Outdoors & Rec
North Carolina's $17.7 Billion Outdoor Economy Is Booming—on Land That Burns and Floods
North Carolina's booming $17.7 billion outdoor recreation economy, supporting over 155,000 jobs, is built on natural assets increasingly exposed to wildfire and flood risks, while widening infrastructure funding gaps threaten its long-term sustainability.
Amélie Dubois·June 18, 2026