In 1992, Thornton founded and began serving as chairman of Thunder Air, a developer of high-end homes and master-planned communities. "Everything was so light and airy and fresh and new," she remembers. Just above the former Hale's Bar Dam in Guild, Tennessee, Thunder Enterprises acquired 6,259 acres of a former coal mine and timber property in September and will soon close on the purchase of another roughly 1,100 acres from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The success of Jasper Highlands gives the developers, as well as the homebuilders who will build homes on the sites, more confidence for the future. She does all the exercise classes, takes tap dancing, will soon give Zumba a try, plays cards and enjoys her monthly book club. In 1982, he caught the bus for Hollywood where he has found continued acting successfirst in commercials before branching out into television, theater and film. He and his wife, Eileen, have a proposal before the Planning Commission for a. Its been 32 years since Knoxville-born Diana Dale Dickey was a UT Knoxville student. "Buyers are eager to find a dream home in scenic Tennessee, and we're able to offer them a great extension of the community we've created at Jasper Highlands.". Thornton said he envisions selling the 2,500 or so home lots over the next seven to 10 years. "There's a lot of camaraderie. John "Thunder" Thornton was one of those people. His novel All the Pretty Horses won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992. Companies tied to Chattanooga developer John "Thunder" Thornton have agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a state of Tennessee complaint alleging legal violations over the Jasper Highlands water system. Thornton is sitting on the mother lode. The legend of Thunder's started with John "Thunder" Thornton, who opened Thunder's Tavern in 1977. Thorntons prolific entrepreneurial leadership earned him induction into UT Chattanoogas Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. November 3, 2021 at 10:01 p.m. But the thing she likes best is the sense of community. American Rug Craftsmen was a supplier to Wal-Mart, and under John's leadership, was . The main entrance road up the mountain will be built near the Haletown exit and be visible from Interstate 24, Thornton said. 865-974-1000. Millionaires have been buying the rest as aging ranchers or their children give up incredible parcels of what once was the Old West. PHOTO BY JACK PARKER FOR TORCHBEARER MAGAZINE We don't have billionaire backers like some right-wing media outlets. "With such a great inventory of lots, we think we can offer a great value for homebuyers, especially those who buy into the development early on," Bradshaw said. "We were sold immediately," says Julie. "My intention is to give these tracts to either the Nature Conservancy or the Jackson Hole Land Trust. The Times Free Press toured the undeveloped property on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Like the others, he too knew immediately when he walked in -- this was the place. Most of the tenants were much younger, and she felt as if there was nothing for her to do. In late June, Thornton completed a court-ordered transaction in bankruptcy proceedings after 10 months of legal and personal negotiations. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Thornton, along with company president Dane Bradshaw, first began work on Jasper Highlands more than decade ago in 2012. Knoxville, TN 37996 The location is about 10 minutes closer to Chattanooga than Jasper Highlands. He became a land developer with his 1997 purchase at auction of the 1,300-acre Crescent H Ranch with one-and-one-half miles of unspoiled Snake River waterfront for $52 million. Hello; My name is John C. Thornton of Quincy, illinois. A former member of UT's Board of Trustees, Thornton and his family have served the University well over the years and his legacy will be reflected in the lives of each of the young student-athletes served within the facility. Initially, lots of River Gorge Ranch will be priced lower than in Jasper Highlands while roads and utilities are being added to the new development, Thornton said. Links: www.thunderenterprises.com 15,508 views 7.5 ( 17 votes) Categories Buildings > Homes - Celebrity - Business Comments Policies Please log in if you don't want to post anonymously (anonymous users cannot post links). Thornton said when he approached AT&T about providing Gig service to Jasper Highlands he was quoted a price of $1.3 million to serve his mountaintop development more than three times what it ended up costing Thornton to build his own network connected to Alabama. $1.5 billion of homes, resort planned over next decade. Sasser was trapped inside the besieged embassy for four days. Just a super good guy.. PHOTO COURTESY KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL He was like that with everyone -- hed do anything to help anybody in any way he could, as long as it was on the level.. Among them: Thornton was also known for his support of local musicians and many have fond memories of days playing at Thunders, including both Fowler and Rob Blackman, a Pascagoula native and now an Ocean Springs alderman. Prices are still being set for the new lots as they are opened up and developed, Bradshaw said. 865-974-4351, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville It was at that show that the Harps picked up promotional material on Jasper Highlands. By 2034, the Census Bureau estimates there will be 77 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.5 million under the age of 18. "We've continued to see record-breaking sales in 2021 as we did last year," Bradshaw said. I was googling My name too see how many others there were in this country. In 2017, the Harps decided Tennessee was the place to be, and began building their "forever home" in Jasper Highlands -- a high-end mountaintop retirement community in Kimball overlooking the Tennessee River and Nickajack Lake. John "Thunder" Thornton sits in his pickup truck, high on a Wyoming summit, and looks out over the shimmering scenery. He figured that the property's real value was around $100 million, maybe more, because land in this tiny area, only 50 miles long and about 15 miles wide, is at a premium. All of this leads us back to land developer John Thunder Thornton: Unable to gain high-speed broadband at what he deemed an affordable price from AT&T or Charter Communications and limited from service extensions from EPB's ultra-fast Internet in Chattanooga, Thornton created his own Internet service provider last year. more, Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65. Last year, Thornton purchased 7,400 acres atop Aetna Mountain, near Haletown, to develop similarly to his Jasper Highlands, just a few miles away. But they've decided home maintenance and daily chores have become too much. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "I can't take credit for this, but someone once said that when you acquire land you are buying its past and are responsible for its future. Age at Arrest: 25 years old Every place his eye falls he owns. Prices range from $3 million to $6 million. 865-974-5179 Before Everlan, he had started to suffer from loneliness. "We think we will offer a luxury, first-class mountaintop gated community at a very affordable all-in price, and being located in Marion County, the property taxes will be lower than in most of the country.". And the myriad activities and new friends at Everlan have helped provide a new sense of connection. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / This view of Nickajack, along a TVA transmission line, is an example of the views that will be crated when Aetna Mountain is developed by Thornton Enterprises. It had been expected that it would take 10-12 years to sell all the lots at Jasper Highlands. Ask John "Thunder" Thornton, CEO of Thornton Enterprises, what it is about Tennessee that keeps attracting retirees to the state and he's got his answers ready: a mild climate, low cost of living . Our community's wide-open spaces, scenic views and amenities align with what's important to them.". We must remain vigilant. If someone got in a fight in his bar, hed be the first one there. Sasser handily won reelection in 1982 and 1988 but lost to Bill Frist in 1994. the 8,900 acres Thunder Enterprises acquired or optioned to buy at Jasper Mountain in 2008. ", Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Some residents of the mountaintop community of Jasper Highlands are upset with developer John "Thunder" Thornton, saying his company is using heavy-handed tactics in business disputes. Developer John "Thunder" Thornton said his Jasper Highlands community is selling out much faster than expected, and he has acquired another 7,400 acres of mountaintop land in Marion County. | Updated November 4, 2021 at 3:04 a.m. After developing Jasper Mountain into one of the South's biggest mountaintop residential developments over the past decade, John "Thunder" Thornton is planning a similar development just 9 miles to the southwest atop Aetna Mountain. If that's the Home of the Mr. Thornton listed he done quite well himself. Years later, when their son-in-law was transferred to a job in Nashville, the decision to relocate to Tennessee was easy. "It's the people that make it really great.". Prices range from $3 million to $6 million. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. However, the lots should be gone by the end of the year or early next year. Many are still working -- some remotely, and some still going to offices. But the sense of community has helped relieve some of that. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Their claims also used the airtight logic of a madman living inside of a Terry Gilliam film. The couple discovered the budding community years before that, while attending a trade show back in Chicago. When fully developed, Jasper Highlands is expected to comprise more than 1,200 homes and 2,500 to 3,000 residents. The Crescent H Ranch had belonged to Riverview Meadows, owned by Don Albrecht, a California developer. Ultimately, Thornton said he expects the development will grow to include 2,500 lots, or nearly double the 1,300 or so lots planned at Jasper Highlands. She has returned to UT Knoxvilles Clarence Brown Theater to star in Steel Magnolias (1990), Our Countrys Good (1994), The Rainmaker (2001), A Streetcar Named Desire (2009) and Sweeney Todd (2012). * Knowing the right questions to ask can save time and money when choosing a financial planner. Our communitys wide-open spaces, scenic views and amenities align with whats important to them.. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, McCarthy moved with his family to Knoxville when he was 4. We also have more land on top of the mountain for home sites and for green spaces than we did on Jasper Mountain.". While Jasper Highlands and River Gorge are two high-end options for retirees (the communities aren't age-restricted, but tend to be ages 55 and up), several luxury independent living communities for seniors have been built in the Chattanooga region within the last five to 10 years. Developer Thornton said of the huge new tract, The property is an incredible piece of Tennessee land with the river encompassing it and multiple bluffs, creating sweeping views of the valley below. Thornton says he will sell a few more and put two or three aside for himself. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Some names remain so tied to the University of Tennessee that the natural assumption is that they are alumni. , . Ways to get involved in the upcoming elections. 1,121, with his net worth totaling $1.6 billion. He left an indelible mark as a legendary University of Tennessee president who transformed the university by turning it into a statewide system of higher education. Thornton is sitting on the mother lode. Unlike Jasper Highlands, where the developers had to build their own high-speed internet service, EPB serves Aetna Mountain with its Gig internet and power connections. The complaint says the development, which is owned by John "Thunder" Thornton of Chattanooga, is charging water rates not approved by the commission. At the gated entrance to the community, a commercial village is planned with a restaurant, rental cabins, health spa and store to serve both residents and visitors at River Gorge Ranch. "He was a big, burly guy who could be mean as a hornet, but for the most part, he was a gentle giant who loved people and loved to take care of folks. Mr. John "Thunder" Thornton began his working life at Salem Carpets and Beaulieu of America and quickly launched a very successful career. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). If not, he expected his bouncers to. Yet, Thorntons alma mater is Tennessee Wesleyan College, which named him its most distinguished alumnus in 1994.
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