- This program is made possible in part by generous support from the American Battlefield Trust, connecting you to the places where our nation was forged.

Visit battlefields.org today.

- This program is made possible in part by generous support from Dogwood Health Trust, a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina, focused on dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities in the 18 counties and the Qualla boundary of western North Carolina.

♪ - Next on North Carolina Weekend, get your energy up because adventure awaits.

We'll chase the thrills at Carowinds in Charlotte, catch our breath on the rocks with para cliff hangers in Durham, and fly through the air on a string at Navitat in Asheville.

Coming up next.

- Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains across the Piedmont to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

♪ - Welcome to North Carolina Weekend, everyone.

I'm Deborah Holt Noel, and this week, we're taking you to places where adventure awaits.

Today, we're at Navitat Canopy Adventures in Asheville, a natural wilderness adventure park for the entire family, where your adrenaline can reach new heights on zip lines through the trees.

You can ramble around rugged terrain in an RTV, capture indescribable views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and more.

We'll show you around throughout the show, but first, let's head to Charlotte and the premier 400-acre amusement park that sits on the border of North and South Carolina.

Carowinds is well-known for its extensive collection of rides, including the world-class Fury 325.

But there's also entertainment and plenty more that make this a great family destination for all ages.

♪ - Carowinds is the place where the Carolinas come together.

Has been since 1973.

It's about creating memories, families on both sides of the state line coming together from everything from thrill rides on our world-class roller coasters, to amazing live shows, succulent food, amazing events year-round.

I mean, it is really just the premier entertainment destination of the Carolinas.

- So we are the first and only amusement park on the state line.

Throughout the years, we've done all kinds of things.

I would say that our acceleration really started in 2015 when we opened Fury 325, number one steel coaster in the world, and a nine-time golden ticket winner.

From there, we really made the conscious decision that we wanted to be an entertainment destination.

We've got the only double launch coaster in the Southeast, Copperhead Strike.

We have family rides, right?

We just invested in two brand new attractions in Camp Snoopy for families this year that you can ride together.

♪ - The state line is painted, which is a really fun opportunity for guests to see.

Indigo blue for South Carolina, a nice tar heel blue for North Carolina, and our guests get the opportunity to walk in both states at one time, which is a lot of fun.

From an entertainment perspective, I think our guests don't always expect to be as entertained as they are.

One of my favorite things about producing entertainment here at Carowinds is that we truly are the largest stage in either Carolina.

So we get the chance to entertain guests, like here in the Carowinds Theater, as well as on our midways during events like Scarawinds, as well as Winterfest.

- Winterfest, I think, is one of my favorite times to come to Carowinds because you've got thousands of lights.

You've got everybody who's in a really festive mindset there to celebrate the holidays.

And then Scarawinds is something I've done every fall, I think, for the past 10 years.

The mazes are always fun.

There's something new and different every year, which is really exciting.

They've got something truly for everybody, which I really appreciate.

And even if you're not a ride person, they've got the shows.

Their food's great.

- Of course, we have tenders, fries, pizzas, and diner burger and classic hot dog.

Same time, we offer 12-hour smoked brisket, 12-hour smoked pork butt, and we have rotisserie chicken.

Then we have gourmet sandwiches.

Our goal is to provide best experience for the guests each time they visit the park.

- You get to come and, you know, you're experiencing someone's first ride on the roller coaster or maybe it's their weekend with their grandparents.

Those memories, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we get to create here at Carowinds, I mean, it's just unmatched.

- You're gonna be able to get that photo of you and your family on the first ride.

Some people are visiting us for the very first time today, and we're going to make a memory that they can't get anywhere else.

- It is one of my favorite things to welcome guests into the Carowinds Theater to see a show that maybe they weren't expecting or to be the chance for kids to be their first experience in a live theater, and that's a great honor that I have, and I carry that with me in all of the shows we create and produce as they experience our productions and entertainment.

- When we talk about an experience that you can't get anywhere else, it is here-- live entertainment, Thrill Seeks.

We've got it.

What we have focused on is making sure that we can provide world-class entertainment to every guest, no matter what they're looking for.

(music) - Carowinds Amusement Park is located in Charlotte, right off Interstate 77 at the North Carolina-South Carolina line.

They operate on a seasonal schedule with different events throughout the year, so it's a good idea to check their website to plan your visit.

For hours, events, and more, go to sixflags.com/carowinds.

- Rock climbing can be intimidating for beginners, but a group in Durham is helping make this sport more accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

Producer Miriam McSpadden shows us how Para Cliffhangers is breaking down barriers and helping climbers of all abilities reach new heights and experience the thrill of climbing.

(music) - My feeling when I'm on the wall, I'm just really proud of myself and what I'm able to do.

- There are times that you're climbing, it's something outside, and the goal is to climb something really exposed and really easy, and you just feel this sense of freedom and exploration.

Then, there are times that you're really trying to challenge yourself, to endeavor to step up your own game, to step up your own level.

When you're grabbing super-thin edges and pulling with all the power that you have and just barely making it to the next edge, you know, your body is spent and your mind is spent.

A reality is that you never know how well you can climb unless you're willing to fall, and it's building growth that can be incredibly satisfying.

Para Cliffhangers is a nonprofit focused on getting people climbing who have disabilities.

- I just saw a need.

I used to be on Team USA for para climbing, so when I was in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2023 at the World Cup, I met one of the founders of Para Cliffhangers and asked if we could make a North Carolina chapter.

Our motto is to overcome mountains, and we get together here once a month at Triangle Rock Club.

- Right now, I am setting up our mechanical advantage at Para Cliffhangers.

Some of our climbers want to have someone go up the wall with them just to help really kind of adapt their route to them as they're going move by move.

You know, you can offer a knee, you can kind of help place their hand, whatever they need to kind of get to the next move.

- When I turned 21, my PT visits stopped, and climbing has helped me with PT and OT.

This community is so important because I'm meeting new friends.

- People often don't realize what they're capable of, right?

There are a lot of skills that we have to learn and execute and adapt in this world.

The reality is that climbing is something that can be accessible to everyone, and so the focus is to, you know, do what we can to make it accessible for anyone who is stoked.

- I was so surprised what my body was able to do.

I have cerebral palsy on my left side, and I just didn't know that I could rock climb.

I thought that would be something that was hard, and it is hard, but through climbing, I just realized that I just had to move my body in a different way, and that's why I really like it.

And climbers are some of the best people.

The community is so nice, and that really made me fall in love with climbing as well.

So Para Cliffhangers has a lot of abilities that are represented.

Like I mentioned, I have cerebral palsy, so we have people with neurological disabilities.

We have people with amputations, arm, leg.

We have people that are blind or low vision.

- We train with a blindfold because during competition, we have to wear one, but even when we're not doing it for comp, sometimes I actually end up with a little bit of light perception, and it hurts.

- And then your next holds are to the right.

Yes.

- We've had climbers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

We've had people, especially children, who are on the autism spectrum, so more developmental disabilities is also something that we see.

- The most important thing to understand is that everyone starts from a different foundation, right?

We all have different backgrounds.

We're all gonna start from a different capacity of physical output.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that as long as you're climbing and having fun when you're a newer climber, getting better takes care of itself.

- I actually climbed by myself.

I feel excited to do this.

- So whether you've never climbed before or you're the most competitive of competitive people, there is space for you here, and we want you here, and you stand to build yourself up and build other people up because that's a big part of what community is.

- Paracliff Hangers of North Carolina meets the first Saturday of every month at Triangle Rock Club in Durham.

You can learn more information at paracliffhangers.org.

I'm here with Kate Thomas, operations manager at Navitat, and we're on the Attaya platform, right?

- Yes, ma'am.

It's the first platform for our new Tree Top Express course, which we just built, so we have two new bridges, a jump feature, a climb feature, and that'll lead into the rest of our course, so it gives people a little bit more adventure when they come out here.

- For anyone who's never been to Navitat, what is here, and what is this?

- Just north of Asheville, North Carolina, Navitat's been around for about 15 years now.

Our big mountaintop tour is three zip lines from mountaintop to mountaintop.

That's kind of our big guy.

It's 3,600 feet.

You're 350 feet in the air.

You get views of the whole Blue Ridge Mountains.

It's gorgeous.

And then we also have our Tree Top Express tour, so that's what we're standing at now, and that's four zip lines.

There's three jump features.

We have a climbing feature that kids, especially, are going to love, climbing up in the trees.

- Now, is this a place for somebody who is afraid of heights?

- It is, actually, yes.

One of our managers is afraid of heights, and so we also offer RTV tours.

We're on 250 acres around here, and there's all these, like, mountain trails, so folks sometimes purchase an RTV shadow, and they can shadow along and watch people zipping, which is really fun.

We also let them get up on our bridges, our two new bridges that we have, and they can watch people from there.

And as we're, like, kind of hiking through, because we're in such, like, beautiful forest out here, we share a lot about the ecology, and the Appalachian Mountains are just such a special place.

Like, the cove we're standing in is actually, like, this little, like, has so many different types of organisms and fun things to talk about, so we fill folks in on that, too, and the history of the mountains, and it's a really kind of inclusive experience in that way.

(howling) - What do visitors say when they've had their experience?

- They're really amazed by just the views, and it's really nice, 'cause they get to get out and escape.

It's nice for them to kind of disconnect and reconnect with nature a little bit, and have a fun experience in that way, so that's what we hear a lot of.

You're coming in, I got you, I got you!

(laughing) - Nice getting you a nice landing.

- Working it out!

(laughing) - Now, I'm with Ilze Zegares.

She is the sales and marketing manager here at Navitat.

Can you tell me about the rebuild of Navitat after Hurricane Helene, and also the expansion?

- Yes, the rebuild took some time, so unfortunately, we had to close much earlier.

Usually, our season runs till November.

Right after Helene, we did close pretty much as soon as it hit, and kind of worked on the damages, helped the community.

I'm very excited to be able to offer guests something from the original course that we opened 16 years ago.

We had bridges, and the tour took a very long time, so it's been adjusted, but I am very happy to bring back some bridges and more excitement, more climbing opportunities for our guests, and a little bit for everyone, right?

Whether you're afraid of heights or ready to overcome your fear of heights, like I did.

- Yeah, 'cause you have a fear of heights, right?

- I do, yes.

I started here four years ago as a guide, and one of the other guides at the time was like, "You should work at Navitat," and I was like, "I'm afraid of heights," and he said, "Everybody is."

So you kind of-- I feel like you get used to it, but it's still very, like-- it just feels like a sense of accomplishment when I'm able to step on the tree and see the people having a great time, the smiles that we offer, and I love how wide our offering is.

So we take anyone ages 5 to-- however, our oldest guest on site has been 89.

- Whoa.

- That was-- yeah, that was a little bit of a, you know, bucket list or item.

- But they did it.

- They did it, absolutely.

We also have a lot of groups come here.

- Yeah!

- Look!

- We make sure that all our gear is up to standards, which we always do.

We inspect it before we send anyone anywhere, right?

I will triple-check all your gear here, and then we always, on this course, have double clips, right?

So that makes sure that one point is always clipped in.

Our guides are so well-trained that we're able to double-check.

Everything's up to par, and then still make sure you have a great time.

(cheering) So here, this is more traditional course.

Our other course, Mountaintop, is quite unique.

On that one, it is one of the biggest lines in the area.

The second line on the Mountaintop course is 3,600 feet, and you go next to one another, which is quite impressive.

So there are side-by-side lines, and there's also a little bit of a racing element, you know, if we go side-by-side.

- A little competition.

- Yeah, a little competition.

- Are you trying to challenge me right now?

- A little bit, you know?

We can go down and see who wins, yeah.

But it is truly amazing.

We have a lot of people that come back, and we encourage people to come back, because every single time you zip, you just experience something else, right?

Whether it be, like, the views.

If you come in fall, it's gonna be absolutely different than in the spring.

Also, any time you come, you get different guides with different knowledge.

We have some people that are educated in the Appalachian and know the plants and kind of get some of that education, and we tie in a little bit.

You know, also, you can get some really bad dad jokes, which I'm very good at.

- Those are really great reasons to come back, even if you've come before.

- I'm just so happy to always be here, and I think this is a wonderful place to escape.

- Well, I can't agree more.

(music) Navitat Canopy Adventures in Asheville is located at 242 Poverty Branch Road in Barnardsville, and they're open Thursday through Monday from March through November.

For specific hours, group tours, and more, visit them online at navitat.com/asheville-nc.

In Saluda, adventure is part of the landscape.

At Green River Adventures, people can take on the river, fly through the forest on a zip line, or simply enjoy the thrill of exploring the outdoors.

(music) - Awesome.

(music) - Exhilarating.

- It was exciting.

It was fun.

(buzzing) - Nice!

- Whoo!

- Thrilling, exhilarating.

- Exciting.

(music) - And awesome again.

(music) - Those experiences were brought to you by Green River Adventures in Saluda.

- This is where all of our trips will check in.

They'll get their reservations sorted.

- General Manager Samantha Miller says the Green River and the 18,000 acres of protected game lands it runs through create the perfect setting for outdoor adventure.

- A lot of our adventures are almost untouched by the hustle and bustle of mainstream cities, which is amazing because you get the green trees, you get the clean water, and you're just out in nature in this moderately remote area, but with guides who know what they're doing.

- All right, everyone, we're gonna start heading down.

Follow me.

- They have the experience, and they want to help you get an adventure and create those lasting memories.

- The Upper Green River Kayak Adventure is a four-mile trip through Class II, III, and IV Rapids.

- It's awesome for high adventure adventurers, high adventure kayakers that still want to be on a guided trip.

- The Lower Green River Kayak Adventure is a mellower three-mile trip that includes some Class I and II Rapids.

- If it's your first time in a boat and you're a little nervous, the Lower Green is gonna be an amazing experience to get that initial kayaking experience.

- Some prefer the guided trip.

- Guided with kids, you know, the first time, maybe a good idea.

We'ren't exactly sure.

We've never been on this body of water before, you know, so we were-- figured guided was the right way to go.

- Others like to go it alone on the self-guided trip.

- Well, this is kind of a date night for us.

We don't really get out during the pandemic, but for the most part, I want to kind of surprise her and do something different.

(zipping) - You can also take a ride on the Gorge Zip Line.

- So it's 11 continuous lines through the tree canopy on the mountainside, and you essentially zigzag your way down the mountain.

- And at the end of the trip, zipliners rappel down from the last platform.

- I'm an adrenaline junkie, so I love skydiving and mountain biking and anything that's going to give me a little pump in my chest.

- All right, ready?

- Yes, sir.

- Pick those feet up, and you got it.

- Okay.

- I decided to give it a try, and it definitely got my chest pumping.

(zipping) - All right, I got you there.

- Whoo!

- You maintain your proper zipping experience, and that was really wonderful to see.

- Green River Adventures also offers waterfall rappelling at the 100-foot-tall Little Bradley Falls.

- It's great for novices, people who don't have any harness experience, and it's beautiful.

I mean, there's nothing little about it.

It's still 100 feet tall.

- Then there's Big Bradley Falls.

(music) - The Big Bradley is 200 feet, and that is our more high-adventure waterfall rappel.

We do ask that people have some type of harness experience, rappelling experience prior to doing that, just because it is a little bit more technical.

- One, two, three... (screaming) - The company also offers an adventure called "canyoneering."

- That involves hiking, boulder hopping, there's some rock slides, swimming holes, jumps, the whole gambit.

- All of Green River Adventures can be great bonding experiences and even ways to overcome fears.

- I don't know how to swim, and I'm scared of waters.

Water, so I would recommend it for someone that has a fear of water, honestly.

- You're afraid of heights and you wanted to do this?

- I didn't know what I was doing, so I was told by my girlfriend we're going on an adventure.

I didn't know what it was until we pulled in.

- And he's not afraid anymore.

I mean, he was the one that was, like, leading everything.

He did cable walking out of the group, so... - Some of the areas are a little remote, but the guides have experience with the activities.

They are helping foster these experiences and want to help you create this independence and confidence and make these lasting memories.

♪ - Green River Adventures is at 112 East Main Street in Saluda.

To plan one of their many adventures, give them a call at 828-749-2800.

North Carolina is filled with places that connect us to our nation's earliest days.

In this next story, producer Lucas Pruitt takes us to a historic site where the past is still very much present.

- On the edge of town in Lincolnton, North Carolina, sits a school.

Tucked behind it, just down this country road, is a place many people have forgotten.

This is Ramsour's Mill, the site of a brutal battle in the American Revolution.

But there were no British soldiers in this battle, only American colonists.

Neighbors.

In some cases, friends.

By the summer of 1780, the war in the South looked bleak for the Patriot cause.

Charleston had fallen, British forces were pushing inland, and Loyalists across the back country believed North Carolina was next.

So between 800 and 1,300 Loyalists gathered at Ramsour's Mill, many unarmed, with the hope of fleeing to British-controlled lines where they would be armed, organized, and help restore royal control.

But Patriot militia leaders nearby got word of the gathering.

They raised 400 armed men and marched through the night to attack.

Just before dawn on June 20th, the Patriots reached the Loyalist encampment and opened fire.

What followed was chaos.

Militia on both sides searched up and down the hillside.

Smoke filled the woods.

Many had no weapons.

So in the thick morning fog, they fought with their hands.

For nearly two hours, it raged, leaving behind more than 300 Patriot and Loyalist casualties.

(explosion) The American Revolution is often remembered as a war for independence, but at Ramsour's Mill, it looked something like a civil war.

We spoke with Roy Lightfoot, whose ancestor fought here that day.

- We're standing on part of the battlefield right here.

This battle, along with several others leading to Kings Mountain, took away the Loyalist support in the area.

- Today, Ramsour's Mill is open to the public.

Trails, historic landmarks, and interpretive signs tell the story of what happened on this ground, a memorial marks where the fallen were buried.

- Sacred to memory are those who fell defending their beliefs at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill.

May these stones cry out lest we forget.

- And each June, the county brings it all back to life.

A living history weekend with hearth cooking, reenactments, weapons demonstrations, and a replica late 18th century cabin open to anyone that wants to step into the story.

And year-round, you can see this diorama to get a better sense of how the battle unfolded.

- The Battle of Ramsour's Mill was probably one of the most important battles in the American Revolution that you never heard of.

A lot of what happened here was brother against brother.

It was a Civil War.

So this is known as the Whig Captain's Grave, killed in the Battle of Ramsour's Mill on June 20th, 1780.

You have to study history in terms of the good, the bad, and the ugly, because if you don't learn from history, you're destined to repeat it.

My job as a historian is to make sure that these things never happen again, and to push for us to become a better society.

(gentle music) - Ramsour's Mill Battlefield is located at 301 Jeb Seagle Drive in Lincolnton, right behind Battleground Elementary School.

For information about upcoming events, check out lincolncountyhistory.com/the-bat tle-of-ramsour's-mill.

For tonight's show, we have had such a fun time out here at Navitat Canopy Adventures in Asheville.

They're here with adventure awaiting whenever you're ready.

And if you've missed anything in tonight's show, just remember you can always watch us again online at PBSNC.org, and you can find all of our stories on our YouTube channel.

Have a great North Carolina weekend, everyone.

(upbeat music) the North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by (upbeat music) ♪ - Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains across the Piedmont to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

- This program is made possible in part by generous support from the American Battlefield Trust, connecting you to the places where our nation was forged.

Visit battlefields.org today.

- This program is made possible in part by generous support from Dogwood Health Trust, a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina, focused on dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities in the 18 counties and the Qualla boundary of Western North Carolina.