Tourism advisory committee outlines events, Campbell Station Inn grand‑opening plans; museum reopens after renovation

The Town’s tourism advisory and museum committees updated the board Aug. 14, 2025, on recent activity and upcoming events aimed at increasing visitation and community engagement.

Iran (Ron) Pinchuk, chair of the Tourism Visitor Advisory Committee (TVAC), said TVAC — formed as a Visit Farragut initiative — established two subcommittees (events and marketing), helped launch the Chalk the Plaza community event (estimated 1,000 attendees), supported a songwriter showcase and a bluegrass concert, and volunteered at multiple events. TVAC’s near‑term priorities for 2025‑26 include curating two new outdoor events in the Town Center District, hosting a grand opening of the Campbell Station Inn and Welcome Center, and implementing phase 1 of a wayfinding project (gateway signage and banners). Pinchuk said the committee’s work is intended to increase hotel stays, restaurant visits and retail sales, boosting sales‑tax revenues.

Sue Ann Asler, chair of the Farragut Museum Committee, reported the museum reopened April 21 after renovation work and held a ribbon‑cutting and public reopening on May 31 with more than 100 attendees. Christie Vining was hired as historic resources coordinator; the museum’s new hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The committee plans a history‑hour speaker series and rotating exhibits, and created a new museum logo and children’s booklet.

Board members asked for future detail about tourism revenue and how increased hotel tax or related sales tax receipts are used; TVAC noted that hotel‑occupancy revenue flows into the town’s general revenue and that staff will try to provide figures to the board at a future meeting.

The board received the reports and thanked volunteers and staff.