The idea that one of our favorite places to play outside was getting even BIGGER was sure exciting news to us. The Charlotte Business Journal story on the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s purchase of nearly 500 more adjacent acres was more than enough reason for us to spend a few minutes texting back and forth with Eric Osterhus, brand manager for the USNWC.
Eric wouldn’t tip us to any grand plans yet for the property, but did say that the land would stay in its “natural state” right now, and eventually be more space for guests to explore and play. And given that the Whitewater Center currently sits on some 266 acres, that’s a whole lot more opportunity to take a walk in the woods, so to speak.
Right now Eric said there would be no immediate benefits from the land purchase, but promised that there would be “good stuff” to come in the future. With the purchase just closing this week, Eric didn’t have a hard date on when we could expect to blaze any new trails on the additional acreage.
“With all the other projects underway right now it’s hard to say, but hopefully we’ll have some news soon,” he said.
Wait… other projects? You read it right. Eric confirmed there’s a ton of new development happening right now at the Whitewater Center. From a first-of-its-kind deep water solo climbing wall, to hundreds more feet of zip line, to thousands more square feet of food and beverage, the Whitewater Center is host to its own construction boom.
Seems like it wasn’t so long ago when some folks were second-guessing the investment in a man-made whitewater rapids facility that was (practically) on the way to nowhere. Well, here we are not so many years down the road and the Whitewater Center is now a year-round playground for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Saturday morning, we talk with Eric about the Whitewater Center on the Carolinas Outdoors radio program on WBT 1110AM. Don’t sweat it if you’re a late sleeper, you can always download the podcast from the Jesse Brown’s website!
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