BEN COLLINS Development Authority (which purchased it from the town three years later), the Appalachian Theatre renovation push was on. John Bristol, Virginia's Paramount Center for the Arts is a celebration of Italian Renaissance/Art Deco. Cooper (whose guest column ran in the historic tax credits due to its Jan/Feb. 2016 issue of this having been stripped of its magazine) called together architectural detail. The coma talented and passionate mitted board has put partnergroup to form a nonprofit. ships at the center of its planThe Appalachian Theatre ning, with more than 50 user of the High Country now groups for the remodeled theowns the theatre and is atre already identified. The Appalachian Theatre Economoverseeing its rebirth. The restoration of the Ap- ic Impact Study published in palachian has been skill- 2014 forecasts huge financial fully planned and funded. benefits to the Boone area- In four years, the Appala- more than $3 million in local chian Theatre of the High spending by those attending Country Board members theatre events will magnify rehave raised nearly $7 mil- gionally to $4.5 million. While it's too early to cite lion, an especially impressive figure given that the a completion date, there's no theatre didn't qualify for doubt the Appalachian will 46 BlueRidgeCountry.com Morehttp://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com