Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism And Parkway Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tourism authority reports record occupancy months and asks commissioners to back Blue Ridge Parkway recovery plan
Summary
The Burke County Tourism Development Authority reported strong occupancy tax receipts after storm recovery work and sought a county resolution supporting Blue Ridge Parkway repair and the Blue Ridge Rising action plan following heavy damage to Linville Falls facilities.
Ed Phillips, chief executive of the Burke County Tourism Development Authority, told county commissioners on Tuesday that occupancy tax revenues set records in October and November 2024 and that hotels remain heavily used by contract crews and visitors following storm damage.
Phillips said the TDA held $837,671.13 in cash assets as of Dec. 31 and explained the statutory practice of allocating a portion of occupancy tax to the city of Morganton and the town of Valdese; Morganton recently drew $133,000. He said occupancy tax collections are reported two months in arrears and described October and November 2024 as all‑time records for the county, with December expected to be similarly high.
Phillips described storm damage to the Linville Falls Visitor Center — Burke County’s most‑visited attraction — which the National Park Service assessed as a total loss; repairs will not be complete in 2025 and the Linville Falls Campground and Linville River picnic area may remain closed. He said trail access from the U.S. Forest Service parking lot on Old NC 105 is closed because trail infrastructure was heavily damaged.
The TDA asked the Board of Commissioners to endorse a resolution supporting funding and strategic implementation of the Blue Ridge Rising action plan. Phillips said the resolution does not request county funds; instead it expresses support for repair funding and strategy. He noted the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most‑visited national park and cited national visitation estimates of about 17 million people.
The board did not take a final vote on the proffered resolution during the pre‑agenda session; the item will remain on the regular agenda for consideration.
