User:Shaxpere/Buffalo Mountain Resort Project

Buffalo Mountain Resort Project
Buffalo Mountain Resort Project
Website	buffalomountainresortproject.com

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Buffalo Mountain Resort Project

Buffalo Mountain Resort Project: Floyd, VA

The Buffalo Mountain Resort Project (B.M.R.P.) is the result of an extensive private market research and analysis study commissioned by The Marischal Group. The “think-tank” style organisation dedicates itself to innovative technology, green economic development, heritage, conserve and cultural themes. Having identified the Blue Ridge Parkway as a world-class destination with over 19 million visitors annually^[1], the Project further identifies the area's highest and best tourism assets and strategically outlines the necessary infrastructure to support and sustain the region's tourism economy.

Tourism & Heritage

The tourism model contains the necessary mixed-use elements of hospitality, commercial and residential development, all centered around and giving priority to the identified heritage, conserve and recreational assets found within this unique region.

This region is unique in that it contains the third most visited asset in the world: the Blue Ridge Parkway, with well over 600 million visitors since its initial opening^[2]. Mabry Mill, just 5 miles from the Project, is enjoyed by more than 6.6 million visitors annually and is said to be the most photographed mill in America^[3]. The federally-owned Parkway is convenient to the state-owned Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve (1,124 acres) and provides exceptional scenic, recreational and biospheric opportunities to the public. Buffalo Mountain is the area's highest peak at 3,971 feet above sea level and has been a centerpiece of history, heritage and culture for well over 300 years. Originally gifted to Col. Lighthorse Harry Lee (father of Robert E. Lee) for his service during the American Revolution^[4], Buffalo Mountain has since been popularized through the book classic The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard C. Davids. Former U.S. Vice-President Walter C. Mondale says the book "does for the Blue Ridge what Mark Twain's tales did for the Mississippi . . . It belongs in every home in America."^[5]

Area Highlights

In addition to the Buffalo's rare sub-alpine biodiversity, outside interest in Buffalo Mountain has intensified over the years with two performing stage plays, a feature film and PBS documentary in progress. The recent boost in heritage and culture-rich vacations has created new demands on the ancient Appalachian and Celtic songs that have been passed down from generation to generation. The Crooked Road Music Trail is now part of the area's musical renaissance with many visitors enjoying local concerts, music festivals like FloydFest, yearly events and live musical web-casts to eager global internet audiences.

Complementing the area's legendary pioneer heritage, national and state historic recognition has been given to the architecturally-diverse Rock Church assets of Patrick, Floyd and Carroll Counties. The Rock Churches are popularized by The Man Who Moved a Mountain book and the efforts of central character Rev. Bob Childress, who is also credited with finding an immediate good use for the plentiful stone building material. The Buffalo Mountain Resort Project also recognises its proximity to Virginia's viticulture industry and the gold-medal accomplishments of neighbouring Château Morrisette Vineyard. Other nearby vineyards, orchards and organic farms are fast becoming tourist hot spots.

Recreation in this region of the Blue Ridge is as diverse as a master painter's palette. Trout fishing, hunting, hiking and canoeing have long histories. Falconry, tennis, wing shooting and golf have become vacation favourites with Primland Highlands Golf Course, now voted Top 10 in the U.S.A. by Travel and Leisure Golf magazine.

Local festivals are held year round with growing theme variety. The Hillsville Gun Show, for example, receives the designation of the largest event east of the Mississippi^[6] with attendance regularly exceeding 500,000 people for the four-day gathering. Events of this nature create a rolling blackout in available lodging for an approximate 100-mile radius. It is the intent of this Project to reduce the lodging burden on the Southwest Virginia vacation traveler by providing luxury hotel lodging options, which may also include villa-style resort rentals.

Location

Unlike many areas of the world, this remote highland playground has the distinct advantage of access: 51% of the U.S. population is able to arrive by automobile in 12 hours or less. Southwest Virginia is also served by two Interstate Highway Systems (I-77 and I-81), each less than 21 miles from the Project site and conveying more than 40 million travelers each year. This unparalleled Interstate access (40+ million), coupled with the immense Blue Ridge Parkway patronage (19+ million) and attendance at local events (1.5+ million), now positions the Buffalo Mountain Resort Project (60+ million) as the most providential development engine. This economic horsepower is further boosted by Buffalo Mountain and its vast media credentials. Literature, live theatre, film and documentary opportunities continue to attract award-winning talents. Best-selling author Jerry Jenkins of the Left Behind series (over 65 million sold), along with his filmmaker son Dallas Jenkins, have secured the film rights to The Man Who Moved a Mountain book classic and will be producing a feature film entitled Mountain through their production company Jenkins Entertainment. Co-author/ Executive Producer Jack DuVall (A Force More Powerful)^[7] and Producer George Colburn (The Eisenhower Legacy) are teaming up to produce a PBS special entitled Moving a Mountain, "A New Documentary Television Program on the Faith, Work and Leadership of an Extraordinary American Bob Childress."

Economic Impact

International recognition and the anticipated economic impact from these media focal points will perpetually increase awareness, visitation and patronage to the existing 60 million annual visitor base well into the future.

Sustainable development opportunities are now available on the Project site that include hospitality, commercial, retail, residential, conservation and historic restoration.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has been noted by Forbes as the "#1 Best Place to Start a Business."^[8] Virginia encourages business growth by providing Enterprise Zones with many advantages that include grant funding.