Celebrating the Great Outdoors With You Since 1972
We’re celebrating 50 years (and counting!) as your homegrown, North Carolina and Virginia destination for all performance-oriented, and mountain-lifestyle clothing and gear. Thank you for making Great Outdoor Provision Co. your starting point for adventure in the land and waters we all love.
Our Beginning
This image is of our founder, Tom Valone, circa 1975, at the Haw Rivers steel bridge take out. Notes on the back of this photo indicate that it was mid June, and that the river was running about 2 1/2 ft on the old US 64 Gauge, which meant that there were a few class 4’s and lots of 2’s and 3’s. The boats are nylon/glass Phoenix Cascades, the paddles are Kobers, the cartoppers are Quick N Easy’s, life vests are Seda, the helmets are hockey helmets, and the old river car is a ’59 “219” with about 220,000 miles on it. The technical apparel included a cotton T-shirt, forever-to-dry cut-off shorts and Chuck Taylor river shoes.
Tom’s love for outdoor adventure, combined with the desire to find and share the gear that makes life outside enjoyable and safe, was what inspired him to start Great Outdoor Provision Co. in the back of a small bike shop in Chapel Hill, NC, back in 1972.
Now: 3 Owners and 9 Locations across NC & VA
We believe in homegrown growth! We have gone from that single small shop back in 1972, to 9 locations celebrating the mountains to sea diversity of North Carolina and Virginia.
In 2012, ownership was transferred to Chuck Millsaps, Molly Cherry and Travis Zarins – 3 long-time managers as invested in local adventure and conservation as Tom (who still serves as an advisor and mentor).
It continues to be our mission to nurture and protect our beautiful wild spaces. Together with our passionate customers, we hope to enjoy and equip adventure, exploration and relaxation of the Great Outdoors of NC and VA for generations to come.
