Speaking Broadly with Laurel Park Mayor Carey O’Cain
Just west of Hendersonville sits the residential community of Laurel Park, North Carolina, a town known for its scenic beauty, tranquility, and rich history. In this episode of the Kudzu Project, Nick sits down with Laurel Park Mayor Carey O’Cain for a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of one of Western North Carolina’s most distinctive communities.
A Henderson County native, retired commercial contractor, longtime owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, and Laurel Park’s mayor since 2011, O’Cain brings decades of experience and a genuine love for this region to everything he does.
Beyond serving as mayor, Carey is also the creator and host of Broadly Speaking, the popular WTZQ radio series that explores the people, places, and stories of the French Broad River Valley. That passion for history shines throughout this conversation as he reflects on how the past continues to shape the future of Laurel Park and the greater Henderson County area.
Whether you’re interested in local government, Appalachian history, community preservation, or simply the stories that make Western North Carolina such a remarkable place to call home, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about the Town of Laurel Park: https://www.laurelpark.org
Listen to “Broadly Speaking” on WTZQ: https://www.wtzq.com/show/broadly-speaking/
Recorded in Hendersonville, NC — where stories grow wild.
