As we head into our fifteenth year at Blue Ridge Hiking Company, we are beginning the season with a very exciting announcement. Lindsey Barr, our manager for the past four years, is taking the reins as the new owner. Our founder, Jennifer Pharr Davis, will remain on board as a guide for corporate and teambuilding retreats, and as Blue Ridge Hiking Company’s #1 fan and cheerleader. Lindsey and Jennifer have been working towards this transition over the past six months and are grateful to both be stepping into roles that best serve Blue Ridge Hiking Company and help fulfill their personal dreams.
Lindsey joined the Blue Ridge Hiking Company team in early 2019. She quickly helped to open our specialty retail shop in downtown Asheville, NC and our bunkhouse and basecamp, the Appalachian Trail-er, in Hot Springs, NC. Under her leadership, Blue Ridge Hiking Company has grown from hosting around 1,000 hikers in 2018 to over 1,500 hikers in 2022. She had led revenue growth of over 350% during that same timeframe. And while ownership has changed, the team is still very much intact, with all 2022 guides returning for another great season in 2023. The fact that every 2022 guide is returning for the 2023 season is a testament to Lindsey’s leadership and the relationship she has built with our incredible team.
There is no better job or mission that helping to get people outdoors. “I came to Blue Ridge Hiking Company because I connected deeply with its belief that the trail is there for everyone. I’ve found that helping people discover themselves by spending time in nature is more fulfilling than I could have imagined. I’m proud of how far I’ve grown under Jennifer’s mentorship, and am excited for what the future holds!” says Lindsey. "Lindsey and I have worked closely together for four years and I can think of no better person to entrust with the future of Blue Ridge Hiking Company. I am so excited for what the future holds under her leadership." added Jennifer.
We are grateful for what we have built and we are excited about what we will become.
Lindsey Barr, Owner
Jennifer Pharr Davis, Founder
