The store is owned and operated by Richard Griggs. He has over 35 years of experience in backpacking, canoeing and kayaking and fly fishing. He has backpacked extensively in the Great Smokies, White Mountains of NH, Maine, Missouri and the Shenandoahs in Virginia; and has canoed several of the wild and scenic rivers in North Carolina, Missouri, and Maine, as well as canoeing in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park in Canada. He also has extensive experience in Scouting, having served as a Scoutmaster, Scout Executive and summer camp director. After retiring from the Coast Guard, Richard returned to NC and in 1998, opened Carolina Mountain Sports.
Gene Lee is a volunteer in the store and primarily deals with the financial aspects of the retail business. Since Gene began helping out, he has gained tremendous knowledge about outdoor equipment and is happy to field questions and assist customers with a variety of products and services.
The fly tying section of the store is administered by long-time tyer and fly fisherman Mickey Reavis, of Statesville.
Mickey has been an avid fly tier (personally and professionally) and fisherman for many years. Consequently he had a broad base of fly fishing experience and knowledge. Mickey is our fly tying instructor and teaches a variety of tying classes from late fall though spring.