Thank you for featuring the WNC Nature Center’s centennial in the June 4 Mountain Xpress [“Animal House: The WNC Nature Center Celebrates Its Centennial”]. The early history was interesting to read as I had only heard bits and pieces of it.
I was disappointed, however, that Chris Gentile’s remarkable transformation of the WNC Nature Center during his tenure was not highlighted. Under his guidance and his excellent staff, the habitats were immensely improved to their present natural appearing states. When I volunteered there, it was not unusual to see Chris actually doing the construction of several of the habitats.
The state of the WNC Nature Center, I believe, is the result of Chris’ vision and hard work achieving that vision and on into the future. He and the staff are to be commended for this remarkable facility in Asheville…