McDowell’s Plans for Building Include Museum, Store and Entertainment Venue
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In celebration of the 40th anniversary of his prolific career in country music, Ronnie McDowell is renovating and reopening Portland’s Strawberry Manor, which was originally constructed by McDowell’s father in 1977. The extravagant building will serve as a museum for McDowell’s memorabilia, a store where fans can purchase McDowell’s music and paintings, and a new entertainment venue that will host some of Nashville’s best-known country artists. McDowell plans to open doors this spring with a homecoming celebration.
The name “Strawberry Manor” can be accredited to a larger-than-life wall painting done by McDowell and his late brother when the building was constructed. The artwork still remains in mint condition, featured prominently when you enter the front door of the manor.
“The Strawberry Manor has meant so much to me since my dad built it 40 years ago. It feels great to go ‘back to my future’ and restore this building, turning it not only into a place that I can enjoy, but a place that the people in my hometown of Portland can enjoy as well,” said McDowell.
McDowell continues to celebrate the milestone anniversary with a 40th anniversary tour, as well as a brand-new album, Songs I Love, available exclusively at live shows and atwww.RonnieMcDowellStore.com. McDowell sky-rocketed to fame in 1977 with an ode to Elvis Presley, “The King Is Gone,” and followed that up with decades of Top Ten and No. 1 hits like “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.”
Readers can find this story in the Sumner A.M. section of the Tennessean on Sunday, March 5 and online here.