exploring legal options and an environmental impact study. In a statement, Red River Gorge Economic Development (RRED), LLC., which controls the site, said:
“Regarding the announcement by Red River Gorge United about its fundraising campaign, RRED has welcomed input from various stakeholders throughout the planning process and certainly believes everyone has a right to their own opinions. There is a lot of support for a nature-oriented destination resort in Powell County, and RRED will continue to work for a high-quality resort that will create hundreds of jobs for the local community and eastern Kentucky and generate millions of dollars in the local economy.”
– RED RIVER GORGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Shields said, in principle, the group is not opposed to that but it has to be done right.
“To be able to make sure that if the area grows that it grows in a way that does not harm the nature of the area it doesn’t outprice locals, it doesn’t drive property taxes up,” he said.
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