"People have a preconceived notion of what a retirement community is going to be. 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, no state income tax, no toll roads, a state with a strong financial rating, and the elimination of the former Hall tax on interest and dividends. John "Thunder" Thornton, a close friend of Wolford's, described him as "one of the toughest, greatest, fair, sweetest guys I've ever met." "I don't think ever in my life if I've been more honored to talk about one of the greatest guys and one of my best friends on the face of this earth," Thornton said at the groundbreaking ceremony. Thornton, along with company president Dane Bradshaw, first began work on Jasper Highlands more than decade ago in 2012. Read more from our news partners at the Knoxville News Sentinel. 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. John C. Thornton has been chief executive officer of Thunder Enterprises since he founded the company in 1991the first of many successful business ventures he established. I've lived in Hawaii and Jackson Hole; and I've been going out to Wyoming for 42 years now. After college, he worked as a bouncer, so he wasnt afraid to throw knuckles if he needed to. Thunder Thornton, Thunder Enterprises: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and. A graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan, Mr. Thornton was president of American Rug Craftsmen, Inc., and he has been involved in numerous land development ventures in Wyoming and Tennessee. He's glad that the judgment was entered. "It will be the largest single conservation donation ever in the history of the United States in terms of value. Unfortunately, Comcast isnt the only telecom with monopoly greeds needs and soAT&T launched their corporate hyena squadand threw around some big moneyat and into Chattanooga. Other TV shows in which he has appeared include Ugly Betty, Hearts Afire, Nash Bridges, Boston Legal, Reba, Sordid Lives and Star Trek: Voyager. 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 . Lots at both locations range from $135,000 to $600,00 for about 1.5 acres. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Jasper Highlands Selling Out So Thunder Thornton Starts Development Of And if I wanted to sell them, I could. Nobody has ever given away $35 million worth of property to a conservation easement before. That work resulted in a teacher retirement plan and a statewide sales tax to help finance public education. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He was named Ernst & Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992, and his company made the list of Inc. magazines fastest growing companies in America before he sold the business to Mohawk Industries in 1993 for $34 million. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It was part of a triology in which he left Appalachia behind for the southwestern United States. Burial will be next week in Carthage, Miss. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. From that day forward, they kept their eyes on the new community and did their research on the developers, Thunder Enterprises. "Independent living wasn't 'a thing' when we were growing up," says Fincher, a baby boomer herself. The new development is just west of the 2,600-acre Black Creek Mountain development atop the Raccoon Mountain ridge west of downtown Chattanooga. * Chattanooga money experts weigh in on the baby boomer retirement wave and share advice on reaching the golden years in financial comfort. "This has kind of become my church," says Wilson. Here are a few of UTs favorite adopted sons and daughters. There are probably thousands of stories the citizens of Pascagoula could tell you where Thunder stepped up to the plate and paid for things he didnt have to, but did it out of the kindness of his heart.. $15.5M judgment awarded against Maryville developer | News John 'Thunder' Thornton wins $15.4M judgment against Mike Ross John "Thunder" Thornton sits in his pickup truck, high on a Wyoming summit, and looks out over the shimmering scenery. Actor Leslie Jordan receives his Walnut Street Bridge plaque from childhood friend Nina Jones Chapin, left, in Chattanooga. His brown eyes almost gleam. Copyright 2023, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. The private developer spent more than $400,000 to build his own fiber network and link it with a power cooperative in Stevenson, Ala., where fast broadband is available. John Thornton, the owner of Thunder Enterprises, said he expects Aetna Mountain to double the amount of the investment in Jasper Highlands, a similar mountaintop gated community that Thornton developed over the past decade just 9 miles further west along Interstate 24. I didn't commit any fraud.. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Atop Aetna Mountain John "Thunder" Thornton, CEO of Thunder Enterprises, discusses his next project. I played there myself from the late 90s until about the mid-2000s.. Before Everlan, Jezek lived in an apartment on Chattanooga's Northshore, but the situation wasn't quite right, she recalls. However, the lots should be gone by the end of the year or early next year. Almost instantly, they can see how community living offers support and relief. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Life Trustees - UTC Magazine Seniors can continue to live an active lifestyle, without the worry. She does all the exercise classes, takes tap dancing, will soon give Zumba a try, plays cards and enjoys her monthly book club. The area is also about 10 minutes closer to Chattanooga, while still being in nature and near the Tennessee River. Thunder Enterprises, a Chattanooga-based investment and real estate development firm, builds homes and communities in Tennessee, Wyoming, Montana, North Carolina and Hawaii. Consumer Advocate For State Attorney General's Office Files Complaint Sasser was trapped inside the besieged embassy for four days. The wealthy elite are buying up what is left of Jackson Hole, driving land prices up astronomically. , . If not, he expected his bouncers to. In an interview Tuesday, Ross said he couldn't afford an attorney, and said the jury deadlocked. At 4 feet 11 inches, Leslie Jordan stands tall for comedy. ", "With the COVID lockdown, there was already an appreciation for rural, spacious living -- but that appreciation went through the roof," says Bradshaw. John "Thunder" Thornton has recently purchased 7,400 acres atop Aetna Mountain, near Haletown, to develop similarly to his Jasper Highlands, just a few miles away. We also have more land on top of the mountain for home sites and for green spaces than we did on Jasper Mountain.". His novels Child of God and Suttree continued his exploration of East Tennessee and Appalachian themes. I remember catching something on TV a couple years back highlighting John "Thunder" Thornton's massive 25,000 SF home. "There are a lot of springs and creeks and the views are just incredible. 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. "That's why I think Jasper Highlands was so successful, and we hope Aetna Mountain will be as well.". Senator. Funeral services are set for Sunday at OBryant-OKeefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula. 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. The main entrance road up the mountain will be built near the Haletown exit and be visible from Interstate 24, Thornton said. [5] UT Tower 1248C the 8,900 acres Thunder Enterprises acquired or optioned to buy at Jasper Mountain in 2008. To date, nearly all of the 1,300 lots have been sold, with about 50 still available -- spurring Thunder Enterprises to launch an even bigger mountaintop resort community atop nearby Aetna Mountain, known as River Gorge Ranch. He began his business career selling knockoffs of oriental carpets. What they did know was that people were stuck in front of their computers, with plenty of time to dream about retiring. Just off of the Interstate 24 Haletown exit, Exit 161, River Gorge Ranch will be about a 20-minute drive to Chattanooga and will offer a similar appeal to what has drawn retirees and other homebuyers from 48 states and eight different countries to Jasper Highlands, according to Dane Bradshaw, president of Thunder Enterprises. "From a trend standpoint, it used to be that you always had to have golf courses and build around the course," says Bradshaw. Like the others, he too knew immediately when he walked in -- this was the place. Kos Media, LLC. | Updated April 2, 2022 at 9:50 p.m. Just west of Chattanooga atop Aetna Mountain, site work is beginning on what could grow into the biggest mountaintop residential development ever built in Tennessee. "That's why I think Jasper Highlands was so successful, and we hope Aetna Mountain will be as well.". Thornton said he envisions selling the 2,500 or so home lots over the next seven to 10 years. Some changed the university forever. JOHN THORNTON, 44, of Chattanooga, is rich, but not Forbes Four Hundred rich. Not in terms of acreage. Together, the two communities are projected to bring more than $2 billion of housing investment in the biggest new residential development ever in Southeast Tennessee. The newly acquired site is nearly as big as the 8,900 acres Thunder Enterprises acquired or optioned to buy at Jasper Mountain in 2008. "Jasper Highlands has been a tremendous project, but this could easily be double that investment," Thornton said in a recent interview about his latest project. 865-974-5179 From my perspective in the mayors office, weve lost an important, iconic citizen.. 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.. All Rights Reserved, Tennessean buys chunk of Wyoming, aims to give it away. They say May of 2020 is when the market "broke loose. He also served as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of American Rug Craftsmenthe nations largest producer of decorative floor matsfrom 1984 to May 1993, when he sold the company to Mohawk Industries. He has been captain . Thornton says if he is successful with the donation, it will mean a significant tax deduction for his operation, but that is only a minor role in this drama. Mr. John "Thunder" Thornton began his working life at Salem Carpets and Beaulieu of America and quickly launched a very successful career. Jordan played newspaper editor Mr. Blackly in the 2011 movie The Help and most recently appeared in American Horror Story: Roanoke after having previously appeared in American Horror Story: Coven. The location and expanse of the development helped produce its new name - River Gorge Ranch. Tennessee Developer - John 'Thunder' Thornton | TNLand I am responsible for this land's future. Jasper Highlands Adds 250 Lots, Cafe, Cottages and Other Amenities Plus, she says, there's lots to do. Today, there are more than 200 homes, with another 100 under construction, with residents from all 50 states and nine foreign countries. Similar to the Harps, Juanita Jezek knew she had found her new home the moment she walked through the front door. 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. airtight logic of a madman living inside of a Terry Gilliam film. Rest in peace., RIP Thunder, you were there for many of us through the decades.. "I think the draw of our county is the beauty of this area with the river and our mountains, combined with a very low property tax rate and cost of living," said Marion County Mayor David Jackson. 1 shares; Written by Richard Lucas. Andy Holt was born in 1904 in West Tennessee and came from a family of educators. Knoxville, TN 37996 Every place his eye falls he owns. Related Thornton Center and Haslam College of Business Join Forces for Big Orange Combine Nov 2 / Thornton Center Stay persistent.. Similar to Jasper Highlands, most of the homebuyers are expected to be retirees or near-retirees, although the development is not age restricted. The first lots in the Aetna Mountain development are expected to be ready for sale sometime next year and the entire project is likely to take seven to 10 years to sell out, Thornton said. Ways to get involved in the upcoming elections. Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6340. I was googling My name too see how many others there were in this country. Haven't been able to find it online anywhere since. Hes always had a soft heart, Maxwell said. Bob Tamasy: What Does A Life Worth Living Require? 1,121, with his net worth totaling $1.6 billion. She described her journey to success as years of hard work, including odd jobswaitress, receptionist, driver for a tofu sandwich truck, products sales clerk in grocery stores, custodian, and performing as Barney the dinosaur and Shrek the giant at childrens parties. Residents say James - Chattanooga Times Free Press | Facebook Each is 35 to 50 acres. Like many of the luxury senior apartments, Red Stone offers a variety of amenities -- restaurant-style dining, housekeeping, transportation and roll-in shower options wide enough for wheelchair use. He is a Pascagoula High School graduate and holds a Bachelor of Business . The settlement is contingent on the sale of the Marion . [2] He is also executive chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation [3] [4] and non-executive chairman of PineBridge Investments. John Thunder Thornton - Facebook

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