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Fontana
Along with surveying their timber holdings, one of the first activities was to build a more substantial lumber town complete with homes, a commissary, the sawmill and hotel. This second Fontana housed the same population, just at a different location. Since all the lumber towns had a post office, a name had to be chosen for it. Mrs. George Leidy Wood, who was the spouse of the lumber company vice-president, was chosen to come up with a name. One of the stories about the name was that the area was named after an Italian mineral prospector named Felice Fontaine who explored the southern mountains in the late 1700s. This is also the information that was found on a 1949 Fontana brochure (which was recently sent to us) and will be framed for display. According to information that was received by Lance Holland, author of "Fontana: A Pocket History of Appalachia," Mrs. Wood had written that shortly after they began living in the pretty little "tent town," she and her husband knew that place had to have a name. They searched through endless rail and postal guides for something suitable, but found nothing, mainly because the names all seemed too ordinary for a "spot so beautiful!" Mrs. Wood thought of the lovely, flowering glens, the waterfalls that looked like fountains, leaping from ledge to ledge, and eventually worked out the word "Fontana," a short word musical, and easy to spell. During the 1920s Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) brought big changes to the little town at the confluence of Eagle Creek and the Little T. would be drowned, under hundreds of feet of water. A new town, for a new population was built in Welch Dove and became the fourth reincarnation of the village called Fontana. From 1942- 1945, busy 24 hours per day, the new town was the second largest in Western North Carolina. By the time that Fontana Dam was completed, only a very few TVA employees remained in the almost abandoned town. However, two things remained constant- change and the post office. TVA now had a complete town nestled in the Smoky Mountains. It was originally supposed to be a place of rest and recuperation for the Armed Services, but a growing number of engineers and tourists kept showing up to look at the giant FONTANA DAM. Because of its unique location, TVA advertised the availability of the village for lease as a recreational resort. In April of 1946, Government Services, Inc. (GSI), based out of Washington, DC, signed a long-term lease with TVA and assumed the operation of Fontana Village. This was the fifth life for Fontana. At the time the lease was signed, it only included about half of the Village as most of the permanent houses were occupied by TVApersonnel. The school was still in the village and the camp area was also still there. During the 1950s major changes took place. A considerable renovation was completed to turn Fontana Village into a neat memorable vacation destination. The hospital (where Group Sales, Marketing, and Human Resources are now) " was turned into a 56-room lodge. The grocery store became the cafeteria, and the drug store became a grand soda fountain. Major O. A. Fetch began as resident manager in 1946 and led the property into an era of prosperity. One of the most memorable groups to begin in Fontana and lasted for several years was Fontana Conservation Roundup. This group consisted of officials from conservation and wildlife commissions, and by the third year, the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture joined in, along with governors of eight states. This event went on annually for 20 years. During the 1970s Fontana Village accomm odations needed renovating and had to go more modern. Since Fontana was still under Government Services, Inc., (GSI), they decided to build a big hotel, thus Fontana Inn, completed in 1976 and consisting of 78 rooms with tv's and phones. At this time, the television only received one channel. Meeting rooms were built inside the inn and accommodated many, many groups. During the Worlds Fair, which was held in nearby Knoxville, Tennessee, Fontana prepared for the tourism as well by renovating the Village Center. The old drug store was torn down and a new village store building was completely remodele. The recreation hall/registration hall was renovated and a world-class miniature golf course was constructed. Once again, Fontana's management lease was put up for sale. There were nerve wracking days for employees and their families, wondering if they would have a job the next day or not. However, in 1987, the late C. Wayne Kinser, owner of Asheville-based Peppertree Resorts, came into Fontana and bought the lease and began a $10 million dollar renovation. Thus, the Village of Six Lives. Many renovations were made, including several two bedroom and three bedroom cabins; two bath accommodations which contained whirlpools, fireplaces, modern kitchens, telephones and televisions. A cable TV system, a new marina, and several other things were installed. This was also the beginning for the new Fontana Adventure Center (now called Hazel Creek Outfitters.) Wayne Kinser decided to retire in the late 1990s and began selling his business interests. The management lease for Fontana Village was once again for sale.
NOTE: (Thanks to Lance Holland's great book, "Fontana: A Pocket History of Appalachia.") Copies of Holland's book are for sale throughout Fontana Village Resort, Graham County and online! It is a very well-written, informative book and when you begin reading it, you can't put it down until it is finished.
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