Before I uttered the words, I regretted them. As Michael Kirby, our CFO, and I were walking the path by Richland Creek and enjoying the view of tour buses pulling in and car loads of tourists streaming in back to back over our bridge, I commented, “It seems there is nothing on the horizon that could slow down the stream of tourists to Nashville and Belle Meade”… that was before COVID-19. By March 17, 2020 we entered a lockdown that would see our doors and gates closed for three months for the first time in over 60 years.
The Civil War, the War of 1812, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, two World Wars and numerous other natural and man-made disasters have rocked this site over the years. And, yet today, Belle Meade again stands ready to welcome local, national, and international guests. The three months of being closed took all cash reserves to keep the site maintained during lockdown. Now we begin the long road of rebuilding our tourism base. Until then, our locals have been supportive as ever, and we SO appreciate them!
If Belle Meade has touched your life in the past, we need your help. We need financial contributions to help us in our mission of education and preservation. Your support breathes new life into a site that works hard to present the full story of Belle Meade…every single day. We hope you will join us on that journey.
Sincerely,
Alton Kelley
Executive Director