Former North Carolina Ski Resort Sold To Outdoor Recreation Company
Seven Devils, North Carolina — What was once known as a popular North Carolina ski resort has been sold to a new owner who specializes in adventure recreation.
The High Country Press reports that Hawksnest Adventures has been sold to a new owner. The Cottom family has sold the property to Bound for Adventure, who are an adventure recreation company. Bound also owns River Riders and Wilderness Voyageurs. Some of the activities they currently offer include whitewater rafting and ziplining. This will be the third state in which they have operations. The new owners plan to share their vision for the site in the months ahead.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Hawksnest Adventures into our family of brands,” said Matt Knott, the CEO of Bound for Adventure. “Hawksnest has built an incredible reputation for delivering high-quality, memorable outdoor experiences, and their team shares our passion for adventure, guest service, and innovation. Together, we are expanding our ability to connect more people with the outdoors in meaningful ways.”
Currently, Hawksnest has one of the largest snow tubing facilities on the East Coast in winter, and zipline and rafting operations in summer. They also aimed to build a mountain coaster there, but were sued by local residents in 2025, making the status of that project unclear. However, many remember it for the ski resort that operated there until 2008.
History of the Property
The ski resort opened in 1964 and was originally known as Seven Devils. It was eventually bought by Leonard Cottom in 1993. At its peak, the ski resort featured 12 trails and a vertical drop of 673 feet. Over the years, skiers grew to love it for its affordable lift tickets and snowmaking coverage. However, the owner decided to shut down the ski area in 2008 because the town did not want them to expand the terrain. They shifted the focus to snow tubing and ziplines.
“On behalf of the Cottom Family, I would like to express deep gratitude for the community’s support over the decades. I would also like to thank all the employees past and present who made Hawksnest what it is today. We could not have done it without their support and efforts,” said Lenny Cottom to WatugaOnline.com. “The new owners bring fresh energy and a shared passion for outdoor recreation. We’re excited to see the business evolve in their hands and look forward to our next adventure in the Boone area.”
Facebook commenters who heard the news of the sale were excited because it increases the chance of bringing skiing and riding back. However, the new owner’s background doesn’t appear to include skiing and riding. We’ll see if owners have a few surprises for this former ski resort.
Image/Video Credits: Let’s Go Liz, Hawkeye Media, Skimap.org
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