Special to IFN

RALEIGH — Colton Blake has been named the park superintendent of Lake Norman State Park.

Blake succeeds Scott Avis, who was promoted to superintendent of the South District of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation last year.

Park superintendents lead operations and administration at a park and have wide-ranging responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.

Blake has a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and ecology from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in parks and recreation management from North Carolina State University. A native of Winnabow in Brunswick County, he has been a ranger with the for six years, beginning at Pettigrew State Park before moving to Lake Norman State Park.

As a ranger, Blake earned an intermediate law enforcement certificate and a pesticide applicator license. He also has experience in waterfowl taxidermy.

“Colton has accomplished a lot during his time with the division, and we are excited to see what he will do as he leads Lake Norman,” said State Parks Deputy Director of Operations Kathy Capps. “Visitation for the park is consistently growing, especially after we completed the major renovations of the campground. We look forward to seeing Colton rise to this new challenge as park superintendent.”

Lake Norman boasts the region’s popular mountain biking trail system, the Itusi Trail, offering nearly 31 miles of single-track trail. The namesake lake is the largest manmade lake within North Carolina, and the park covers 17 miles of its northern shoreline. Park Lake, set off from the larger Lake Norman by a dam, offers quiet fishing spots and paddling. Heron rookeries on two islands shelter over 25 great blue heron nests.

About North Carolina State Parks

North Carolina State Parks manages more than 262,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.