Building on Hollow Ground
— The Hicks Branch Mine Hazard
Hicks Branch Mine is located near Vandergriff Road on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, along Hicks Branch and just west of North Chickamauga Creek. Historic coal mining occurred here from at least the mid-20th century, leaving extensive underground workings and surface features that still pose dangers today.
In 2021, Urban Story Ventures purchased 524 acres on Corral Road, originally rumored for boutique hotel development. The land changed hands twice—first to Buy Dirt, LLC in 2023, then to Walker Road Holdings, LLC in January 2025. Plans filed by engineering firm Ragan-Smith propose subdividing 128 acres into 112 home lots on traditional septic systems. The project’s permits and environmental assessments were funded by affiliates connected to GreenTech Homes.
Multiple historical maps clearly show the Hicks Branch Mine and surrounding unnamed mines, including:
USGS Fairmount Quadrangle
TDEC Coal Geologic Map
Mines & Subdivision Overlay
Maps & Information
A 2023 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation – Abandoned Mine Lands report documented alarming hazards still present on-site: open mine portals as large as 3.5’ x 5’, highwalls towering over 15 feet, and steep near-vertical drop-offs. Some portals extend dozens of feet underground, with unknown stability. In wetter months, evidence of water flow over highwalls raises further concerns about erosion and structural weakening.
Developing over abandoned coal mines is inherently risky — subsidence, collapsing voids, and shifting ground can damage homes, roads, and infrastructure decades after construction. What looks like solid ground may in fact be hollowed out beneath the surface. Once disturbed, these hazards can worsen, endangering both residents and the environment.
Take Action.
Take Action.
Before any construction proceeds, there must be a full, independent geotechnical assessment of the property — not just for regulatory compliance, but for the safety of future residents and the preservation of our community. These mines are a legacy of the past, but building over them without proper safeguards risks turning them into a disaster of the future. Speak up. Contact local officials. Demand that this development be paused until the dangers are fully understood and addressed.
Contact Your Commissioner:
district1@hamiltontn.gov, district2@hamiltontn.gov, district3@hamiltontn.gov, district4@hamiltontn.gov, district5@hamiltontn.gov, district6@hamiltontn.gov, district7@hamiltontn.gov, district8@hamiltontn.gov, district9@hamiltontn.gov, district10@hamiltontn.gov, district11@hamiltontn.gov
