The Lincoln times., 1955-01-24
(By Wade Lucas)

"The Promised Land" was the
label hung on what is now a part
of North Carolina by Philip Am
adas and Arthur Barlow when they
returned to England in the late
1500's to report to Sir Walter Ra-
leigh about what they had seen in
"the New World.
1t was in what is also now a part
of North Carolina that Virginia
Dare. the first white child to be
born in "the New World, first
saw the light of day as the daugh-
ter of AnaniaS and Eleanor Dare.
1t was also in what is now part
of the Tar Heel State - Roanoke
Island to be exact - that the first
English Colony was established in
1885.
"FIRSTS" FOUND ANYWHERE
"Firsts" in North Carolina, rich
in history and endowed generally
with about as equable a climate
that can be found anywhere, are
not at all rare. Another example
of a famous "first" is that it was
on North Carolina that modern
aviation was born with the Wright
Brothers first powered flight on
December IT, 1908.
From it's historic coast to its ma
jestic mountains, North Carolina
today offers unparalleled attrac-
tionS for the tourist and for those
contemplating retirement in a
State that always extends the glad
hand of welcome.
people go where they are in
vited and stay where they are well
treated" says Director Ben E.
Douglas of the North Carolina De-
partment of Conservation and De-
velopment.
This Is the State agency charg-
ed with the conservation and de-
velopment of North Cardinals vast
natural resources and, among 9TH
er duties, the development of its
attractions for tourists and for
those planning to retire to tn e
quiet life.
Today, North Cardinals tourist
industry-and Director Douglas
insists the tourist business is an in
dustry-is conservatively estimat-
ed to be worth from 1925. 100000 to
$350,000,000 annually. AS result
of a consistent, well-planned ad-
vertising program, people through
out the free world are kept in
formed Of the many attractions
North Carolina has to offer tour
lists and those planning on retire
ment.
Through its growing State Tour
ist Bureau, unit of the Depart
ment's Division of Commerce and
Industry, Michael (BilD Taft.
Tourist Bureau manager, the De-
partment of Conservation and De-
velopment and its other divisions
keep up a constant "pitch" for
tourists and retired people.
ATTRACT RETIRED PEOPLE
The States growing attractions
for retired people might well be
summed up in statement by
Stanley Wahab of Ocracoke, which
is a small island off the North
Carolina coast. "I believe SO per-
cent of the homeowners on Ocra-
coke are retired people," Mr.. Wa
hab said recently. "I have been
told that Buxton, Hatteras, Fris-
co. and Rodanthe (also on North
Cardinals famed Outer Banks)
have higher percent Of retired
people"
MANAGER Taft of the Tourist
Bureau recently completed State
wide survey and in his report to
Director Douglas he said. "Almost
every section of North Carolina
now has retired people. Some pre-
fer the more vigorous climate OF
the mountains with their cooler
winters. Asheville, Hendersonville
(Poet-Author Carl Sandburg lives
ct Flat Rock near Hendersonville),
Waynesville and Black Mountain
are popular"
Others contemplating retire
ment look for milder winters and
warmer summers. They find what
they seek in the States rich in