Local company lent a hand in West Stokes locker room renovation

KING — The boys’ locker room at West Stokes High school got a fresh new look thanks to help from Arden Homes, a local home-builder that is currently creating the Gentry Farms development on Spainhour Road, and a little sweat equity by the team members.

“One of our newest campaigns is called ‘Support Local,’ where we try to become very involved in the communities where we build,” said Jacob Gupton, a former West Stokes athlete who now does marketing for Arden. “It’s all about working with students, donating to the community.”

West basketball coach Rhett Bonner said the work was done over the Christmas break. “Our guys came in and tore out the old metal lockers,” he said, which were replaced by more natural wood lockers. “We did the fund-raising for this project,” Bonner added. “It was all done with private donations.”

That was not the only student involvement. “We incorporated Mike Grayson’s drafting class to provide the students with real-life experience in drawing the locker room floor plans,” said Gupton. “Being an alumnus, I wanted to use this as a learning experience. They did an excellent job.”

The local graphics company Nvizion did a large Wildcat decal for one wall, and door wraps as well.

Purple lighting near the floor completes the package.

“When I was in high school this space looked a lot different,” said Gupton, who played lacrosse, soccer and one year of football at West Stokes. Now that he’s back in the area, Gupton says he is seeing a lot of changes. “One of the things I’m noticing is how people are going into rural areas. That should have a very positive impact for the local economy here.”

Gentry Farms will have 56 buildable lots, with a model home expected to be completed by October. Arden also has plans for another development, Saddle Ridge, on Mountain View Road, with 49 more lots.