09/17/2026
We are so excited for the growth our little hometown is having!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UTV Outfitter to Open Newest Location in Downtown Spruce Pine, NC Will Serve as “Basecamp” for UTV Rentals, Light Overlanding and Off-Roading
Spruce Pine, NC, Sept. 17, 2026 - Unseen Pass, a North Carolina-based street-legal UTV rental and off-road tour chain today announced that it will open its newest location in Downtown Spruce Pine at 337 Oak Avenue on October 1 of this year. The company recently purchased the long-vacant, historic Bank of America building and is in the early stages of a considerable investment and restoration that will transform the property into a multi-use destination. The company will add several full-time employees to operate it. When complete, it will feature a gallery for rotating art exhibitions, a museum that details the area’s history and the history of recreational UTV-ing, rental accommodations and a rooftop social space. Meanwhile, it will be open for business using exterior spaces.
Founder and CEO Kyle Wrightenberry explained that the location will serve as a hub for UTV exploration, light over-landing and off-road tours in North Carolina and Tennessee. “We’re taking to-heart Spruce Pine’s nickname of ‘Basecamp to the Blue Ridge,’” he said. “We want visitors to experience the area in ways that create deeper connections. In an open-air UTV, you become less of an observer and more of an active participant. I’ve always loved that about these vehicles,” he added.
Wrightenberry was instrumental in crafting legislation that made certain UTVs legal to operate on public roads in North Carolina and Tennessee. But for him, it wasn’t just about turning a hobby into a business. “I grew up driving UTVs and ATVs with my family and friends, discovering places that most people never got to experience,” he said. “It was always so amazing to share secret spots with new folks. And it’s still so moving to see how it helps build an appreciation for our natural spaces. Since we accomplished the legislation, it’s opened the opportunity to so many more people and allowed an entire business category to flourish here.” Wrightenberry concluded, “We’re a growing, family-owned business and we’re looking forward to joining the community. We've been so welcomed and can't wait to help grow the town.”
In addition to its street-legal UTV rentals, the company will offer guided, drive-it-yourself off-road tours at its private park in nearby Roan Mountain, TN. “We’ve found that once people experience driving these vehicles in easy situations, they often want to try off-roading,” Wrightenberry said. The park, High Country Off-Road Tours, features a variety of trails from easy to more challenging “black diamond” trails. The pinnacle is its “Million-Dollar View,” where visitors can catch a sweeping view from Tennessee back into North Carolina.
“As the first of its kind here, Unseen Pass is the perfect complement to the outdoor recreation opportunities we have in Spruce Pine and Mitchell County,” said Bill Slagle, Executive Director of the Mitchell County EDC. “It’s one more way for visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty we have here. From river rafting, kayaking and tubing, to fishing, to hiking and camping, we have something for everyone,” Slagle said.
“Our community has really come together to ensure this project’s success,” Slagle added. “The Mitchell County EDC office is very thankful for the assistance of Mayor Beth Holmes, Town Manager Daniel Stines and the entire Spruce Pine Town Council for facilitating it,” he continued. “In addition, County Manager Allen Cook and the Mitchell County Commissioners have offered unwavering support for the location of Unseen Pass to Mitchell County and the Town of Spruce Pine,” he said.
“We also extend a special thank you to Peter Franklin of Foxfire Real Estate, who has been instrumental in finding the perfect property for this venture. Additionally, General Manager Curtis Taylor of BRP, USA and the entire team at the BRP-Spruce Pine location for hosting planning meetings with the Unseen Pass team,” Slagle concluded.
Founded in 2020 by Kyle Wrightenberry,, Unseen Pass Off-Road Adventures is a privately owned corporation based in North Carolina. The company operates street-legal UTV rental stores in Emerald Isle, West Jefferson County, and Spruce Pine, North Carolina. It operates street-legal UTV rental stores in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; a private UTV off-road park in Sevier County and a private ATV off-road park in Newport, Tennessee.
Contact:
Kyle Wrightenberry
Unseen Pass
919-451-0569 | [email protected]
Bill Slagle
Mitchell County EDC
828-592-1029 | [email protected]
