586
– Click/Watch 100-second slideshow by Chris Schroder
What began with a trio of Atlanta whitewater enthusiasts on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, N.C., is now the nation’s largest outdoor recreation company. It hosts more than 1.1 million adventurers annually to raft, hike, pedal and paddle.
With 120 different river- and land-based activities, NOC earns rave reviews from national media. One of the largest employers in western N.C., NOC has been home to 22 Olympians and two Olympic Gold medalists.
It opens its newest adventure centers in 2015 along the Chattahoochee, bringing 60 new jobs. An investor group, including Atlanta’s Five Stand Capital, bought NOC in 2012.