George Real Estate Group Radio Broadcast

One Cowboy, Countless Neighbors, And A Town That Won’t Quit

• George Real Estate Group

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A cowboy hat, a chainsaw, and a heart for neighbors—that’s the unlikely recipe that helped a mountain town rebuild after devastating floods. We spotlight “Cowboy Joe,” a Wyoming native who passed through Chimney Rock, fell in love with the community, and never left. Working alongside Spokes of Hope, he’s hauled debris, rebuilt roofs, reopened storefronts, coordinated Amish volunteers, and stacked more than 30 cords of firewood so families stay warm this winter. His voice is steady, his mission clear: follow the need, assemble the crew, and do the next right thing.

We dig into the realities of long-term recovery: families still displaced, homes that can’t be rebuilt, and the race against colder nights. Joe shares a new mission to Tennessee, where grandparents raising grandchildren lack basic utilities—proof that service doesn’t stop at county lines. You’ll hear exactly how to get free firewood through Chief Steve Freeman in Bat Cave, where to volunteer or donate via Spokes of Hope, and what kinds of skills and supplies make the biggest difference on the ground.

We also zoom out to a trend reshaping our region: environmental refugees. Western North Carolina continues to attract households escaping hurricanes, fires, and rising risk elsewhere. Even after last year’s extreme event, our area remains comparatively mild and resilient. We close with a clear-eyed real estate snapshot—moderating rates, steady demand, tight inventory, and average prices still in the 530s—plus practical guidance for anyone navigating a move tied to life changes.

Ready to help or need a hand? Reach us at 828-393-0134 or visit realestatebygreg.com. Subscribe, share this story with a friend, and leave a review to help more neighbors find the resources and hope they need.

SPEAKER_02:

The George Real Estate Group Radio broadcast is celebrating ten years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating ten years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450 and streaming online at WHKP.com. Each Friday morning at 845, the George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. 845 and time now for our George Real Estate Group, Hometown Hero Salute. And we've been looking forward to this week, and it's and also looking forward to uh our guest and and having Noah back behind the mic. How you doing, Brian?

SPEAKER_01:

Good morning. I'm doing great and happy Friday and happy birthday, WHKP. Uh 79th uh birthday in seven decades of serving this seven plus decades. I mean, y'all are going into your eighth decade, which is incredible.

SPEAKER_02:

That is.

SPEAKER_01:

So happy birthday uh to WHKP.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, well, thank you very much. Uh we're celebrating around here and uh and uh the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Series is very, very, very much a part of our uh success and and our uh our programming here at the radio station. We like to shine a light on the uh community and reflect the community back to itself. And and there's some wonderful people in this community that we've met over the years and and continue to meet every day.

SPEAKER_01:

It's amazing. The pe men and women that we have the opportunity to shine a light on and spread the good news of amazing things happening in this community. And it's a privilege and honor to sponsor the Hometown Hero series, you know, every Friday morning. You also know we do our Thursday morning show every morning at uh uh 10 a.m. on Thursdays, been doing that since 2011.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh so you know, just great for very much a part of our programming.

SPEAKER_02:

You really are, and we we thank you for your support.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it's important. The the the community, I mean, this is uh community uh radio. I mean, that's what it's about. So we love serving the community, we love uh helping the community, we love being part of the community, and again, we have incredible agents, we have incredible staff, and and ultimately our clients. I mean, we wouldn't be what we are without our clients, and and this is my 20th year uh serving the community through real estate and just grateful for the opportunity. And uh we love love this community and grateful to be part of it.

SPEAKER_02:

You're part of it. You grew up here, and uh what is it you always say about you weren't born here, but I got here as quick as I could when I was six years old.

SPEAKER_01:

I got here as quick as I could. My uh my parents uh moved us here from our family from Florida, which uh you know common story. Right. Uh they they had their first experience here in 1982. Uh they my dad got here on a on a Sunday or Monday, and then he fell in love with it, never been here before, and bought a house on Friday. What about that? In that while he he never and then again took him a few years to wind down his business in Florida, and then you know he retired up here, moved our family up here, and I mean this has been home.

SPEAKER_02:

This is home.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so grateful.

SPEAKER_02:

So it's a great home. It really that's I was talking about this earlier. It really is a privilege to reflect to this community back to itself, and that's what radio does. And and we picked a good one. We certainly did.

SPEAKER_01:

We picked a good one, absolutely so much to be thankful for and and grateful for, and again, this community is awesome.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, listen, uh Michael Brown was here a couple of weeks ago. You and I uh just sat and listened to his story about the tiny homes uh in western North Carolina, and one of the people that he met uh was Cowboy Joe, and he recommended that we talk with uh Cowboy Joe.

SPEAKER_01:

And what a story! And I know we're gonna hear more this morning, but uh Cowboy Joe and the and the work he's been doing.

SPEAKER_02:

And continues to do. Thank you for joining us on our George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero series, and uh I've got uh Cowboy Joe on the line. Good morning, Joe. Good morning. It's good to talk with you. Uh you come highly recommended as someone that uh we ought to be talking to on our hometown hero series. Uh tell me uh a little bit about uh yourself.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, uh, you know, I I'm from Wyoming originally and uh I was traveling across the country and you know I came east and I came through Chimney Rock a while back and fell in love with the area, and then after I saw what the hurricane did here, I had to come help and just been here ever since and selling with spokes and it's been great ever since then. But other than that, that's pretty much my life here.

SPEAKER_02:

How'd you get the name Cowboy?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I think it came because uh I wear a cowboy hat and I'm from Wyoming.

SPEAKER_02:

That fits, I guess.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it fits the bill.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, uh you uh have been in Chimney Rock and have been helping with uh uh Shane Zakola's uh Spokes of Hope. Uh what kind of uh what kind of things have you been doing there to help flood victims?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, we've done everything from uh debris cleanup. Um lately we've been doing a lot of chainsaw and firewood work. We've been building houses and getting people back in their homes. Uh lots of roof rebuilding. We got the businesses down and chimney rock opened back up. Um you know, we've been doing everything. Uh odds and ends, and for a while I was a bus driver for the Amish. I would go up to the Brown farm and uh pick them up from the base camp there and bring them down here and and then uh get them sorted out on jobs and uh run materials logistically and and that sort of thing. Um so anywhere from the little things from debris cleanup to yards and and then actually rebuilding what they need done after the damage that had occurred here.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that's fantastic. You you not only work uh around Bat Cave and and Chimney Rock, uh, but you uh I believe are telling me that that you gonna be uh by the time this comes on the air, you'll be up in Tennessee doing some work, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. So we got one of the volunteers that came down and helped us here in Chimney Rock was doing some side work for a family up in Tennessee. It's uh a grand a grandma and a grandfather that are raising grandchildren, and they just uh are not they don't have a suitable living situation. So we're actually gonna go up there um tomorrow, I believe, and we're gonna start helping them have a better living situation because um I mean they don't they don't have anything, they don't even have a shower. They got one working toilet and and they live in their living room all together. So we're gonna go up there and Jay reached out to us because he knows our organization. He's been here and Jimmy Rock helping and he asked if we could help. So we're gonna do a quick respond um there for about I think 10, 15 days and and get them in a better living situation for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Joe, what uh what is uh I guess the worst situation that you've run into uh while helping in the uh Batcave Chimney Rock area?

SPEAKER_00:

I think the worst situation, in my opinion, um, is just how many people have lost their homes due to all this. Um and some can't even rebuild. And the ones that we are trying to rebuild has in my opinion has taken longer than I I would have expected, but you know, we're trying our best to, you know, rebuild and get people back into the homes, the ones that are displaced. And I think in in my opinion, that's the hardest thing to see is you know, families that have truly lost everything, you know, during the flood. I uh ru in in my heart I want to get them back in their homes as quickly as possible. And we've already come up to a year and and we still got a long way to go.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and and winter's coming and uh and that winter is coming. Yeah, that clock is ticking, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Exactly. It's ticking. And I hope and I pray for the ones that are displaced, they have a situation that that they're comfortable in as winter as winter approaches um this year. And that's actually another reason why we do an event typically on Saturdays, um, of cutting firewood is to make sure that people have you know warmth in their homes this winter too. Free of charge too. So if anyone on the air hears that, they can come and get some firewater if they want to swing an axe and split some wood. And they're welcome to come on Saturdays as well.

SPEAKER_02:

That uh uh if I read correctly, uh you you and the community got together this past Saturday and and got like uh 30 cords of wood split and and ready to hand out.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, sir. Yes, we did. We had a good team come in of you know, anywhere from all over that came with wood splitters. We had wood for warriors come down, they brought wood splitters, and I mean it was just a great team. And yes, we did over 30 cords of wood in two days. It was a Friday and Saturday event. So it was really good.

SPEAKER_02:

Where uh where can folks come to get that wood if they need it?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so I would recommend talking to the the fire chief, Steve Freeman, here in Batcave. Um he will direct anyone who is looking for firewood in the directions to pick that up.

SPEAKER_02:

What uh what can any of our listeners do that uh may feel led to to contribute? Uh what can folks do to help?

SPEAKER_00:

I mean, Spokes is always uh uh in in the areas taking donations, um but and also you know, anyone that's willing to come and volunteer, um, they can sign up on the Spokes of Hope website and talk to Connie or Shane and anybody then get on the if they want to come volunteer, they can, or donations, that's always welcome.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh Joe, what uh who in your life uh in the past inspired you to to give and to to donate and to help people? Where did that come from in your heart?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, if I'm being honest, uh it was it was God let me here. Um He put it on my heart to come and help um the people down here. And and that's really and I just follow him and praise God.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, Joe, we thank you so much for uh taking time out of your schedule to chat with us, and uh we're uh really grateful to you for coming into our area, falling in love with our area and our people and helping out. Uh and I'm sure our paths will cross again. Uh, Cowboy Joe, uh working with the Spokes of Hope and all the other volunteers in the Batcave and Girton community, Chimney Rock. Uh Joe, we thank you so much for all you've done.

SPEAKER_00:

And thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02:

Have a good day, buddy. Hey, you too. Thanks. Great story, huh?

SPEAKER_01:

It's amazing. And again, uh ultimately his faith that led him here and and and showing up and again the the work that's being done here, I mean there's so much to do.

SPEAKER_02:

It's amazing to me that uh week after week after week we we run into people who are working still to get people under roof. And uh so yeah, we're glad to honor. I think next week we're gonna talk to the uh the DoorDash ladies of Batcave. Uh we're gonna keep telling the stories.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, like and again, so thankful for Cowboy Joe and again how his path led here. It's a pretty compelling story.

SPEAKER_02:

It really, really is. Uh we've got a couple of minutes left here.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I I gotta say though, I actually yesterday on my show I was talking about you hear about refugees, you know, political refugees, but there's this concept called environmental refugees, and where people experience these natural disasters like fires, hurricanes, flooding, uh volcanoes, even I mean, like Typhoons in Alaska. Yeah, I mean, people, I mean, this it's it's a real thing where you know people are environmental refugees. Environmental refugees. Um we think of Katrina. How many families moved here to Western North Carolina because of Katrina? And and I know the resilience of our community here, and people are committed to staying here and to being here and to rebuilding here, but but in some cases it's not possible. And so people then relocate. They relocate.

SPEAKER_02:

And uh we're on the map. We are.

SPEAKER_01:

Even with that you know, extreme event that we had you know last year, right? Overall, we have very mild climates, you know, considering. I mean, very few I mean, it's not like we're dealing with the tornadoes or the you know, it's not like we're on the coast experiencing hurricanes regularly or or the fires. I mean, again, we've had pieces of those. Right. You know, but nothing like some of the area or earthquakes. I mean, we've not had those uh you know consistent, you know, challenges like that a low lower risk area to to live in.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly, exactly. And I'm sure that's attractive to uh to folks who live in the fire-ravaged uh California and places like that. Yeah. And uh I didn't hear a news story uh this morning earlier that interest rates are coming down, and that is uh sparking some movement in real estate.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it is, and and again, our area here, the demand still remains strong. Prices have come down a little bit. We see a lot of price reductions. I mean, but the average price over the last 12 months is still in the 530s. Actually, there's been more homes sold in the last 12 months here than the previous 12 months. So, you know, it's an interesting market. I don't think the sky is not following the crash, the this, you know, the there's not an impending crash. The markets, you know, the there's still not enough inventory to keep up with demand. I mean, are things softening a little bit? Yes, but again, the demand, like or because of these interest rates. But we know real estate happens around life. It could be a really positive reason or a challenging reason, but we're here to serve the community.

SPEAKER_02:

Get us in touch with you guys.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. Give us a call, 828-393-0134, and find us online at realestatebygreg.com.

SPEAKER_02:

Join us next week for the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Series.

SPEAKER_01:

You've built a lifetime of strength, wisdom, and independence. And here's the best part. You still have it. Every decision, every step, every next chapter is yours to choose. Selling your home isn't about letting go, it's about opening the door to more freedom, more time for what you love, more energy for the people and passions that matter most. At the George Real Estate Group, we believe independence isn't behind you. It's right here, right now. Our team goes beyond buying and selling. We're here to help you protect your wealth, preserve your legacy, and make sure Uncle Sam doesn't become your biggest benefactor. We'll guide you every step of the way towards your next chapter, your next opportunity, and your freedom on your terms. Call us at 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygreg.com.

SPEAKER_02:

The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygreg.com. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-3930134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 1005 a.m. on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 AM, or stream online at WHKP.com or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 8 45.