Nantahala Outdoor Center, one of the largest, oldest and most highly regarded whitewater outfitters and schools in the nation, has joined the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.

The dream for what would become the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) began on the Nantahala River with three friends in 1972 who understood there was something magical about the time spent in the river, in the hills, and on the trails. In the decades since then, NOC has strived to share the wonders of this place, and all the places we raft, hike, pedal and paddle.

In addition to NOC’s retail stores, the group leads whitewater rafting on seven Southeastern Rivers, runs a leadership institute for wilderness medicine and river rescue, hosts guided activities in fishing, hiking, biking, and climbing-these are just a few of the ways that NOC is making the outdoors something for everyone to enjoy. The company opened the NOC Great Outpost in Gatlinburg, TN in 2010.

“The Nantahala Outdoor Center is thrilled to join the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance,” said Jay Curwen, Vice President of Nantahala Outdoor Center. “Through our 40+ years of serving the outdoor community, the NOC has put the customer experience above all…whether they were in a raft for the first time, purchasing a new boat after taking an advanced kayaking class or through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, in need of a gear overhaul and a hot meal.”

Curwen also said, “The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is an organization that brings like-minded, high-quality outfitters together and facilitates the group communication that lets all the members provide an even higher level of customer satisfaction. In these days of consolidation and reduced high quality customer touch points, it is important for the true specialty outfitters that provide that premium experience to work together and champion the highest quality customer service. The Grassroots membership epitomizes that ideal and the NOC is excited to be a part of it.”

President of Grassroots Wes Allen called the NOC “a completely singular business in the United States. No other entity integrates retail with authentic outdoor experiences like NOC,” Allen said. “Bringing them into the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a both a natural fit and an exciting step-it’s going to be a powerful partnership.”