News
5 Aug 2023
News
LENOIR — Enjoy beautiful scenery and learn all about the joys of flight with Appalachian Airsports, a Lenoir-based hang gliding school.
Willie Vaughn opened Appalachian Airsports in September 2021 with the help of his wife, Hannah Burgess, also the company’s creative director, and Zach Decker, managing partner. Vaughn and Burgess moved to Lenoir in 2017 to each pursue their dream jobs: Burgess became a full-time, professional mermaid, and Vaughn taught hang gliding with Thermal Valley Hang Gliding, located at 4085 Old Amherst Rd., Lenoir.
Vaughn said he grew up around aviation, as both his parents were hang gliders in the 1980s. After high school, he became a hang gliding instructor in Outer Banks and never looked back.
He said one moment, in particular, has always stuck with him: flying tandem with his mom in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Click here for full article
Explore scenic vistas, historical sites, art, breweries, wineries, eateries and more along this world famous route.
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Caldwell County has the most extensive collection of permanent public outdoor sculptures per capita in the U.S. Our annual Sculpture Celebration is the largest in the South.
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Explore the Caldwell County Itinerary for food, shopping, highlights, lodging and adventures! We invite locals and visitors to delight in the journey and the destination.
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The Blue Ridge foothills, Pisgah National Forest and Wilson Creek are our playgrounds for biking, off-roading, watersports, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping.
Caldwell County is building on its historic manufacturing legacy while embracing the industries of tomorrow. With affordability, a strategic location, and a skilled workforce, the county is a prime destination for business growth and investment.
Caldwell County ranked 20th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties for wage growth in 2023. Since 2015, wages have grown an impressive 51.5%.
NC has increased production of renewables by nearly 52%, double the average of all 50 states
CCED works closely with CCC&TI and local manufacturers to meet the workforce needs of employers.
Powered by an economy that has hit its stride and turbocharged by a track record of innovation, Caldwell County is the best of NC.