WNC: MADE X MTNS

Where have our wanderings taken us recently? Onto the banks of the French Broad River! We were fortunate to spend a recent morning with MountainTrue, French Broad Riverkeeper, Headwaters Outfitters Inc, RiverLink Inc., Conserving Carolina & FIND Outdoors to learn about the impact of the French Broad Paddle Trail. We can't wait to premiere this #madexmtns story next month! #OutdoorEconomy #trails #river #rivertrail #rivertrip #NorthCarolina #wnc

We are the Outdoor Business Alliance - WNC! Meet Dorene O'Malley, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Cane Creek Cycling Components. Outdoor industry and community connections, collaborative marketing campaigns, and access to media and marketing resources are a few of her biggest reasons to be an OBA member. Are you an outdoor business, entrepreneur, independent contractor, or nonprofit located in WNC? Join the OBA today and gain access to the collective resources, mentorship, and camaraderie of our outdoor industry family! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eGWmsARA.

There's a great reason NC is the Great Trails State - outdoor recreation is in our DNA. In WNC, it's what makes these mountains so memorable for people who call the region home, as well as those who keep visiting year-after-year. It's so exciting to see our mountain communities continually affirming the power of outdoor recreation, and investing in it more in order to further connect the region and celebrate our acclaim as the Outdoor Hub of the East! https://lnkd.in/eTRn22jC

Check out the new Outdoor NC Trail Towns Guide, brought to life by our friends Uproar Concept and Tourism Impact Services! It's a beautiful and incredibly handy resource to find accessible and enjoyable ways to get outdoors across the Great Trails State of NC! NCTrailTownGuide.com

There’s still time to get $100 off your tickets to this year’s Outdoor Economy Conference, October 21-24 in Cherokee, NC! Ticket prices go up to full price at midnight on Saturday, August 17, so if you've been holding off, now is the time to make your move and lock down the best discount. Visit outdooreconomy.org to snag your tickets! Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we launch the agenda and further explore what's happening on stage and outside at this year's conference.

The Future is Downstream...particularly for the state's largest producing trout hatchery in the heart of Pisgah Forest, which will undergo a massive renovation next year to be able to continue to stock the state's $1.3bn angling industry. https://lnkd.in/efkt6Dz2 Check out our MADE X MTNS film, "The Future is Downstream" to learn more about all the partners working together to preserve the health of fish populations and our rivers in order to keep this pillar of outdoor recreation alive and well in WNC and across NC: https://lnkd.in/eYYJ8BwM

Kick back -- it's National Hammock Day! There's no better time to grab your Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc hammock and find the perfect view to relax. ENO hammocks are made by mountains and loved by locals! 📸: The Appalachian Adventure Company #madexmtns #hammock #hammockday #outdoorindustry #outdoorgear #wnc

"I think we saw coming out of the COVID pandemic, the deep spiritual and emotional connection people have to time outside."- Tom Bugert, State and Local Government Affairs Manager, REI One of the most vital topics we celebrate and collectively envision is greater access and opportunity that balances responsibility and stewardship in the outdoors across our region, our nation and worldwide. We can't wait to see the community come together to brainstorm pathways to prosperity and inclusion this October 21-24 in Cherokee, NC. Early bird tickets and our best deals on admission for this year's conference are on sale now at outdooreconomy.org. See the full 2023 recap video: bit.ly/oec-2023-recap

We're so thrilled for Amy Allison in her next steps as she takes the helm as Director of the NC Outdoor Economy Office! While we will miss her greatly as Director of the WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership, we're excited to continue our close partnership as we work together to grow the outdoor recreation economy in WNC!

Where was MADE X MTNS this weekend? All over WNC! Our partners at Uproar Concept were out on a mission to capture amazing content at some of our favorite locations for a very special project that you'll learn more about later this week! 👀🎉 Thank you so much to our paddling crew and our hiking crew, and of course a location that is near and dear to our hearts, The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald (search on Hipcamp for more info!). Be sure to check back in with us Thursday for an exciting announcement! 📸: Holly Rivers, Nathan Jordan