Manning Heritage Park board asks Carroll County for tourism dollars to maintain historic site

On Feb. 3 the Carroll County Board of Supervisors heard a request from representatives of the House Barn Heritage Park in Manning for county tourism funding to help maintain and expand facilities used for weddings, horse events and educational tours.

The park’s leaders told supervisors that maintenance needs have grown as visitation and events increase. "Over 45,000 visitors came through the house barn last year," Jean Statlander, who identified herself as a member of the House Barn Heritage Park board, said while outlining exhibits, historic buildings and partner programs that include a campground and the Freedom Rock.

Statlander said the nonprofit park operates with one paid director, a part-time maintenance employee and volunteers, and relies on partnerships with local municipalities and businesses. She said the board has not previously received tourism dollars from the county but is seeking a phased county contribution and other partnerships to sustain the site.

Jeremy (last name not specified), who spoke about utility and infrastructure investments tied to county tourism, said the park helps attract people who spend at local hotels, VRBOs and businesses. He described past infrastructure projects he said the county has helped enable — including a rural fiber rollout and a natural gas pipeline — and pressed the case that ongoing maintenance is costly: "If it's something we can look at over a 3 year term, a smaller amount or whatever we need to do to partner," he said.

Ben Puck, identified as chair of house and grounds, outlined work on grounds and a new arena used for carriage and horse events and said one barn needs roof and siding work: "What we can do is clean that thing, you know, bring that barn up to speed so we have another place to host," he said, describing plans to refurbish a 35-year-old shingled building and consult a historic-preservation specialist for appropriate materials.

Board members and supervisors asked about past county support and how any contribution would be managed. Supervisor (name given in transcript only by surname) clarified that any county contribution this year would come from local option sales tax rather than property tax money. No final appropriation was made at the meeting; the supervisors said they had not finalized the budget and would follow up.

Park representatives proposed that county funds be phased in, and that the park return to demonstrate how county dollars were spent and their countywide impact. The presenters also invited supervisors to tour the grounds to see the capital and maintenance needs.

The supervisors did not vote on an appropriation; Courtney (County staff) said the county had not finalized its budget and would be in contact about the request.

Background and context: Park leaders described the site as home to the 1600 House Barn, the Lehi Hassler farmstead (on the historical register), Trinity Church, a campground the county previously conveyed to the park, the Freedom Rock installation and a Charters of Freedom display. Park officials said they hosted multi-state horse events and weddings that draw overnight visitors and generate lodging and other spending across Carroll County.

Supervisors asked staff to follow up by sharing budget timelines and details; presenters asked for consideration of a phased county tourism grant and offered to return with documentation showing how funds would be spent and how maintenance needs tied to countywide tourism would be addressed.