Paddling ahead: Nantahala Outdoor Center enters new chapter
NOC photo
It’s not lost on Colin McBeath how unique and cherished the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is to locals and visitors alike.
“It’s re-energizing every day. You walk across the campus and the energy is infectious,” McBeath said. “You hear the laughter and see the smiles on the faces of the people coming off the river — it’s a magical place where people let their hair down, kick off their shoes and just enjoy it.”
McBeath is the president of the NOC. Located along the Nantahala River on U.S. 19 in the Nantahala Gorge, the NOC has become a highly sought-after national and international beacon of outdoor recreation and relaxation since its creation in 1972.
It’s a place where world-class athletes and those just looking to dip their toes in the water of river adventures come together to create this beehive of people and passion. To note, over 700,000 people descend upon the NOC annually. It’s a very large number also on the rise in a post-pandemic world, one where countless new faces fell in love with the outdoors in 2020 and thereafter.
“The NOC brand is so powerful within the outdoor industry,” McBeath said. “It’s a brand that stands for outdoor recreation, nature and authenticity. And you can’t build that brand in a year or two — it’s something that has to be proven and tested over decades.”
Since he was hired to oversee the NOC in May 2021, McBeath has envisioned and put forth big plans for not only the flagship Nantahala River property, but also the company in general, which includes 10 locations in four states around Southern Appalachia — the aim ultimately to complement its incredible natural resources with modern, high-quality amenities.
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“There’s already so much in motion,” McBeath said “We have over 500 acres [on the Nantahala River] and we’re going to utilize as much of it as we can, to really elevate the gorge experience for everybody — keep upgrading, keep improving.”
With the NOC’s 50th anniversaries of its inception (2022) and the advent of its renowned Paddling School (2023) now in the rearview mirror, McBeath and his staff are looking squarely towards the future, all with one key question in mind — what appropriate layers can be added to the already-stellar legacy of the NOC?
Cue the latest three-phase approach to enhancing the NOC to bring it headlong into the 21st century. With an emphasis on new lodging options onsite at the NOC, Phase One includes The Hemlocks on the Wesser Campus, which includes eight newly constructed bungalow-style cabins.
The Nantahala Outoor Center in Bryson City. Donated photo
“The NOC is really great about our river activities, but a lot of our stuff is pretty old,” McBeath said. “Our existing lodging and a lot of the restaurants were built in the 1980s. We knew if we were going to continue to elevate the guest experience, we had to focus on some things that were perhaps not river-related.”
Within The Hemlocks, there are four one-bedroom cabins and four two-bedroom cabins, each with a large deck and big windows for optimum natural light and views of Mother Nature. Reservations for The Hemlocks will be available to the general public by next month.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this in decades,” MeBeath said. “We’re great at rafting and we’re great at river activities, but we’ve got to lift everything up to match that.”
In the near future, Phase Two will include upgraded food/beverage facilities (restaurants/bars) and upgraded infrastructure (parking/entries) around the NOC property. Phase Three will construct more lodging to meet customer demand, which may also offer some residential components.
“It’s about making [the NOC] more of a year-round destination,” McBeath said. “It’s something we’re serious about, something we’ve already worked out a lot of details on. And now we’re just in the process of working out financing so we can take that next jump.”
Looking around Western North Carolina, McBeath makes note of how rapidly the cultural and economic landscape is changing. With nearby Bryson City quickly becoming a bustling hub for locals and tourists, McBeath points to the current sea change of what visitors are wanting in their trips to the NOC and surrounding communities. Nowadays, it’s about quality amenities.
“There’s a lot of investment and development happening [in our region] and we need to keep pace with all the other stuff that’s going on,” McBeath said. “But, we want to stay true to our roots. We don’t want to lose the authenticity and genuineness of the NOC — we’re going to keep [development] within the spirit of the NOC.”
Finding that ideal balance is important for the NOC, which has always prided itself as an outdoor destination with a keen sense of purpose — one that resides in a tightly-held ethos of natural aesthetics over generic settings.
“It’s a tricky dance. You’ve got to be careful on what you build and to make sure it fits within the NOC framework,” McBeath said. “You don’t want anything big and gaudy. So, that goes all the way down to who your architects and designers are, what building materials you use. It’s the lazy way to just put up a big structure and cross your fingers — to make it authentic, it’s a lot harder.”
The NOC: a brief history
• 1971: Nantahala Outdoor Center founder Payson Kennedy is a stunt double in the Academy Award-winning film “Deliverance.” Soon after, whitewater rafting surges in popularity.
• 1972: Payson & Aurelia Kennedy and Horace Holden Sr. establish the NOC with a motel and gas station along the Nantahala River. Trips are now available on the Nantahala and Chattooga rivers.
• 1973: First whitewater instructional clinics are held at Camp Chattahoochee in Georgia and on the Nantahala River.
• 1978: NOC opens its third whitewater operation on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.
The NOC looked somewhat different in 1980. File photo
• 1982: NOC outposts on the French Broad River in North Carolina and the Nolichucky River in Tennessee are added. The inaugural Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF) takes place at the Nantahala River headquarters.
• 1985: Basecamp lodging opens on the Nantahala River, which now adds to the dining/shopping components already onsite.
• 1999: Rafting operations open on the Pigeon River near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
• 2013: NOC plays host to the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships.
• 2015: Chattahoochee River outposts open in Atlanta, Georgia.
• 2022: NOC celebrates 50 years in operation.
• 2023: NOC’s Paddling School crosses over the 50-year mark.
Want to go?
Featuring world-class whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, mountain biking, tubing, hiking and more, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is on the Nantahala River along U.S. 19 in Bryson City.
For more information, a full list of activities/events and a list of all the NOC properties around Southern Appalachia, go to noc.com.
The Hemlocks at the NOC. Donated photo
In regards to The Hemlocks, the latest lodging area soon to be open to the general public, there are eight bungalow-style cabins that can be rented, holding upwards of six people per unit.
You can learn more about The Hemlocks and/or make a reservation by clicking on noc.com/accommodations/hemlocks.
Where to paddle in WNC
From mild to wild, paddlers can find whatever kind of river experience they’re looking for in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
The region has earned a reputation as one of the premier whitewater regions in the country, for many reasons.
In addition to rafting becoming one of the top activities sought by visitors to the area, the region has become a magnet for top kayakers and white-water canoers. The Nantahala Outdoor Center, located in the Nantahala Gorge south of Bryson City, is the leader of the rafting and paddling industry in the region. The NOC is more than an outfitter and guide company but a support network for the many world-class paddlers — including members of current and past U.S. Olympic paddling teams and the World Cup champions — that come here to train and live. Many of them work for NOC. The center hosts several top competitions each year that draw international paddlers.
The NOC has also solidified its reputation as one of the top teaching centers in the country. It has a “Rapid Progression, Learn-to-Kayak guarantee” that promises those who sign up will learn to kayak. If the boater does not feel they have mastered all the techniques necessary to feel comfortable, they are allowed to come back for additional training at no extra expense.
Recreational rafters should consider several factors before embarking on a trip:
• Are you looking for a mild trip or a wild ride?
• How long do you want to be on the river?
• Are their any children in you party, and how much do they weigh?
• How comfortable are the members of your party in the water should they take a fall out of the raft?
Many of the raft companies operate their own lodging facilities, from campgrounds and rustic cabins by the river to luxury cabin rentals secluded in the woods.
Expect $10 to $30 per person for rafting trips depending on the trip and how much is included, such as guided versus self-guided and what type of watercraft you’re traveling in.
The types of watercraft include:
• large group rafts
• smaller four-person rafts
• even smaller rafts holding one or two people called Duckys or Funyaks
• sit-on-top kayaks — the person is not strapped in as with regular kayaks; these are sometimes called Funyaks as well
• kayaks
• canoes
File photo
The Rivers
Nantahala
The Nantahala River in Swain and Macon counties has been called “every man’s river.” It is an eight-mile run of basically Class II rapids (19 of them) with Class III Nantahala Falls waiting at the end. There is a slalom course on the river at the Nantahala Outdoor Center as well as “the wave” for playboaters. It is a wonderful river for rafting and beginner kayakers. Several outfitters on the river allow raft rentals without guides, and they’ll also shuttle you to the put in.
Tuckasegee
For beginners, tubers and those looking for a leisurely river trip, there is the Tuckasegee River in Jackson and Swain counties. There are five sections, almost 40 miles of navigable waterway from the tiny community of Tuckaseigee to Bryson City. The Tuck is great for family outings. Calmer water allows for a minimum weight requirement of 40 pounds.
Other rivers in the region:
French Broad
The French Broad River through Buncombe and Madison counties offers opportunities from flat water to waves for surfers to the Class IV Frank Bell’s rapids. The most popular run on the French Broad is section nine from Barnard to Hot Springs. There is also a kayakers’ playground at the Ledges Park in Asheville.
Chattooga
The Chattooga River winds up in Lake Tugaloo. This scenic, free-flowing river offers a variety of whitewater experiences. Section II from N.C. 28 to Earl’s Ford is basically Class II with one Class III rapids, Bull Shoals. Section III begins at Earl’s Ford and runs 10 miles to U.S. 76. There are six rapids on this section ending with Bull Sluice, which is class IV or V depending on water level. Section IV is eight miles, from U.S. 76 to Lake Tugaloo. This section includes the difficult and potentially treacherous Woodall Shoals and finishes with “Five Falls;” First Falls, Corkscrew, Crack in the Rock, Jawbone and Sock-Em-Dog.
Nolichucky
One of the most scenic paddles in the region would be the Nolichucky. Born out of the confluence of the Toe and Cane rivers, the first few miles of the Nolichucky are full of big water and challenging rapids. The run from Poplar to Erwin, Tennessee, is 8.5 miles of Class III and IV rapids, provided the river is up. The Nolichucky is not dam controlled and is dependent on rainfall.
Pigeon
The Pigeon has scheduled releases from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with Class III and IV rapids. It has become a popular whitewater trip for paddlers and rafters in recent years, providing a shorter but exciting trip. A number of outfitters are located in Hartford, Tenn.
Ocoee
The Ocoee is the furthest west of the whitewater rivers, flowing through a beautiful gorge in east Tennessee. Rafters must be at least 12 years old to go on either the upper or lower Ocoee, and it has Class III and IV rapids for the entire ride.
