We Welcome Nantahala Outdoor Center to Gatlinburg

Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), headquartered in nearby Bryson City, North Carolina is making dramatic progress on the construction of their new Great Outpost store in Gatlinburg which is slated to open in 2010. The 18,000 square foot store will be located on the long idle, but unmistakably prime real estate where for many years the original Open Hearth Restaurant was located. Bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the south end of Gatlinburg, this is another key to the continued re-development of downtown Gatlinburg. When the Gatlinburg Gateway development at the north end of Gatlinburg is considered, it is clear that Gatlinburg is definitely in a strong growth phase, despite the concerns of a lackluster national economy.

According to their website, NOC's Great Outpost will feature a wide selection of top outdoor apparel, camping, climbing, cycling, paddling, hiking and travel brands. When it opens it will become the largest retail store in Gatlinburg, creating approximately 55 jobs. As Gatlinburg's outdoor activity center, NOC's Great Outpost will serve as a launching pad for Smokies recreation, offering a diverse range of affordable, family-oriented outdoor activities in the National Park like whitewater rafting, whitewater and flatwater kayaking, fly-fishing, guided hiking, mountain biking, outdoor education classes and nature tours. It will also feature educational exhibits on outdoor education, the environment, and connect guests with outdoor clubs and conservation groups that help protect the Smokies.

The 55 new jobs may well be the most important aspect of this news. With a local economy that has struggled somewhat in 2009 the much needed jobs and the revenue that will flow from this new business is a major bright point in our city's future. Here is what the project site looked like yesterday when I shot these two photos. Pay special attention to the quality of the stone work on the new steps that have been built.

Comments

Norman R. Miller said…
Jeff, what Happened????
Usually, you make a nice tie in from the subject you are discussing to your office and ask the reader to contact you.
I think the Nantahala Outdoor center looks great. Surely the 55 new jobs will create some demand for home sales. That could have been your hook.
2:30 PM
Jeff Schoenfield said…
I missed a great opportunity there didn't I?? This new business certainly is good news for Gatlinburg and we are looking forward to seeing more like it!
3:38 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Smoky Mountain Water Wells but were Afraid to Ask!

Unlike more urban communities, many Smoky Mountain homes still have water supplied by individual underground wells. The fact is that only a relatively small (but ever growing) portion of our area is served by municipal utility water. This is rarely a problem as wells here in the Gatlinburg and surrounding area usually produce clear and good tasting water for significantly less cost than utility water once the one-time expense of drilling the well is covered. In fact, while there are certainly exceptions, our area is known for exceptionally clean and good tasting well water. More than one brand of bottled water is actually drawn from underground sources right here in the Smokies. What can go wrong you ask? Unfortunately, plenty! In those relatively rare cases where a well’s iron or sulfur content causes the water to be unsuitable, a water filtration system can generally be installed to remedy the situation. Water filtration can be as basic as a very inexpensive cotton string filter th
Read more

Comments Please!

I have had this blog since 2003 but didn't really get serious about regularly writing here until the beginning of 2007. I do truly enjoy the opportunity to share my thoughts about our local Gatlinburg area real estate market including the surrounding communities of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Seymour, Kodak, and Cosby. The only problem with writing any type of blog is that you really aren't sure just how many people are reading much less care about what you are pontificating about. If you are reading this blog, regularly or for the very first time, PLEASE comment me. It's easy, painless, and won't leave any sort of mark. In fact, you can even remain totally anonymous but yet let me know that you are out there. Like the age old question of "If a tree falls in the forest with nobody there to hear, does it make a noise?", a blog writer could wonder "If I write something meaningful but nobody reads it, does it matter?". If you like, you can even tel
Read more

Comments Please!!

Just wondering how many folks are out there reading this Gatlinburg real estate blog.  Please comment with your home town - You can even stay anonymous if you wish. If you want, tell me more about yourself (if you already own property in Sevier County or are just considering doing so, what you would like me to write about in the future, etc.).  Thanks in advance for your comments, whatever they might be!!
Read more