10/17/2022
Hello Hidden Creek Campers!
I write this note to you on the Sunday afternoon after Tennessee beat Alabama. I am sure that I don’t have to tell you that win has been a long time coming for Tennessee fans and it was almost worth the wait. That was one of the best games I have ever seen and for the first time in a long time, it felt great to be a Tennessee Vol. I was raised to be a Vol. My great aunt and uncle were die hard fans, my parents, my dad and myself both graduates. I attended every home game as a student and have gone back to Neyland when possible sometimes only to get closer to those memories that I will always cherish.
There are so many traditions in Tennessee football- tailgating, Smokey, Rocky Top, chants and cheers, the Vol Navy and the list goes on and on. Neyland Stadium is a place deep in tradition and I really appreciate that. The world is a crazy place now, so I look for things that bring people together. Football brings people together and yesterday brought back a lifetime of memories with my family and friends that I will always cherish. I texted with my college roommates, numerous friends, called my Dad, brother and sister and missed my mom who I cheered on the Vols with until her passing.
Over the years, there have been a lot of changes in the football program- some good and some bad. As fans, we have had our challenges with coaches, players, bad play calls, athletic directors and many other obstacles. It hasn’t always been fun but like most, I rode it out and never waivered in my support as a Vol fan.
Yesterday, we all came together with hope in our hearts, drinks in our cups and celebrated the traditions we have shared for generations all in the chance that the Vols may pull out a big win. And boy did they ever!
I say all this because I have a lot of the same feelings about Hidden Creek. There is a lot of tradition in this magical place. I love and respect that. The Hoskins had a dream and they shared that dream with many families, some generational over the last 20 years. Change is hard- good and bad. There are going to be changes over the next few weeks, months and even years. Our goal has been if Rick were alive today, what would he want it to be? I believe he would want it to be a place of community, a safe place, a place to be respectful of our neighbors and friends and a place you can come have a good time. We want to honor Rick and Mary, their kids and grandkids with our vision for Hidden Creek. We want you to continue making and sharing wonderful memories with your families at Hidden Creek. We want you to keep upholding traditions. We ask you to be patient with us as we put together a plan that will have the most impactful benefit for the long haul, not what is best for yesterday but what is best for tomorrow. That takes time and we owe it to the Hoskins family to get it right.
For those of you that want to go on this journey with us, I look forward to getting to know you and creating memories together. I look forward to meeting your kids and grandkids. I hope to have a drink with you in the bar and enjoy a late night around a campfire. For those of you that may decide that Hidden Creek isn’t the place for you anymore, we wish you nothing but the best and we hope you will come back for a beer and some karaoke. Please take the years of memories with you and cherish them! Let’s remember to be kind to one another, to act as the community we want to be and be respectful of our neighbors.
Sincerely,
Ashley Dugger
It is a great to be a Tennessee Vol!
