Stone Mountain leaders grappling with business losses at the park's resort hotel

WABE’s Emil Moffatt joined WABE’s “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, to discuss approved changes at Stone Mountain Park and how leaders are tackling the controversy over its Confederate imagery. (John Bazemore/AP file)

John Bazemore / Associated PRess file

It’s been a one-two punch for Stone Mountain Park in recent years, the site of the world’s largest monument to the Confederacy. The combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing controversy over its Confederate imagery have led to a drop in business.

That was top of mind at the Stone Mountain Memorial Association’s first board meeting of 2022.

While uncertainty remains over omicron and other potential variants, Stone Mountain leaders are hoping some changes they’re making to its storied past will help.

WABE’s Emil Moffatt joined WABE’s “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress to discuss approved changes at the park and how leaders are tackling the 90-foot-tall elephant in the room — a colossal carving of Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee on the side of Stone Mountain — which also served as the site of a rebirth ceremony for the Ku Klux Klan.

Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.