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Watauga County transferred ownership of the former Watauga High School property, located off Highway 105 in Boone, to App State on Sept. 29, 2017. The acquisition of this property, now called Appalachian 105, allows the university to make deliberate choices about growth and build an intentional community.

The property consists of 75 acres and was appraised at $16.7 million.

A portion of the property — the 34 acres that comprised the former high school's track, softball and outdoor tennis courts — has been subdivided with efforts focused on redesigning and upgrading this area to university-level, competition-grade venues for track, softball and tennis.

App State had been exploring other options for development, including student residence halls, a day care facility and student recreation fields. Three interactive listening sessions were held in January 2018, allowing campus and community members to share ideas for the property’s use.

App State continues exploring other options for development to meet the university’s needs for collaborative academic spaces, including event space, parking, residence halls and additional recreation accommodations for students.

Read a summary of themes and ideas

View property on Google Maps

This April 25, 2022, photo displays construction work at the site of App State's Appalachian 105 property. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the new track and field competition/practice area at App State's Appalachian 105 property, as of March 22, 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds

This photo, taken Jan. 13, 2022, shows construction progress on App State’s new track and field competition/practice area at the Appalachian 105 property in Boone. The stands shown at right in the foreground will be refurbished as part of the project. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on App State’s new track and field competition/practice area at the Appalachian 105 property, as of Nov. 9, 2021. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The Appalachian 105 property is cleared for development, as shown in this August 2021 photo. Photo by Chase Reynolds

The grandstand at the old Watauga High School is dismantled June 3, 2021, as part of the App 105 project. Watauga County transferred ownership of the former high school property, located off Highway 105, to App State in fall 2017. Acquisition of the property allows the university to make deliberate choices about growth and build an intentional community. Metal from the grandstand is being recycled. Photo by Marie Freeman

A close-up image of the grandstand being dismantled June 3, 2021, to make way for a new track and field competition and practice area at the App 105 site. The metal is being recycled. Photo by Marie Freeman

The former Watauga High School property, located off Highway 105 about a mile from the main campus, offers new opportunities for Appalachian. Photo by Marie Freeman

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Status

In October 2018, the UNC Board of Governors approved App State’s requests to designate the Appalachian 105 property as having millennial campus status and to move forward with the conceptual design process. In March 2019, the UNC Board of Governors approved the authority to spend money for the competition and training facilities for the university’s track and field, tennis and softball programs.

The university requested April 29, 2019, that the Boone Town Council and Town of Boone Planning Commission rezone part of the Appalachian 105 property, from B3 to E1 — which means educational without residential. The project is being designed by CHA Consulting Inc., of Raleigh.

A phased construction of the projects began in May 2021, when Barton Malow was awarded the contract to create the new competition track and field and address underground stormwater retention. The project began with demolition of the grandstand in June 2021 and the recycling of that metal. The installation of drainage, electrical and irrigation systems is underway, and the construction of retaining walls is ongoing. Workers are also preparing the site for sod installation and paving and setting up equipment for field events. Completion of the track and field competition/practice area and associated site work is slated for summer 2022.

Until new tennis courts are complete, App State’s varsity tennis teams will use the Rivers Street courts. Those courts were resurfaced in fall 2019 and also serve academic tennis classes and University Recreation.

A rendering of the finished athletics projects. Image courtesy of CHA Consulting Inc.

How is it funded?

Competition and training facilities for the university’s track and field and a team support building with locker rooms and public restrooms are expected to cost $11.8 million. These will be funded by donations to Appalachian Athletics’ “A Mountaineer Impact: A Drive for Excellence” fundraising initiative. Funding for other development would need to be determined as plans for those possibilities progress.

Who will benefit?

The entire campus community eventually will benefit from this project. Since the property is being developed in phases, the first groups to benefit will be students and athletics.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

An enhanced campus designed with students, faculty, staff and the public in mind supports recruitment and retention of all members of the university and local communities.