Fall Creek Falls State Park inn closing in April for rebuild

Friday, December 8, 2017, Vol. 41, No. 49

NASHVILLE (AP) — Officials say they'll close Fall Creek Falls State Park's inn, restaurant and conference center in April for a $25 million rebuilding.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman Eric Ward tells the Chattanooga Times Free Press state officials met with employees last week about April 2 closure plans.

Officials will demolish two structures and build one inn with roughly 85 rooms, a restaurant and conference center.

The project should take 1 1/2 to two years.

Ward noted severance will include $3,200 per full-time hospitality staffer, $1,000 for part-time; two years of tuition assistance at state higher education institutions for full-time, one year for part-time; potential unemployment benefits; and for full-time workers, one year on a list eligible for state work.

Thirty-one full-time and potentially 27 part-time jobs are at stake.