Initially, it was suggested by a forward thinking investor in one of our county's 3378 (or more) nonprofits, that the ideal location for one of the ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) detention centers in Tennessee for illegal immigrants would be the Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, (1896 to 2009) at Petros in Morgan County.
However, the lease agreement with Chattanooga businessmen Pete Waddington and Brian May with the State of Tennessee might be a severe problem.
In 2018, the two entrepreneurs took over the hotel accommodations that previously housed convicted murderers, James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King), Byron “Low Tax Looper”, (state senator Tommy Burks), and Paul Dennis Reed, a serial killer known as the “Fast Food Killer”, among many others.
The initial financial risk taken by the two young men has evolved into a successful tourist attraction with its own distillery of a variety of alcoholic beverages, appropriately named the “End of the Line."
A cafeteria, “Wardens Table Restaurant,” serves Southern and American barbecue and sandwiches.
Tours, private events, car shows, concerts, as well as being a site for movies such as “The Green Mile” and “Walk the Line” have partly been filmed at the historic venue.
So much for the free advertisement for Brushy Mountain Booze.
There is a closer location for the potential financial solution for the local property taxpayers and politicians headaches.
The Hamilton County Jail (1976 to 2021) was formerly contained in the Hamilton County Justice Center in the 600 block of Walnut Street, and currently sits vacant, with many suggested private and public uses available to the members of the political body (Hamilton County Commission) responsible for the fate of the 45 year old structure.
Since the state of Florida and other jurisdictions have created Alligator Alcatraz, etc., Tennessee's governor and legislators may want to provide the necessary funds to renovate the standing structure out of surplus tourist funds spent by new arrivals at the Wildwood Georgia Greyhound Bus Terminal.
“Hamilton County Alcatraz” may be the solution to many problems.
If Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell can ask for $2.5 billion to renovate his agency, building perhaps a few 100 million bucks to incarcerate illegal, criminal migrants for ICE in our county may be a real bargain.
Our Hamilton County Sheriff (AG) has allegedly already established an ongoing relationship with ICE under its 287(g) Program Jail Enforcement Model that “identifies and processes those with criminal or pending criminal charges, arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies without US citizenship.”
An enthusiastic group of about 150 potential voters held a rally at beautiful Miller Park on Thursday, July 25, 2025 to show their interest and support.
As they waved signs and Ole Glory, they also chanted “Sheriff G., get a clue, history is watching you,” which some interested potential Republican-Democrat High Sheriff aspirants have interpreted as a prediction for the next election.
Politics aside, the 465 million line item for ICE in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress recently might be the answer to the property tax increase issue, or what to do with the 45 year old “white elephant”?
(“Hamilton County Alcatraz” has a certain melodious ring to it?)
Jerry Summers