Eighty years is a long time to earn a community’s trust, and WHKP has done it by showing up, day after day, with local voices and local service. We’re celebrating WHKP’s 80th birthday with a special conversation featuring Art Cooley, WHKP president and owner, and we dig into what longevity in broadcasting really takes when you’re committed to Hendersonville and Western North Carolina.
We talk about the roots of radio history, from the earliest commercial stations to the first signals in North Carolina and the mountains, then bring it back home to WHKP’s story since 1946. Art shares the kind of behind the scenes perspective you only get from decades in the business, including a personal twist that still makes us laugh: he agreed to “try” the station for six months, and 69 years later, he’s still there. We also share the details of the WHKP open house celebration, including the studio tour, ribbon cutting, birthday cake, and live music.
You’ll also hear why the George Real Estate Group is proud to sponsor the Hometown Hero Award and how our real estate work fits a bigger idea: life keeps moving, so real estate decisions keep coming. To round it out, we preview a special multi week radio and podcast series with Attorney Justice Mullen on 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trust options, tax planning, estate planning, charitable giving, and real life strategies that connect your money, your family, and your legacy.
If you enjoy local Hendersonville NC stories, practical real estate insight, and community driven radio, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.
