Issa Vibe Adventures Brings a New Vibe to Wilkes

Issa Vibe Adventures: Bringing New People to Wilkes County

For many residents of Wilkes County it is easy to take for granted the natural beauty that surrounds us. Whether you enjoy kayaking down the Yadkin River, wading into the public beach area at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir, hiking the trails at Stone Mountain, or just walking along the greenways of Wilkesboro, it’s relatively easy to enjoy an adventure in the great outdoors on a regular basis.

Experiencing the outdoors didn’t come quite as easy for Charles Gbenyon, Jr., co-founder of Issa Vibe Adventures. Growing up in Charlotte, in a traditional and somewhat strict Liberian home, he wasn’t exposed to activities like hiking, camping and fishing. “It wasn’t until I was an adult, when I went on a hike with some friends to Morrow Mountain, that I got an appreciation of what the outdoors meant to me,” Charles said.

That hike was just the beginning of a new way of life for Charles. He joined up with friends Ali Steele and Lisa Colvin to found Issa Vibe Adventures, a Charlotte-based organization with the goal to introduce more people to the outdoors and help people understand the benefits of connecting with nature and improving their overall wellness. “Our business was built to get people outdoors, especially people that look like us, black people,” Charles said.

Issa Vibe Adventures hosts trail hikes and other events to get people outside and help them learn how to enjoy nature. While leading the events, Charles, Lisa and Ali use the time to talk with participants about trail etiquette and being good stewards of the environment. “Part of getting people outside more is helping them feel comfortable about it,” Charles said. “Sometimes it’s as simple as knowing how to interact with other people you might meet on the trails, or being prepared for situations you might encounter in the outdoors, such as ticks or sudden thunderstorms,” Charles said.

Issa Vibe Adventures takes groups of people from Charlotte to places all around North Carolina. Last summer the group made their first trip to Wilkes County. “We were looking for places that were off the beaten path, and that led us to Carter Falls in eastern Wilkes County,” Charles said.

During the height of the pandemic, many people found a renewed interest in outdoor activities, with movie theaters and theme parks closed. That helped Issa Vibe grow their business, but it also meant popular destinations were often crowded to capacity, sometimes turning people away at the gates. “We were looking for somewhere we could go to enjoy being out on the trails without feeling crowded, and without the risk of not even getting access to the trails,” Charles said. “The trails in Wilkes provided a great option for us. Our group had people from ages 5 to 65, and all of them enjoyed the hike and experiencing the falls.”

Issa Vibe Adventures was so enthralled with the beauty in Wilkes County that they’re planning more adventures up here in the near future. “A lot of people aren’t familiar with Wilkes County, and we’re really excited to explore it more,” Ali said.