The Enka Youth Sports Organization’s Bob Lewis Ballpark “Iconic Sports Destination Development Through Visitor Amenity Enhancements” Project has been awarded $720,000 from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority's Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) to deliver high-impact facility upgrades that expand tournament capacity and enhance the visitor experience. This investment will strengthen the ballpark’s role as a leading youth sports tourism destination in Buncombe County.

"From the beginning, our vision has been to create a place that serves both our community and the broader sports tourism market. This investment helps us realize that vision—providing local families with a first-class facility while welcoming visitors whose presence strengthens Buncombe County’s economy and community spirit," said Stuart Weidie, Board Chair, Enka Youth Sports Organization. 

Bob Lewis Ballpark has become a leading youth sports venue in Western North Carolina, hosting more than 35 baseball and softball tournaments each year and attracting teams from across the country. The project will include enhancements such as parking lot paving to expand tournament capacity, a signature gateway with wayfinding to establish a sense of place, shade sails for spectator comfort, and turf improvements to maintain safe, high-quality playing conditions—among other upgrades that elevate the overall experience for visitors and residents alike.

“As our community continues to bounce back and move forward from Hurricane Helene, this year’s Tourism Product Development Fund investments are powerful commitments to supporting Asheville and Buncombe County's resilience,” said Vic Isley, President & CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “These investments, powered by lodging tax paid by visitors, align with the authority’s strategic

imperatives crafted from hundreds of hours of listening to the community and demonstrate how travel and hospitality is an essential contributor to our community's ability to rebound quicker. Each project creates a compelling new reason for visitors to choose Buncombe County while delivering tangible benefits that enhance pride, quality of life, and experience for residents throughout Buncombe County.”

TPDF supports major tourism capital projects by providing grants, loans, and debt service, benefiting both residents and visitors in Buncombe County. Established in 2001, TPDF is funded entirely through occupancy taxes paid by visitors staying overnight in Buncombe County commercial lodging facilities. With today’s decision, the authority has invested more than $98 million in 73 TPDF investments across 45 community projects throughout Buncombe County.

Source: Bob Lewis Ballpark.