Local author pens second solo book
Lance Holland
Stecoah – A local resident has released a continuation to a book published 19 years ago.
The Nantahala River, A History and Guide is the latest work from Stecoah resident Lance Holland. The 224-page book serves as the next in-depth feature on the beauty and history of western North Carolina, following Fontana, A Pocket History of Appalachia, a 238-page work released in 2001.
“Everybody I know kept saying that I should just ‘go on upstream,’” Holland said with a chuckle. “The Fontana book has became the history book for the area that was affected by the construction of Fontana Lake.
“But this new book is not about whitewater paddling. It is a book about the Nantahala River. Whitewater paddling is certainly what has made the Nantahala River famous. Most people make a movie about a book; in my case, I wrote a book about a movie (Nantahala: Land of the Noonday Sun).”
Lance and his wife, Tina, have dedicated many years into serving and studying the area. He recalls taking “several thousand” people across Fontana Lake to the North Shore area, and the couple also became the historians for Fontana Village Resort, helping rebuild the Gunter Cabin and turn it into a museum.
Holland co-authored the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s go-to guide for outdoor enthusiasts – Hiking Trails of the Smokies – and also spent 20 years of his life working as a location agent for motion pictures, helping to bring films such as The Last of the Mohicans, The Fugitive and Nell to the area, with the latter two being filmed primarily in Graham County. He also produced and directed two documentaries; the aforementioned Nantahala film, and Hiking on Hazel Creek.
“I thought I was hired as a guide for The Last of the Mohicans; turned out, on my paycheck, it said I was a ‘location scout,’ “ Holland said. “I didn’t even know what that was, but they were paying really well, so I think I am one.”
But after two decades of helping Hollywood clientele, Holland was ready to slow down and focused on the place that captured his heart in the 1970s.
“My wife and I came to Fontana Village in 1979 and took a summer job. We never left,” Holland stated. “My wife finally retired from Fontana a few years ago. She ran the stores for the last 20 years or so.” Holland now owns and operates Appalachian Mercantile, a general purpose store at 158 Everett St. in Bryson City. He enjoys the slow pace that comes with “retirement.”
“After 20 years of making movies, as some people say, ‘I enjoyed that all I needed to,’” Holland joked. “I was not a movie buff; I basically did it because I was good at it and they paid me a lot to do it. It is extremely hard work; 12-14 hours and six days a week is normal.
“We call Appalachian Mercantile ‘Purveyor of All Manner of Merchandise and Entertainment.’ That’s what we try to do: entertain the people.”
The Nantahala River: A History and Guide, as well as Fontana: A Pocket History of Appalachia, are both available for purchase on the store’s website, appalachianmercantile.net and at the store itself. For details, call 828-488-2531.