Message from the Chair, Michelle Garey
This year, Destination Cleveland County celebrates its Twenty-Year Anniversary! A significant milestone, and one that has come only because of committed volunteers and donors, like yourselves, who have contributed much time and effort to the cause.
Some of you may remember the spring of 2006, when a group of engaged and committed community volunteers began meeting to form what would become Destination Cleveland County. The mission was straightforward: “to unite our county’s history, heritage, culture and arts to create a vibrant economy while embracing the future and preserving the past.”
By May 2006, Destination Cleveland County had been created and had hired its first part-time staff member. Both the City of Shelby and Cleveland County endorsed the concept, and the group was off and running. In August 2006, Earl Scruggs visited Shelby and conversations with Don Gibson’s widow, Bobbi Gibson, continued. By November 2006, DCC had established its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit entity and was ready to launch its first fundraising campaign. The rest, as they say, is history.
As we reflect on the past twenty years, we look ahead with excitement to the next twenty years for Destination Cleveland County. We know anything is possible with dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, elected and local officials, and programs to entertain and educate those who visit our venues, The Don Gibson Theatre and The Earl Scruggs Center. While the next twenty years will not look exactly like the past twenty, the mission remains the same.
We intend to continue developing innovative programs and activities to educate and engage our local community members and attract visitors from outside Cleveland County to see what our community has to offer. While the past twenty years have proven successful, we cannot and will not rest on our laurels.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. Destination Cleveland County would not exist without you!
Michelle Garey
Board Chair
2024-2026
stan lowery, don gibson theatre
I would like to thank all of you for making this year incredible. This past year has been challenging but eventful. We have seen growth in the number of shows, events, ticket sales, and social media presence. Our marquee membership has fluctuated slightly, but overall, we have seen an increase there as well. We have seen a growth in new patrons to the Don Gibson Theatre of about 11 percent. We have our faithful core group, and it’s always a pleasant experience to see new faces at events and shows.
Our Summer movie series is always a hit with kids in our area, and great sponsors like Max and Tucker Hopper, Ray and Jane Webb, Mrs. Bobbi Gibson, Child Care Connections, and others make it possible to host these movies at a discounted rate of only $3.00. This includes popcorn and a drink. We hosted 3,100 moviegoers with our Summer Cinema Series this year.
Our Singer Songwriter Symposium was the best we have had in years. 36 competitors from across the South East. The 12 finalists were all amazing writers. The concert the night before saw the largest attendance yet. This year, we featured Terry McBride of McBride & The Ride and Waylon Jennings' grandson, Whey Jennings.
Although most of our concert patrons are from local counties surrounding Cleveland County, we have drawn patrons from eight different states this past year. We continue to look for new ways to attract patrons to the Don Gibson Theatre.
Looking ahead, we are considering a few new ideas, one of which is to highlight Don’s guitar skills and offer guitar lessons one day a week. Beginner and intermediate levels will be offered.
Another is to increase awareness; we are hiring an ad firm to help with social media and ticket sales. The firm is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and has represented The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman, The Orange Peel, and Lincoln Theatre, to name a few. We look forward to this new adventure and what 2027 holds.
In closing, none of this would be possible without the support of all of you. Thank you, and I hope to see you at a show or event soon.
Stan Lowery
mary beth martin, earl scruggs center
Dear Friends,
Every year when I write this letter, I find myself reflecting on how much has been accomplished because of people like you. This year, more than ever, I am filled with gratitude—not only for your generosity, but for your belief in the Earl Scruggs Center and the future we're building together.
When we launched the Rooted and Rising Campaign, we set an ambitious goal: raising $1 million to transform the visitor experience through new interactive exhibits, technology upgrades, and expanded programming. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we reached that goal.
Many of you believed in this museum before we ever opened our doors and have continued to invest in its growth. Because of you, we reopened this year with three remarkable interactive exhibits that are already enriching the visitor experience and helping more people connect with the stories, music, and heritage that make our community so special.
This year also brought national recognition for one of our proudest accomplishments. The Earl Scruggs Music Festival received the International Bluegrass Music Association's Event of the Year Award—an extraordinary honor for such a young festival.
More importantly, it reflects the lasting impact of Earl Scruggs, the music born in this community, and the people who continue to preserve and celebrate that legacy.
As meaningful as these milestones are, what gives me the greatest sense of pride is knowing they belong to all of us. Every exhibit installed, every student welcomed, every concert presented, and every story preserved is possible because of people like you who believe our history, culture, and music are worth sharing.
I hope you feel proud of what you've helped build. Together, we've created an organization that grows stronger each year while remaining deeply rooted in the community that made it possible.
Thank you for your generosity, your encouragement, and your belief in our work. We are honored by your partnership and excited for all that lies ahead.
With sincere gratitude,
Mary Beth Martin
the definition of super friend: Kendall and June Lees
Every gift matters. Every volunteer matters. Every member matters. Kendall and June Lees have embraced all three after moving to Cleveland County in 2020, demonstrating that there are many ways to support the organizations that enrich our community.
“When we moved to Cleveland County, we fell in love with the deep musical history here and the connection that both Earl Scruggs and Don Gibson have to this community,” said Kendall Lees. “We started attending events at both venues and felt compelled to get involved.”
They've done just that. Today, the Lees are active members, familiar faces at events, volunteer ushers at the Don Gibson Theatre, volunteers at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, and support the Earl Scruggs Homeplace restoration project.
Kendall recently expanded that commitment by joining the Don Gibson Theatre Board of Directors.
Who comes to mind when you think of the word “philanthropist”? Maybe a celebrity? A billionaire?
The truth is: philanthropy isn’t defined by fame or fortune, but by heart-your desire to make an impact in our community and on Destination Cleveland County. The word “philanthropy” actually means “love of humanity.” And that’s you.
You care deeply about others and causes and want to support what is important to your community.
Our memberships and gifts give us all a sense of belonging, purpose and meaning as we continue to share our history, to celebrate our musical heritage and to bring economic vitality to our city and county. (Would you believe the Scruggs Center recently saw visitors from Slovakia and Ukraine?)
Thank you for caring and thank you for being a “philanthropist.”
At DCC’s 20-year mark, we are looking to remain strong and vital for the next 20 years. One of the ways that makes us strong is our endowments which are growing steadily.
Interested in including DCC and its projects in your estate plans? Just give our office manager Jenifer Roberts a call at 704.487.6233 for more information.
On June 12, DCC supporters, board members, and super friends enjoyed a picnic at the Earl Scruggs Homeplace in Flint Hill. The group heard updates from DCC, ESC, and DGT and met preservation specialist Steve Padgett and architect Dexter Carty. They toured the home to learn about the restoration work in progress at the site. The work of DCC continues to grow in Cleveland County!
Destination Cleveland County Board 2026-2027
Mary Pat Monteith,
Chair
Michelle Garey,
Past Chair
Sherry Grenier,
Secretary & Treasurer
Ex-officio Voting Members
Michelle Garey, ESC Chair
Ric Francis,
DGT Chair
Darin Aldridge
Jack Buchanan
Fred DeBell
Melanie Graham
Roger Holland
Mark Hudson
Jennie Lambert
Laura Lampley
Tom McNichol
Will Rucker
Scott Stinchcomb
Mischia Taylor
Randy Wieck
Ex-officio Non-voting Members
Brownie Plaster, Endowment Chair & Member Emeritus
Stan Lowery, DGT Director
Mary Beth Martin, ESC Director
April Crotts, Cleveland County
Justin Merritt, City of Shelby
JT Scruggs, Member Emeritus/member of ESC board
ESC Board of Directors
DGT Board of Directors
Michelle Garey, Chair
Scoot Dixon
Chavis Gash
Amanda Gragg
Richard McDevitt
Max Owre
Omar Porter
J.T. Scruggs
Daniel Thomas
Kristine Urrutia
Alison Brown, Advisor
Jerry Douglas, Advisor
Kristin Scott Benson, Advisor
Tony Trischka, Advisor
Ric Francis, Chair
Shirley Brown
Woody Fish
Jennie Lambert
Kendall Lees
Carol Rose
Janice Morton
Kristen Setzer
Scott Stinchcomb
Photos, L-R
JT Scruggs and Emily Epley unveil the sign at the ESC.
Sallie Craig and Sally Royster at the Ryman Auditorium on the DGT’s first trip to Nashville.
Trip Boinest plays the guitar at the ESC’s first IBMA in 2013.