After developing Jasper Mountain into one of the South's biggest mountaintop residential developments over the past decade, John "Thunder" Thornton is planning a similar development just 9 miles to the southwest atop Aetna Mountain.

Thornton's Thunder Enterprises has acquired 7,400 acres in Marion County not far from its Jasper Highlands community, which is set to sell out sooner than expected.

The newly acquired site is nearly as big as the 8,900 acres Thunder Enterprises acquired or optioned to buy at Jasper Mountain in 2008..."I think the draw of our county is the beauty of this area with the river and our mountains, combined with a very low property tax rate and cost of living," said Marion County Mayor David Jackson. "That's why I think Jasper Highlands was so successful, and we hope Aetna Mountain will be as well."

Read the full story at: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2021/nov/03/thunder-enterprises-acquires-7400-acres-anoth/557270/