Joseph Hiatt has been promoted to park superintendent of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery and Mitchell counties, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Hiatt is serving as the first park superintendent of the state natural area, which was previously managed by staff at Grandfather Mountain State Park.
A park superintendent oversees operations and administration at a park and has a wide range of responsibilities that include staffing, law enforcement, planning, resource management, education, and visitor services. At a state natural area transitioning from being managed by another state park, priorities will be hiring staff, monitoring accesses, marking boundaries, and overseeing natural resource projects and conservation efforts.
Hiatt is being promoted from a ranger position at Chimney Rock State Park. A native of Greensboro, he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management. He worked for the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department while in college and later also worked in maintenance for Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department's Triad Park.
Hiatt began his career with the division as an environmental education instructor at Haw River State Park, taking a break in between seasons to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. In 2016, he joined Dismal Swamp State Park as a park ranger, before heading out west to Chimney Rock. After a few years there, he was promoted to lead natural resource ranger at the park. Hiatt holds a pesticide applicator license and an intermediate law enforcement certificate. He is also currently serving as the chair of the division's interpretation and education council.
"We are thrilled to have a park superintendent at Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, which at nearly 4,000 acres is one of the larger units in the state parks system," said Deputy Director of Operations Kathy Capps. "Joe's dedication to natural resource management, education, and law enforcement has been evident in his many years of service for State Parks. We look forward to him taking on the challenge of shaping the future of Yellow Mountain."
Yellow Mountain State Natural Area comprises three land parcels spanning two counties and 3,805 acres of mountain landscape near the Tennessee border. Part of the Roan Mountain highlands, it is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the southern Appalachians, home to many rare and endangered species, including the golden-winged warbler. Though the state natural area is named after Big Yellow and Little Yellow mountains, it includes a number of high-elevation heath balds and mountain peaks.
The state natural area has been open under the management of Grandfather Mountain State Park but has sustained significant damage due to Hurricane Helene. It does not have public facilities, but the division is working on repairing the existing storm-damaged roads and assessing the landscape for potential passive recreation opportunities.
About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 264,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.