Introduction
Preserving Twitty City: How the Legacy of Conway Twitty’s Estate Survived a Tornado and Threat of Demolition
For more than a decade, the sprawling Twitty City estate in Hendersonville, Tennessee stood as a tangible reminder of country music’s impact on American culture. From 1981 until his death in 1993, Conway Twitty called this location home. The property was not just a residence but a unique landmark, featuring a museum and gift shop dedicated to the singer’s career. However, this landmark came under threat after a devastating tornado struck the area in December 2023. The Christian media organization currently owning the estate, the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), initially proposed demolishing the mansion due to extensive damage and insurance shortcomings. As of late January 2024, TBN has reversed this decision, committing to restoration and preservation.Portable speakers
The news first emerged during a meeting with the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on January 23, 2024, reported by News Channel 5. The expectation among city officials and the public was that the iconic mansion would be razed to make way for a new development. Instead, TBN announced it would retain the historic structure and use it as office space for its leadership.
Frank Amedia, TBN’s Chief Operating Officer, commented during the meeting,
“We heard the sentiment of the city. We prayed about it, we met with people, and we felt this was the right thing to do.”
He further explained that while restoring a structure with this level of historic value would require significant financial investment, the decision to preserve was no longer being held back by cost concerns.
Hendersonville’s mayor, Jamie Clary, weighed in on the decision, labeling it a pragmatic and balanced solution.
“I think we’ve reached a good balance. The property will be preserved while also being put to use, and that’s something that will satisfy many people while keeping it functional.”
The resolution represents a compromise between preservationists and the operational needs of TBN.
Before this agreement, TBN’s intended course was demolition followed by new construction on the site. However, Amedia detailed the challenges presented by public knowledge surrounding TBN’s insurance coverage.
“Unfortunately, it’s public knowledge that TBN was significantly underinsured for that property. So now we’re at a point where if we invest in repairing old structures, new developments will have to wait.”
The tornado therefore prompted a reassessment of priorities and finances.
On December 9, 2023, a tornado caused extensive damage not only to the mansion but the entire estate. This natural disaster forced about 100 TBN employees, including production editors, into a difficult situation. Some were shifted to remote work. Others continued operations from office spaces deemed unsafe following the storm. This operational hurdle contributed to the urgency of resolving the estate’s future.
Opposition to demolition came from multiple local voices, but one notable figure was Joni Ryles, Conway Twitty’s daughter. She emphasized the family’s emotional and historical connection to the property.
“There’s no question—we would much rather drive by and see it still standing. Dad worked so hard to build this place, to make it special for fans to visit and for our family to call home.”
Her perspective helped galvanize public support for preservation.
The site itself was more than a private residence. Twitty City functioned as a site of pilgrimage for country music aficionados and fans wanting to connect with the genre’s history tangibly. It included detailed exhibits and memorabilia reflecting Twitty’s long career, which included 55 top-10 country singles and 40 number-one hits spanning from the 1950s through the late 1980s. This made the estate a singular part of Tennessee’s broader musical heritage, sitting in Hendersonville, a city known for nurturing country artists.Portable speakers
Damage assessments conducted after the tornado revealed challenges, but none beyond repair. The architectural style of Twitty City combined Tudor and English manor influences, built during the early 1980s by Conway Twitty himself. Prior restoration efforts have preserved the site’s character, making the building’s fabric an asset as well as a liability. TBN’s decision to preserve over demolish now places the network in the position of balancing historic rehabilitation with modern usability.
This episode illustrates the intricate relationship between preservation of cultural landmarks and the practical exigencies of organizations tasked with managing them. For TBN, a major religious broadcaster with operations including the Trinity Broadcasting Network headquarters located in nearby Tustin, California, preserving Twitty City represents both a symbolic and strategic choice. Converting the mansion for leadership offices ensures the property remains active rather than dormant, satisfying both heritage concerns and corporate functionality.
Historically, Twitty City reflected the late Conway Twitty’s desire to create a personalized destination that went beyond the standard singer’s home or office. Features such as a theater, a miniature golf course, a chapel, and landscaped gardens highlighted the fusion of public space and private residence. The site attracted visitors nationally and internationally, becoming a mid-tier tourist destination in the region. Its loss would have represented a blow to Hendersonville’s cultural economy.
Locally, this decision signals Hendersonville’s commitment to safeguarding landmarks associated with country music, supporting the city’s identity as a music hub next door to Nashville. Twitty City joins other regional properties such as Loretta Lynn’s ranch and Johnny Cash’s home, forming an informal network of music history sites rooted in Tennessee. Maintaining them requires a balancing act among stakeholders comprising families, corporate owners, local government, and fans.Portable speakers
Looking forward, the restoration project timelines have yet to be fully disclosed. However, Frank Amedia indicated that initial phases might begin later in 2024, subject to funding allocations and contractor availability. Structural engineers and preservation architects will undoubtedly play an essential role in maintaining the estate’s physical integrity while adapting it for new uses.
For those more familiar with Conway Twitty’s music than his multifaceted career as a businessman and promoter, Twitty City encapsulates a less-discussed aspect of his professional life. Unlike many country stars of his era who maintained modest homes, Twitty embraced a more ambitious approach that integrated his brand into a physical experience. The estate also hosted numerous charity events and industry gatherings during Twitty’s lifetime, underscoring a community-oriented mindset.
As of early 2024, TBN’s revised strategy has generated cautious optimism among local historians, country music advocates, and city leaders. It remains a test case on how to reconcile unforeseen disasters with the stewardship of cultural heritage in the modern era. Twitty City’s survival demonstrates the potential for collaboration between corporate entities and municipalities when decisions are attentive to historic values.
In summary, Conway Twitty’s former estate faced a precarious future following severe tornado damage in December 2023. Initially slated for demolition by Trinity Broadcasting Network, the property will now be preserved and restored. This decision reflects community advocacy, financial realities, and the challenges inherent in maintaining cultural landmarks. For Hendersonville, the announcement secures a significant chapter of its country music heritage for the foreseeable future.Portable speakers