Monroe Institute Community Update July 15, 2026

In a letter to neighbors who opposed the Board of Supervisors approved expansion of the Monroe Center, the below was shared by Allyn Evans, CEO of the Monroe Institute;

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of The Monroe Institute has decided not to move forward with our proposed expansion in Nelson County. I have informed Nelson County of this decision.

This was not a decision we reached lightly.

From the beginning, expanding adjacent to our existing campus made tremendous sense. Roberts Mountain is where Robert Monroe began this work, and there is no place more meaningful to the history of our organization. Operationally, it was also the most efficient location for our future growth.

However, following the final Board of Supervisors meeting, I spent considerable time reflecting on everything we had heard throughout this process.

While many members of the community supported the expansion, it also became clear that many others were deeply and sincerely opposed to it. More importantly, it became evident that the proposal had created significant division within the community.

One of our core values is to be a welcomed member of every community in which we operate. I did not want the Institute's future growth to come at the expense of our relationship with our neighbors.

Because of that, I recommended that our Board step back and conduct a comprehensive evaluation before moving forward. As we completed that review, several additional factors reinforced that recommendation.

The economic landscape has changed dramatically since this project began. Construction costs have increased substantially due to inflation, global supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, tariffs, and growing geopolitical uncertainty.

At the same time, we are working to identify opportunities in other parts of the country where communities are actively seeking organizations like ours and where economic development incentives including tax incentives, infrastructure support, and workforce partnerships can significantly reduce the overall cost of expansion.

We also carefully evaluated the long-term operational realities of expanding in a rural setting, including transportation, staffing, infrastructure, and the logistics required to support a larger campus over the coming decades.

None of these factors alone would have changed our direction. Together, however and combined with the clear message we heard from many of our neighbors, they led us to conclude that pursuing expansion elsewhere is the most responsible path for the Institute's long-term future.

This decision is bittersweet. Nelson County is the birthplace of The Monroe Institute, and Roberts Mountain will always be central to our history and identity.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in this process those who supported the project, those who opposed it, and especially those who engaged thoughtfully and respectfully throughout. Every conversation helped inform our decision.

Although our plans for expansion have changed, our commitment to Nelson County has not.

Continuing Our Commitment to Roberts Mountain, We remain committed to creating additional walking paths throughout the New Land. Our hope is to begin this project when the weather cools later this year, allowing time to thoughtfully design trails that complement the property's natural beauty while enhancing the participant experience.

With the expansion no longer moving forward, I will recommend that the Board return to our original plan of resurfacing the section of Roberts Mountain Road maintained by the Institute. Until then, we will continue routine maintenance and necessary repairs.