Nantahala Outdoor Center is planning a major new LEED certified store in Gatlinburg, TN, occupying an anchor position in a downtown shopping and entertainment district that draws more than 14 million visitors annually. NOC will call the 18,000-square-foot flagship retail store the Great Outpost. NOC estimates that the new location will become the largest retail store in Gatlinburg and add 55 new jobs.


The new store is part of a larger push to appeal to a broader audience into all forms of outdoor adventure and travel, according to NOC. The new location will also help expose NOC to a broader demographic. The company told The B.O.S.S. Report that the store should open in September. Following the grand opening, NOC has plans for an e-commerce overhaul with similar goals in mind — opening the company up to a broader range of customers. The major venture into a new market during a recession landed NOC’s President and CEO Sutton Bacon a spot in the “Heroes of Small Business” Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., last week.


The Great Outpost will serve as a launching pad for NOC’s whitewater rafting, whitewater and flatwater kayaking, fly-fishing, guided hiking, mountain biking, outdoor education classes and nature tours in the Smokies. It will also feature educational exhibits on outdoor education, the environment, and connect guests with outdoor clubs and conservation groups that help protect the Smokies.