Braselton Mayor Bill Orr and members of the Braselton, Ga., town council are urging Mayfield Dairy’s parent company, Dean Foods, to reconsider its announcement to close the popular visitor’s center in Braselton.
At its council meeting Oct. 10, Mayor Orr said, “We need the opportunity to work with Mayfield and to express our willingness to make it make sense for Mayfield to keep the visitor’s center open because it does make sense for Braselton.”
Councilman Richard Mayberry cited the center’s opening in 1997 and heralded by then-Governor Zell Miller as a key industry in a state long known for its agricultural leadership. “Employees donated products and souvenirs to town festivals and parades. Mayfield is a vital part of our Visitors Bureau Authority and strategic partner attracting tourists from many states. School-age children have taken educational tours since its inception, bringing revenue to the center and the town. So, we urge Dean Foods, with a time-honored southern expression, to ‘hunker down’ through this recession.”
Mayor Orr and all council members believe a six-month reprieve, examining economic sustainability issues should be considered immediately. “Even a temporary closing through the winter months with a pledge to re-open in 2012 can give us all time to plan ahead and identify community and state resources,” added Mayberry.
“Also, we applaud Senator Frank Ginn for his leadership marshaling resources and expertise on behalf of the town and region,” he added.
Nearly two million visitors have taken educational tours and shopped at the ice cream parlor and gift store since 1997.
