Buncombe County -- June 6, 2026: IIn a pivotal recommendation that could dramatically reshape a prominent stretch of local riverfront real estate, state officials are pushing to put the Craggy Correctional Center property up for sale on the open market. If finalized, the move would effectively rule out a direct property transfer to Buncombe County, steering the multi-acre site toward competitive private bidding instead.
While the state-level recommendation strongly signals Raleigh’s intent to maximize financial return on the asset, local officials emphasize that the decision is not yet final and must clear further regulatory hurdles before any listing takes place.
The developing real estate situation follows the mid-May announcement by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) that the minimum-security facility will wind down operations completely by late summer 2026.
Regional Staffing Crises Drive Closure Plan
The looming facility closure underscores a persistent economic challenge in Western North Carolina: state agencies struggling to compete with localized pay scales amid an escalating cost of living. NCDAC officials explicitly cited severe, chronic employee shortages as the primary driver behind the decision to shutter the facility.
The underlying workforce metrics paint a stark picture of the local infrastructure challenge:
The Pay Disparity: Starting salaries for state correctional officers hover under $39,000, while the nearby Buncombe County Detention Center offers starting pay scales closer to $61,000.
Recruitment Stagnation: Despite active recruitment efforts, the state facility managed to hire only 3 new permanent correctional officers over the last 24 months.
Gradual Downsizing: Staffing shortages previously forced the closure of the site's minimum-security wing and a reduction in custody levels just to keep the facility operational with a skeleton crew.
The remaining population of roughly 250 incarcerated men is currently being transferred to other facilities across the state. NCDAC confirmed that the 77 remaining staff members will be offered reassignments within Western North Carolina, avoiding layoffs.
What an Open Market Sale Means—And Why It Isn't Final
By recommending a public market sale over a direct municipal transfer, state officials are positioning the property for private commercial, residential, or mixed-use development along the busy Riverside Drive and Canoe Lane corridor.
A private sale would return the valuable acreage to the local tax rolls, creating a fresh stream of property tax revenue for both Buncombe County and the Town of Woodfin. However, it blocks local government planners from directly acquiring the land to guarantee public initiatives, such as county-managed affordable housing projects or expanded municipal parklands along the French Broad River.
Because this is currently a formal recommendation rather than a signed deal, a multi-step bureaucratic review process remains:
Council of State Approval Required: The recommendation must be formally presented to and approved by the North Carolina Council of State, which includes the Governor and other top state executives who hold final authority over the disposal of surplus state property.
Legislative Review: State lawmakers routinely monitor the decommissioning and sale of major state-owned facilities to ensure fiscal and regulatory compliance.
A Window for Local Input: Because the decision has not crossed the official finish line, a technical window remains for Buncombe County and Town of Woodfin leadership to lobby state representatives or present alternative regional usage proposals.
As state agencies prepare the preliminary groundwork for a potential bidding process later this year, local leaders and Woodfin residents are monitoring whether community advocates can influence the final disposition of this critical piece of the riverfront.