Doe Mountain Recreation Authority reports almost $1M annual economic output

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Doe Mountain Recreation Authority ( DMRA ) reported on Wednesday that an economic impact analysis conducted by Tennessee Tech University found an annual economic output nearing $1 million that’s coming from the Mountain City-based recreation area.

A release from the DMRA said the analysis pulled data from a newly integrated SmartWaiver system and highlights the contribution of the authority to the local and regional economy.

According to the release, the recreation spot has seen visitors from 31 states, with North Carolina (49.7%), Tennessee (29.7%), and Virginia (7.3%) taking the top three.

“We are incredibly proud of the impact DMRA has on our community and the broader region,” said Executive Director Charles Ridlehuber. “The findings from Tennessee Tech’s analysis validate our efforts to promote outdoor recreation and support local businesses. We look forward to continuing to enhance the visitor experience and contribute to economic growth.”

According to the release, the analysis was carried out using the “IMPLAN model,” a widely recognized tool for measuring economic impact.

The Doe Mountain Recreation Area is located at 1203 Harbin Hill Road.

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