Board Chair of Jackson Downtown Development Corporation

Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady. Photography by Woody Woodard.

A jack-of-all trades with a curious nickname, Lee “Wolf” Wilson has worked in construction, photography, higher education, junk hauling, and college ministry. In the last five years, Lee has accidentally become an entrepreneur, building an escape room empire that all began with Jackson Escape Rooms.

As it turns out, Lee also has a knack for evading the FBI, a hidden talent he uncovered while living life as a fugitive and winning the CBS reality TV show “Hunted.”

Lee is originally from Austin, Texas, but he and his wife, Beth, have called Jackson, Tennessee home for the last 12 years. Together they have four kids, a few degrees, and a handful of businesses they have created out of their home in Midtown Jackson.

Lee and Beth pride themselves in creating incredible experiences and services locally that might usually be considered big city luxuries—they think Jackson deserves the best of the best. That desire for Jackson to continue to grow in terms of quality experience and local culture is the driving force behind his involvement with the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation (JDDC) where he currently serves as Board Chair.

VIP: Why are you interested in the work of JDDC, and how long have you served on their board?

Lee Wilson: I have lived in Jackson for 12 years and from day one when I moved here to take a job working at Union University I knew that the place that made the most sense for my family and me was downtown. There’s something about the character of downtown—the heart of Jackson—that resonates with my family’s identity.

Before moving to Jackson to work on staff at Union, I had lived in Austin, Texas, then Louisville, Kentucky, so the first three years of being in Jackson was an adjustment—one we never thought we were going to make. A big part of what turned Jackson into a home for us was the community and people of downtown Jackson. In particular, one of the first things that we got involved with on a consistent basis was the start of a new church downtown on East Lafayette called City Fellowship.

I’ve been invested in downtown as long as I’ve lived here in Jackson, but I’ve been on the JDDC board for just the last 2 years and became chair in January.

VIP: What are the top priorities of the JDDC board?

LW: The JDDC board is a lean, mean fighting machine composed of individuals with a deep commitment to the downtown community. Everybody on the board lives and/or works downtown and values the social, economic, and cultural health of the heart of the city of Jackson.

The world has changed since the beginning of 2020 and, with it, our priorities as a board are changing too. We recognize that our entire community is more aware of health (in the face of COVID-19) and social inequality (in the midst of protests resulting from the killing of George Floyd) than ever before.

Our excitement about the projects we were developing prior to February is still there, but we are presently more invested in prioritizing the needs of the downtown community during this pivotal moment in history.

VIP: What do you hope to accomplish as the chairman of the JDDC board?

LW: In January I would have had a very clear defined answer. Now, however, everything is up in the air and up for grabs and being re-imagined and re-envisioned.

At the beginning of the year, I said in a board meeting that trying to do everything makes it easy to do nothing. As president, I wanted to put some specificity to what we are trying to accomplish in the years to come. In addition, I wanted to make sure we are taking advantage of all the incredible people who live and work downtown, pulling them together into a more cohesive community of creative business people and residents. I would like us to create something special in the culture of downtown Jackson.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that my aspirations have changed, but I would say that we are headed in a radically different direction than anybody would have ever imagined.

VIP: What would you like to see in downtown Jackson in the next 5-10 years that is not here now?

LW: There is this magic underworld of cool stuff in Jackson that has not found its one place to exist collectively. I think downtown is the spot where I would love to see all of these people rise up and create this pocket of goodness that is completely distinct and unique and bears the unique thumbprint of Jackson, Tennessee. We have all of these amazing neighborhoods and districts all over Jackson that are so important to the overall economic wellbeing of our city, but if we don’t have a unique spot that feels like all of Jackson, then we’re missing something. We don’t want Jackson to be everywhere America. We want downtown Jackson to be distinctly, uniquely, and unavoidably Jackson, Tennessee. I think downtown Jackson is the spot for all the pieces to come together and see that happen.

VIP: What would people like to see in downtown Jackson?

LW: There is always a wish list. Anytime you are dealing with the reality of limited resources people’s imagination exceeds the capacity for a neighborhood organization to deliver. People always want a chain restaurant serving their favorite style of food—for me, I would love to see a great Mexican restaurant come downtown.

Personally, what I would most love to see is two more of everything. The big challenge that I see for downtown is successfully grabbing hold of the imaginations of folks who haven’t already fallen in love with downtown. One of the best ways to change people’s minds is to build off the wonderful things we already have (the AMP, Hub City Brewing, Garner Blue, the Blacksmith, ComeUnity Café, and on and on) by adding a bit more of everything—the goal being to have enough places and activities for a packed day of fun in downtown Jackson. Currently, we don’t have quite enough to fill out that full weekend experience. Before the virus we were well on the way and hopefully we can continue that momentum with minimal slow down.

VIP: Why did you decide to locate your business—Jackson Escape Rooms—in the center city in the Renaissance Building on Deaderick Street, and is that a good location for your business?

LW: Our building is actually the original Jackson High School (built in 1912), and it eventually became Jackson Junior High School. It just feels right to invite people to enter a building packed with history when they are coming to explore the mysteries of an escape room. There’s a charm that comes from a 108-year-old building that you can’t replicate in a newer building in another part of town.

And it definitely doesn’t hurt that there are rumors our building might be haunted. Check us out at www.jacksonescaperooms.com to experience it for yourself.

VIP: When you and other board members and Matt Altobell are pitching the center city to prospective business owners, what is your pitch and what response do you typically get?

LW: Downtown Jackson is the future of success in West Tennessee. You can look at Nashville and Memphis and see these downtown renaissances that have been unfolding for a decade or more in both of those major cities. The same renaissance is in its early stages here in Jackson and right now is an incredible time to position yourself to be a part of that future success. The barriers to entry are low; the cultural energy is high; the necessary infrastructure is in place; and people have never been more invested in life at the heart of the city.

VIP: What is the biggest challenge facing JDDC at present?

LW: We are in the middle of the same economic crisis everybody is working through—and it’s been especially hard for non-profits across the country. So if you’re feeling generous, JDDC has various levels of giving. Visit www.jacksontn.com/downtown for more information.