Haywood County tourism leaders have taken a major step toward opening the Pigeon River to broader public recreation, selecting an engineering and design team to conduct a $300,000 feasibility study for a comprehensive river development master plan. The project aims to map out new public access points, connect riverside municipalities, and transform vacant floodplain acreage into community assets.
Flowing across Western North Carolina for more than 40 miles, the Pigeon River runs from the rural community of Cruso all the way to the Tennessee state line. Despite the river's significant geographical presence throughout Haywood County, local officials emphasize that its potential as an outdoor recreation hub has remained largely untapped due to a lack of designated access infrastructure.
The ambitious planning initiative is being organized and funded by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, which operates Visit Haywood. Instead of using municipal or county tax funds, the tourism authority is financing the entire $300,000 study by tapping lodging tax revenues collected from visiting tourists, redirecting visitor spending into regional infrastructure planning.
A core component of the master plan involves incorporating vacant flood buyout properties located directly along the riverbanks. Significant stretches of the river's banks were left empty following destructive flooding events, including recent floodwaters from Helene, presenting both a land recovery challenge and a rare development opportunity for the surrounding communities.
Because strict regulations restrict what can be built on federally and locally acquired flood buyout parcels, permissible uses for the land are limited. Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Corinna Ruffieux noted that passive recreation is one of the few activities allowed on these properties, offering a viable path to turn unused flood-prone land into an asset that residents can enjoy every day of the year.
The Pigeon River master plan is designed to coordinate directly with other ongoing recreation projects across the region, including the Haywood County Parks and Recreation master plan and the county’s broader Greenway Expansion plan. County planners intend to integrate these various initiatives to create a unified network of continuous walking trails and blueways.
Local representatives have strongly endorsed the push for improved water connectivity, pointing out that the county has previously lagged behind other regions that feature developed greenway and blueway corridors. Tourism board member Case Brown, who represents the town of Clyde, explained that while the area possesses rich natural assets, residents and visitors in the lower valleys have historically had very limited physical access to the river.
Community leaders report that local enthusiasm for river recreation is already visible along active sections of the waterway. Cory Nuckolls, an alderman on the Clyde Town Council, observed that riverfront areas in neighboring Canton are frequently crowded with tubers, swimmers, and families with dogs, indicating that adding designated access sites throughout the county will be warmly received by the public.
Beyond recreational improvements, the project carries significant economic goals for Haywood County. Tourism officials expect that establishing clear access points will drive outdoor tourism into the smaller towns situated along the riverbanks. This increased visitor traffic is intended to generate business for local restaurants, retail shops, and lodging establishments.
The resulting commercial activity will generate sales tax revenue that returns directly to local government budgets. Officials note that this incoming tax revenue helps offset the financial losses municipal governments experienced when flood-damaged properties were permanently acquired and taken off local property tax rolls.
The selection process for the planning contract began in March when the tourism authority officially opened the floor to proposals from design and engineering candidates. Eight firms submitted proposals for the project, with tourism leadership seeking a team capable of creating a unified, multi-town vision rather than focusing on isolated access points.
Following evaluations, the tourism board selected Robinson Design Engineers in collaboration with the Coastal Dynamics Design Lab. Tourism officials stated that the combined team stood out because of its deep understanding of Haywood County's layout and its commitment to building upon work already underway.
Tourism leaders emphasized that the engineering team’s role is to integrate previous planning efforts rather than start from scratch. The master plan will align with related initiatives led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Haywood Waterways Association, coordinating multiple agency efforts to optimize vacant riverfront real estate.
In addition to design and engineering work, the selected firm will compile grant-ready application packets for each town along the river corridor. By leveraging the team’s nonprofit experience and grant-writing background, the authority hopes to help local municipalities secure millions of dollars in state and federal grant funding once construction phases begin.
With the contract awarded, representatives from Robinson Design Engineers, Coastal Dynamics Design Lab, and Visit Haywood have held their initial timeline meetings. Finalizing the comprehensive master plan is expected to take approximately one year, which will determine when physical construction on the Pigeon River corridor can get underway.
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