Christine Cronin founded Wings of Eagles Ranch nearly 29 years ago, after a horse helped her son blossom physically, mentally, and emotionally. Today the ranch is a therapeutic riding center and outdoor adventure center. She has also spent 25 years working toward a dream of respite cabins for special needs families, and that dream is finally becoming real. Lake Norman designer Misty Molloy of CoCreative Interiors joins her to tell the story of how NARI's Charlotte chapter, local builders, and dozens of volunteers brought five cabins to life.

https://wingsofeaglesranch.org/

Virtual tour of the original, unfurnished cabin:
https://unbranded.youriguide.com/f035e0e7-e236-499d-976b-45d8e6e724f4

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37YTC7KLYVNUA/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Special thanks to:
Misty Malloy
https://www.cocreativeinteriors.com/

NARI Charlotte
https://www.naricharlotte.com/

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

About the host:

Jeff Hamm is the visionary behind The Best of LKN – a media platform that has been spotlighting and promoting the most adored local small businesses and nonprofits in the Lake Norman area since 2020.

Jeff’s also an expert Lake Norman real estate broker who brings deep expertise in premium neighborhoods and strong ties to the region’s top builders, designers, and service providers.

Learn more:

Lake Norman, North Carolina
www.LKNreal.com

Banner Elk, North Carolina
www.BannerElkLiving.com

Jeff Hamm is a North Carolina real estate broker serving two of the state's most sought-after markets: Lake Norman and the greater High Country region. He specializes in luxury and second-home property, from Lake Norman's waterfront and golf communities to High Country communities including The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Elk River Club, Farm at Banner Elk, Diamond Creek, Blue Ridge Mountain Club, and Echota. His focus is buyer representation, where his relationships with each region's top listing brokers, builders, and designers give his clients a measurable edge.

Jeff is also the founder and host of two local media platforms, The Best of LKN and Banner Elk Living. Each includes a podcast and newsletter that spotlights the area's most admired small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. He publishes the annual Lake Norman Visitors Guide and Banner Elk Guide, produces regular market reports for both regions, and hosts The Best of Lake Norman Business Network.

Support the show

Jeff King took over as general manager of Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club in July. He started as a 17-year-old busboy in Miami and has more than 30 years in hospitality behind him. His first look at the view from the club's veranda convinced him he'd found what he'd been missing. Jeff Hamm sits down with him on location to hear what has stood out in his first three months, starting with a membership that asks, "How can we help you?"

Jeff talks about why hospitality means spotting the look before a guest has to ask, and how social memberships work for people who don't own a boat. He also shares a packed holiday lineup: a Santa brunch, a masquerade ball, a family-friendly "Noon Year's Eve," and a toy-drive party for the Lake Norman Lighted Boat Parade that's open to non-members.

https://www.peninsulayacht.com/

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

About the host:

Jeff Hamm is the visionary behind The Best of LKN – a media platform that has been spotlighting and promoting the most adored local small businesses and nonprofits in the Lake Norman area since 2020.

Jeff’s also an expert Lake Norman real estate broker who brings deep expertise in premium neighborhoods and strong ties to the region’s top builders, designers, and service providers.

Learn more:

Lake Norman, North Carolina
www.LKNreal.com

Banner Elk, North Carolina
www.BannerElkLiving.com

Jeff Hamm is a North Carolina real estate broker serving two of the state's most sought-after markets: Lake Norman and the greater High Country region. He specializes in luxury and second-home property, from Lake Norman's waterfront and golf communities to High Country communities including The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Elk River Club, Farm at Banner Elk, Diamond Creek, Blue Ridge Mountain Club, and Echota. His focus is buyer representation, where his relationships with each region's top listing brokers, builders, and designers give his clients a measurable edge.

Jeff is also the founder and host of two local media platforms, The Best of LKN and Banner Elk Living. Each includes a podcast and newsletter that spotlights the area's most admired small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. He publishes the annual Lake Norman Visitors Guide and Banner Elk Guide, produces regular market reports for both regions, and hosts The Best of Lake Norman Business Network.

Support the show

Maureen Smith of Birkdale Village is back, and the Huntersville favorite has a packed calendar. That starts with the return of Taste of Birkdale for the first time since 2023, now that every restaurant on the property is built out and ready to serve. All ticket proceeds go to Community Culinary School of Charlotte, and Maureen's story about watching Chef Ron welcome a nervous prospective student is worth the listen on its own.

Maureen also covers a Halloween weekend with a Nightmare Before Christmas movie night and morning trick-or-treating through the shops. Then come the ice rink, the tree lighting she calls her "love letter" to the community, and Santa through Christmas Eve. She also looks back on 2026 so far: new comedy and illusionist nights on the plaza, Suffolk Punch's first year, and a hint at new store announcements coming soon.

https://www.birkdalevillage.com/events/taste-of-birkdale-village

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

About the host:

Jeff Hamm is the visionary behind The Best of LKN – a media platform that has been spotlighting and promoting the most adored local small businesses and nonprofits in the Lake Norman area since 2020.

Jeff’s also an expert Lake Norman real estate broker who brings deep expertise in premium neighborhoods and strong ties to the region’s top builders, designers, and service providers.

Learn more:

Lake Norman, North Carolina
www.LKNreal.com

Banner Elk, North Carolina
www.BannerElkLiving.com

Jeff Hamm is a North Carolina real estate broker serving two of the state's most sought-after markets: Lake Norman and the greater High Country region. He specializes in luxury and second-home property, from Lake Norman's waterfront and golf communities to High Country communities including The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Elk River Club, Farm at Banner Elk, Diamond Creek, Blue Ridge Mountain Club, and Echota. His focus is buyer representation, where his relationships with each region's top listing brokers, builders, and designers give his clients a measurable edge.

Jeff is also the founder and host of two local media platforms, The Best of LKN and Banner Elk Living. Each includes a podcast and newsletter that spotlights the area's most admired small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. He publishes the annual Lake Norman Visitors Guide and Banner Elk Guide, produces regular market reports for both regions, and hosts The Best of Lake Norman Business Network.

Support the show