Dave Cook was a North Carolina state park ranger for thirty years at five different locations. He spent sixteen years as the superintendent of the Eno River State Park. He spent the last three years as a district superintendent, and Eno River was one of nine parks he supported. After retiring from state parks, he spent more than four years as the Eno River Association education and outreach coordinator. His first exposure to the Eno was camping there as a Boy Scout. He still frequents all the Eno River parks. All stories told in first person are from Cook's personal experiences.