STEARNS —
Last Tuesday, the McCreary County Heritage Foundation hosted several state and local dignitaries as they unveiled a plan to revitalize historic Stearns.
The plan was presented by Monica Sumner of Brandstetter Carroll Inc., a Lexington-based architectural firm. Sumner explained that her firm had been contracted a year ago prior to last July’s devastating fire but, when with that event, their focus shifted a bit — becoming as much about restoring as revitalizing.
“Our goals are not only to rebuild but to determine how we get people to come and stay awhile,” Sumner said.
The architect noted that the Big South Fork Scenic Railway attracts some 30,000 passengers per year but that most leave Stearns after riding the train.
In addition to reconstructing Stearns Restaurant and the old theatre, which were lost in the fire, the plan calls for Store 1 to be restored to house an interactive museum. The Stearns Company Headquarters, which currently houses the museum, would be transformed into a bed and breakfast. The plan also calls for the refurbishment of the train yard.
The firm estimates that the project’s grand total would come to $9.52 million, although officials stress the plan can be broken down into phases over several years.
“We have a saying that projects don’t fail from lack of money but lack of vision,” Sumner said. “There is a tremendous vision here.”
Priority will most likely be given to the restaurant/theatre project ($2.15 million) with Store 1’s stabilization ($2.745 million) possibly done at the same time. The foundation is currently using their own resources to rehabilitate the community center in the Store 1 basement, which suffered fire and water damage. Foundation vice president Becki Egnew estimated the facility could be usable by May.
A part of Stearns former master plan successfully completed just prior to the fire was the reopening of the golf course.
Foundation board member JC Egnew called the new plan a “wonderful road map for our recovery.”
The group also heard from McCreary County Economic Development Director Susan Stephens, who detailed how the pending Trail Town certification could work with the revitalization plan. The state program is designed to develop businesses which can serve visitors. The state also offers marketing and branding assistance.
“It breaks your heart to see the devastation of the fire,” Stephens said. “Stearns has such historic and economic value. The sky’s the limit as to [Trail Town’s] potential for our county.”
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McCreary County Heritage Foundation members Ted Coffey and William “Doc” Coffey look over the work currently underway at the community center, located in the basement of the historic Store 1 at Stearns. The facilities were damaged in a fire last July. On Tuesday, the foundation released a plan to further restore the historic block. Janie Slaven
Restoring History
Foundation releases Stearns plan
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