Meet the Ranger

If the summer of 2019 was your last visit to Lake James State Park, welcome back and things have changed. Notably, the ranger staff at the park is going into the 2020 season at full strength, thanks to the recent addition of veteran Ranger Brian Vick.

Although Vick has lived in North Carolina for more than 30 years, he gained his first ranger experience in northern Colorado as a seasonal reservoir ranger for five years. During that time, Vick and his wife travelled across the western states in search of outdoor recreation and wilderness, but they always found themselves returning to their native state of North Carolina.

In 2017, Vick successfully applied for a permanent ranger position at Hammocks Beach State Park in coastal Onslow County and now, with his acceptance of the job here, they have made their home in western NC.

“It is by design that we find ourselves in WNC and Lake James,” said Vick. “This area has always felt like home to us. My wife and I met in Asheville and we are looking forward to raising our son here.”

During his career with both Colorado and North Carolina parks, Vick has accumulated a vast amount of boating experience, including a skill set that will serve him and park visitors well with, more than 33 miles of lake shoreline to patrol and an ever increasing amount of water recreation.

Most of all, Vick is looking forward to ensuring everyone who visits Lake James has a safe and positive experience.

“This is a true outdoors park,” he said. “The trails at Lake James are trails I plan to hike with my family. The campgrounds are places we plan to stay. I love and appreciate the outdoors and I want to do everything I can to protect it. Being a park ranger is the best way I can think of to do that.”

Ranger Vick will take on the duty of swim area manager, as well as all of the law enforcement, first responder, search and rescue, resource management, environmental education and other required responsibilities that come with the territory.

“I’m literally living my dream.”