County climbs in annual tourist spending
Sep. 21—Kevin and Lori Peterson headed south from Wisconsin for their early fall vacation, settling in at Wyndham in Fairfield Glade to enjoy hiking in the area before the rush of fall leaf season.
A chance encounter on the Green Loop trail with Friends of the Trails president John Conrad led the couple to extend their stay and take part in the 2023 Cumberland County Hiking Marathon.
"We were doing one of the marathon trails," Kevin said.
"By accident," added Lori.
The couple looked up the marathon online and just made the cutoff to register. Their original plan had been to spend a week at Fairfield Glade and then take off on a motorcycle trip before heading back home.
"We decided to extend our stay," Kevin said.
They completed the hiking marathon in just over a week and have visited other trails in the area, like Lilly Overlook in the Obed Wild & Scenic River and Fall Creek Falls State Park.
"It's just gorgeous down here," Kevin said. "There's so much within an hour of here."
"We had the place to ourselves," he added of Lilly Overlook.
They've enjoyed several concerts at The Grove in Fairfield Glade.
"Melissa Ellis, she was really good," Lori said. "Her voice is amazing."
And, they've sampled some of the local fare, with plans to catch a show at the Palace Theatre before they leave.
"The people on the trails, and everyone we've met, have been incredibly friendly," said Lori.
Kevin agreed, "Friendly, helpful, suggestive. It's been a really positive experience."
The Petersons aren't the only visitors to find Cumberland County or Tennessee. Millions of people find their way to the Volunteer State each year.
The state reports $28.8 billion in direct visitor spending for 2022, ranking the state 11th in the nation.
Cumberland County reported $200.5 million in direct visitor spending last year, an increase of about 18% from 2021 and enough to bump the county to No. 14 in the state.
"Cumberland County is moving up in the rankings," said Ethan Hadley, president of the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce. "It's our natural beauty. It's our Playhouse. It's our golf courses. It's our hiking. It's our charm.
"It's our location on Interstate 40 — this is one of the most heavily trafficked corridors in the country."
That location led to a boost in last year's figures with the opening of Buc-ee's at exit 320.
Looking forward, Hadley said the county will likely see additional impact from Buc-ee's in 2023, when the travel center will have been in operation a full year, and the opening of Flatrock Motorsports Park in Westel.
Cumberland County topped Sumner County in Middle Tennessee for the 14th spot, which saw $194 million in direct visitor spending in 2022.
Cumberland County finished behind East Tennessee's Washington County, which reported $305 million in visitor spending for the year.
"Tourism drives a strong economy, creates jobs and builds a better quality of life for all Tennessean," said Gov. Bill Lee in a press release. "We continue to welcome visitors to see all Tennessee has to offer, from the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains."
Tourism supports an estimated 1,114 jobs in Cumberland County with a payroll of $36.9 million.
It also reduces the tax burden of local residents, Hadley said. The state estimates state and local taxes collected from visitor spending offsets taxes by about $745 per household.
"They don't avail themselves of our services, like fire or public safety, etc.," Hadley said. "The tax revenue we realize from their expenditures allows us to keep our tax rate low."
Last year, Cumberland County had the lowest combined tax rate in the state. Other counties with a lower county property tax rate also levy property taxes for special school districts. Those figures are combined in Cumberland County for a tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value.
Statewide, tourism is second only to agriculture in economic impact.
"Tennessee is thriving as tourism is soaring," said Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. "Our industry's hard work is paying off with record levels of visitor spending and significantly outpacing inflation. It is our privilege to showcase these numbers and express our gratitude to our partners, attractions, elected leaders and visitors who made a record year for Tennessee."
Tourism also helps draw new residents to the state as people visit and find a place they like. The Petersons said their visit was the start of a journey to find where they might like to move when those Wisconsin winters get to be too much.
"At this point, we enjoy it," Kevin said, adding they both enjoy winter outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
"We know in a few years, winter just gets long. We've been checking out a few spots as we travel."
Tourism Spending by County
1. Davidson $9.974B
2. Shelby $4.016B
3. Sevier $3.765B
4. Knox $1.878B
5. Hamilton$1.629 B
6. Williamson $1.195B
7. Rutherford $744.7M
8. Blount $543.9M
9. Montgomery $371.4M
10. Wilson $352M
11. Sullivan $329.9M
12. Madison $312.5M
13. Washington $305.7M
14. Cumberland $200.5M
15. Sumner $194.2M
16. Anderson $180.8M
17. Bradley $178.5M
18. Putnam $173.5M
Source: Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Heather Mullinix is editor of the Crossville Chronicle. She covers schools and education in Cumberland County. She may be reached at hmullinix@crossville-chronicle.com.
