The brand and backstory of a Fayetteville treasure.
written by JULIE PERINE
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS
A CHARMING STOREFRONT ON NORTH COURT STREET in Fayetteville opens onto an eclectic collection of items bearing the brand Lost Appalachia Trading Co. “It’s a lifestyle brand: apparel, mugs, water bottles, stickers, and a lot of art as well,” says owner Nicholas Tankersley. “Some items are my own, but there are about a dozen Appalachia-based artists represented.”
Raised in Daniels—about 45 miles from Fayetteville and just minutes from New River Gorge National Park and Preserve—Tankersley grew up spending a lot of time in nature. A love of art wasn’t always in the picture, but it grew organically. “I always appreciated art, but it really came later in life,” he says. “I went to school for engineering, and the art started after that.”
He started Lost Appalachia Trading Co. in conjunction with the 2017 Bridge Day poster contest. “I saw it as an opportunity to explore the brand,” he says. As a freelance illustrator and designer, he used earthy colors in his poster design—terra cotta and shades of turquoise—and featured the New River Gorge Bridge, elements of nature, and a bridge BASE jumper in the background. He won the competition.
Tankersley always kept his eye on Fayetteville for a future brick-and-mortar presence, finding the town fit the brand and all it encompasses. Fayetteville’s creative, outdoorsy vibe comes, in part, from its location near world-class whitewater rafting and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and in part from great restaurants and coffee shops, the Hope Center for the Arts, and First Fridays featuring live music and food trucks. The space on North Court Street became available at just the right time, he says. The store opened in 2021 and celebrates three enjoyable years in August. “It’s been a lot of fun meeting new people and being here on the edge of the national park—we see so many different people.”
Hats, tees, and other items feature some of Tankersley’s designs. “We do all of our own products in-house, and outside of that, we try to source from Appalachia up and down the East Coast, finding things that fit that same spirit of Appalachia as well as focus on outdoors, wildlife, and nature,” he says. “The Appalachia base is important to us.” Unique jewelry, Fiesta Tableware, keychains, and candles are among other items available at Lost Appalachia Trading Co., and his design-winning poster and other prints showcasing his landscape and wildlife specialty are available at the store.
Looking to the future, Tankersley would like to represent the greater region. “Now, we’re focused on West Virginia and the New River Gorge. We’d like to see that expand.”
171 North Court Street, Fayetteville, lostappalachia.com, @lostappalachia on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE
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