Did You Know?
Early parkway advocates pushed for a route that went through Virginia, northwest North Carolina, and into Tennessee. Photo from NPS Archives
Bill Carson
Community Challenges and Successes: What Does Partnership Look Like?
William D Carson, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
The Historic Orchard at Altapass
Bill Carson is CEO of The Historic Orchard at Altapass on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. After graduating from Purdue University in 1961 with a Masters Degree in Engineering, Bill worked for 32 years as a rocket scientist. He was responsible for the software that launched all the Saturn rockets and guided them through earth orbit and on to the moon. He worked on the Patriot Missile System, was responsible for the Global Positioning System Ground Segment, and later IBM’s air traffic control work. He retired in 1993 after 32 years with IBM as Vice President of IBM’s Federal Systems Division.
He began learning the stories and history he tells in 1995 when his family bought The Historic Orchard at Altapass, which is astride the Parkway, to keep it safe from development. The Orchard, now a non-profit public charity, preserves old apples, old stories, old music, and new butterflies, among other things. He was surprised to find the tracks of his ancestors along the Revolutionary War trail passing through the Orchard. His stories reflect the character, humor, and integrity of the people and events that have touched this special place.
He is recipient of the Charles J. Parker Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development and Promotion of the Travel Industry of North Carolina, recognized as a Traditional Artist for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, cited by FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway as Keeper of the Way, and honored by the Blue Ridge Parkway as Volunteer of the Year for the district containing The Orchard. He was an invited speaker at “The Best of Our State” in Pinehurst, where he told stories of Altapass.
Presentation
What Does Partnership Look Like? Successes and Stresses from one Working Partnership
The owners of this well-known Parkway attraction will present examples of progress and setbacks, including the condemnation and taking of the orchard land for building the Parkway, arrival of current owners, Parkway closure and detours, shared programs, mutual support, great successes, and a glimpse of how the future could look.
