Approaching the five-year anniversary of Dale Hollow Lake being named a Bill Dance Signature Lake, Pickett County officials say the designation is paying off for the local economy.
County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the county has seen an uptick in fishermen visiting the lake. Bilbrey said the uptick has led to a small boost in visitor spending. In turn, Bilbrey said the county has leveraged the economic boost to pursue other funding avenues to improve the county.
“We’ve been able to, you know, possibly go after some grant funding that maybe we might not have before because anytime you go after grants, you have to have a local match,” Bilbrey said. “You know, sometimes those grants are good, but if you don’t have the money to match the grant, then, you know, there’s no use in going after the grant.”
Bilbrey said one other positive coming from the lake designation is that a lake access point is being created at the Obed River Park. Bilbrey said the access point, once completed, would further boost the county’s economy.
“Once we get that signature access point at Obed River underway and completed, we’re going to have an additional 150 parking spots for more fishermen, more boaters, more events on the Corps side that we can bring in extra folks and extra revenue into the community,” Bilbrey said.
Bilbrey said the project is still in the planning phase, but hopes to have that phase complete by the end of 2026.
Bilbrey said he hopes the lake’s designation has helped strengthen the job market for county residents, a welcome development after Pickett County was designated this past year as a distressed county.
“You hope it’s positive for your local business and that they’re able to hire a few more employees because of the economic boost,” Bilbrey said. “You know, for the county, we’re small, and we just try to make ends meet, but you know, hopefully, this economic boost and extra tax dollars coming in have helped us to give employees a pay raise.”
Bilbrey said a Bill Dance designation is the best designation a lake can receive.
“Bill Dance is the Michael Jordan, the Dale Earnhardt of fishing,” Billbrey said. “Him putting his name on Dale Hollow just increased the reputation of the lake several fold, and there are folks from all over the country coming to fish and see what it’s about.”