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The new owners plan to take down and clean up the old Travel Town site on rt. 11 north in Cloverale..

It is a Terrific Tuesday! Travel Town has new owners!

From the many comments made by residents in the Cloverdale area over the last several years, the worsening condition of the old Travel Town Motel, restaurant and pool complex had some claiming it was the worst eyesore in Botetourt County. Shamus LLC has purchased the property. The principals in that Company are Ron Scott, Sr, Ron Scott, Jr. and Jeff Scott. According to court records, they closed the deal last week. Ron Scott, Sr. is described as a nice fellow who is also part of Scott Gallagher across the street on Gibson Road from Travel Town.

Once a thriving motel built in the 1950s and the place where many Botetourt residents went swimming every summer through the early 80s, from the era of the flood of 1985 onward, the grand old lady fell into disrepair. Since 2005 the site had been abandoned of life except for sale sign out front and some gasoline tanks were removed with in the past two years. Doors and windows were boarded up and rank vegetation encompassed the buildings.

Just a couple of meetings ago the board of supervisors witnessed a presentation on the county's attempts to get eyesore and degenerating buildings cleaned up. Travel Town had been a persistent part of the eyesore landscape on the south end of the county.

Scott, Sr said that the county seemed very pleased to have the deal closed and are working with him as he readies to clean-up and take down. Over a period of time Shamus, LLC plans to make the lot presentable and then see what they can do next. They hope it will be a nice sight for those who travel Rt. 11 regularly. Stay tuned for more pictures as things move on the site!

Terrific Tuesday is Cathy Benson's weekly column. For previous columns, just search for "Terrific Tuesday."