Watauga County, North Carolina

WATAUGA COUNTY , NORTH CAROL INA want to continue to be active, even as they age,” Hudspeth says. “We see great opportunity to partner with the College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State in the area of sports mechanics and sports performance.” Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, an independent non-profit healthcare organization, is the county’s second largest employer and brings in $220 million in revenue. On the leisure front, Watauga County Community Recreation Center recently opened to add to the recreational opportunities of the area. The 100,000 square-foot, $35 million facility includes a six-lane competition swimming pool, a leisure pool with waterpark, four full-sized gyms for basketball, volleyball and multi-use, a fitness center with weight room, a suspended running track, as well as party rooms and event space. “It’s certainly opened up the opportunity for us to go after sports tourism by hosting more youth and senior tournaments in the area,” says Tilley. “We created a Boone Area Sports heart and vascular program. “We spent $10 million on a new heart and vascular facility and hiring new interventional cardiologists,” Hudspeth says. “One of the big features of the new clinic is a new 24/7 cath lab. Historically, we only provided catheterizations from eight to five, Monday through Friday, and we transported a lot of patients out on weekends or nights. Now, we have the ability to do that here, as well.” The Healthcare System has also invested millions into a new three-year family residency program in partnership with Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville as a way to attract more family practitioners to the area. Millions of dollars are also going to a new Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center. The center will be a support for residents and visitors who like to make use of Watauga’s outdoor recreational activities. “People come here for those reasons and we know that they