Johnson City offers planners a vibrant downtown, with local shops, restaurants, breweries, seasonal events, world-class outdoor recreation, and urban amenities backed with Southern hospitality, says Alec Castro, director of sales and public relations for Visit Johnson City. “We have 360-degree mountain views with trails adjacent to downtown for hiking, walking, or biking. Plus, we have significant history to explore, including sites from the American Revolution and the Civil War, music history, and ancient history at the Gray Fossil Site, dating back five million years.”
According to Castro, the West Walnut Street Corridor Redevelopment Plan will connect East Tennessee State University to downtown, creating an area focused on bikes and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and featuring restaurants, coffee shops, craft breweries, bakeries, shops, parks, dozens of murals and sculptures, and three art galleries.
The AAA Four-Diamond Carnegie Hotel has 137 guest rooms, including a 1,000-square-foot suite, and 10,000 square feet of event space to accommodate 250 people. It is connected to Martin Center for the Arts, a three-venue performing-arts complex. Other larger hotels include the 206-room Holiday Inn Johnson City, with 11,000 square feet of meeting space, and the 184-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johnson City, with event space to accommodate 250 guests. Freedom Hall Civic Center has a 7,000-seat multipurpose arena.
