Roan Mountain residents saddened by pool demolition

ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — Two women who led the effort to re-open the Roan Mountain State Park pool say they’re devastated and disappointed that demolition began on the amenity.

“It’s a pretty heart-wrenching feeling for our community and park visitors,” Roan Mountain resident and Roan Mountain Citizens Club member Jo Buchanan told News Channel 11.

Buchanan and her friend Ann Campbell were part of the group that’s worked to re-open the Roan Mountain pool since state officials announced it would no longer receive funding .

“We’ve got over 4,000 signatures on petitions that we presented,” Campbell said. “We have met numerous times with the officials in Nashville that are over this project. We’ve met with the governor.”

Despite intense efforts to re-open the pool for the first time since 2019, a drive up to the pool Thursday afternoon ended that dream for Campbell. State officials confirmed that demolition is now underway .

“We have been deeply disappointed that the community wishes were not respected,” Campbell told News Channel 11.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) spokesperson Kim Schofinski told News Channel 11 in an email Thursday that the pool would be replaced with a paved trail connecting nearby cabins, campgrounds and other amenities.

“Tennessee State Parks is also working with Carter County and the towns of Elizabethton and Roan Mountain regarding potential additional recreational amenities within these communities,” Schofinski said in a written statement. “We look forward to sharing more details as those conversations continue.”

With re-opening off the table, Buchanan and Campbell said Roan Mountain residents now have to travel to North Carolina or to Johnson City to use an amenity like the one they once had in their backyard.

“The community used it as a hub where we took our grandkids to teach them how to swim. We had birthday parties, community parties,” Campbell said.

“We’ve lost what we had, and we regret it terribly,” Buchanan said.

State officials have not yet announced the completion date for the project.

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