News

Crowd celebrates boat ramp opening

Crowd celebrates opening of a new boat ramp on the French Broad River.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 18, 2016

HORSE SHOE — Several dozen people turned out last week to celebrate the opening of the Horse Shoe Boat Access Park on Highway 64 in Horse Shoe.

“We probably wouldn’t have started this business if that were not in the works when we were planning,” said Matt Evans, who owns Lazy Otter Outfitters. He shuttles canoe paddlers and kayakers to the U.S. 64 put-in for a four-mile river float back to the business on Banner Farm Road. He also takes the more energetic paddlers to Blantyre, 10 miles from Lazy Otter. Paddlers can also choose to float from Lazy Otter seven miles to the Westfeldt Park boat launch.
“We say we can do anything from two hours to all day,” Evans said.
Henderson County Commissioner Bill Lapsley cut the ribbon on behalf of the organizations that partnered to create the park, including the Henderson County Parks and Recreation, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and Supersod.
The boat ramp can accommodate trailers for smaller fishing boats plus kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.