Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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‘Glamping’ resort planned in Tazewell County
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has awarded a $10,000 Seed Capital Matching Grant to Mason-Dixon Brothers LLC to create a “luxury primitive resort” on an 87-acre farm in Tazewell County.
The venue will be called Ruakh Resort and will be operated by Mike and Mary Blevins.
“Mason-Dixon Brothers LLC is developing a creative tourism project offering visitors the opportunity to stay in Geodesic domes on Taylor Farm land, providing distinct visitor experiences,” Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel, said in a statement.
The business projects five full-time and two part-time employees within five years, he said.
The dome glamping resort offers accommodations in 500-square-foot geodesic domes, the first of which was completed this fall. Up to five are planned on the property. The domes will include indoor toilets and showers, along with heating and air conditioning.
In addition to the domes, a 1,200-square-foot brick and cinderblock farmhouse is slated to become a commercial kitchen and resort clubhouse. Future plans call for primitive tent camping to be added in the spring, for the farmhouse to also be used as a wedding venue and for the future construction of an amphitheater venue on the property.
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Glencoe Mansion in Radford now has stairlift to top floor
Glencoe Mansion in Radford has a a new stairlift made possible by a grant from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
This addition removes a previous barrier to accessing the top floor of the site.
Recently, technicians from Independent Lifestyles of Madison Heights installed the new
equipment on stairs between the second and third floors. “The project, which has been in the works for more than year, is the answer to one of our long-time wishes for the museum’s operation,” Scott Gardner, executive director, said in a news release.
Located in the historic 1875 residence of Gen. Gabriel C. and Nannie Radford Wharton, the facility serves as a community museum that preserves the history and culture of the
region. Glencoe Mansion, which has free admission, is also available for group tours. It’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Member One donates to tuition-free adult high school in Roanoke
Member One, a division of Virginia Credit Union, will donate $150,000 to the Melrose Plaza project in northwest Roanoke.
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is spearheading the $30 million-plus Melrose Plaza project that will repurpose Goodwill’s Roanoke Jobs Campus headquarters as a planned 79,000-square-foot community hub, featuring a grocery store, a tuition-free adult high school, a financial services and banking center, and a health and wellness center.
Member One’s $150,000 donation will support The Excel Center, a tuition-free adult high school.
The grocery store will hold its grand opening Wednesday. The Excel Center is anticipated to open in 2025.