The mention of Wilkes County, North Carolina evokes a strong sense of community pride and resilience. Major businesses such as Lowe's Home Improvement, Lowes Foods, and Holly Farms Poultry Industries all got their starts here. The very idea of NASCAR was discussed in back rooms after moonshine haulers began racing to find out who had the fastest cars. 

While Wilkes may have a relatively small population, its vast land areas are enjoyed by residents and travelers alike. The county is home to a variety of outdoor recreation activities, bars, restaurants, and more. 

Some of the most popular things to do in Wilkes County include:

• Go for a hike or bike ride on one of the many trail systems or greenways throughout the county.
• Enjoy a wine tasting at one of the area's fine vineyards.
• Grab some of the best tacos at one of the incredible Latin food establishments.
• Explore Kerr Scott Lake and Reservoir by boat or paddleboard.
• Check out the incredible lineup of musicians at the country's most storied bluegrass music festival, Merlefest.
• Take a day trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway and experience the beauty of the mountains of Western North Carolina.

All in all, Wilkes County is a special place to call home, and 66,000 folks do!

In addition to all of the wonderful attractions and conveniences that Wilkes County affords residents, land ownership here is relatively cheap, allowing many folks to invest money in timberland, one of our best natural resources. These resources are both renewable and especially useful across many industries such as construction, manufacturing, and more. 

Timberland in Wilkes County, NC

There are approximately 342,314 acres of forestland in Wilkes County, accounting for around 71% of the total land area. Most of it is privately owned aside from some county and state parkland. This timber is mostly hardwood and marketable, but many landowners do not understand the value of their land. 

White pine, white oak, northern red oak, and hickory are just a few of the marketable species of trees that can be found throughout Wilkes County, each bringing value to landowners that may go unnoticed. Additionally, Wilkes County is home to several sawmills, chief among them Church and Church Lumber Company.

Proximity to the sawmill is a major deciding factor for timber buyers. Simply put, the closer the logging operation to the mill, the less cost is incurred, making a timber harvest more profitable for both the lumber company and the landowner. 

Wilkes County Sawmill - Church and Church Lumber Company

Church and Church Lumber Company helps both landowners and contractors by purchasing and selling high-quality lumber in and around Wilkes County, NC. We are a one-stop shop for all things trees, including:

• Timber Harvesting
• Raw Material procurement
• Sawmilling
• Kiln Drying, 
• Planing
• Order Specification
• Packing and Shipping.

We procure and sell Appalachian hardwoods, white pine, and yellow pine. Our products are used across a variety of industries such as furniture, millwork, cabinetry, flooring, decking, log cabins, containers, and pallets. These wood products are high-quality, customizable to meet the needs of customers near Wilkes County and across the world.

How Our Sawmills Operate in Wilkes County, NC

When we receive timber from loggers, we take the raw harvested logs into usable dimensional lumber through a series of processes. This process always begins with debarking the logs to get rid of the outer unusable layer of wood. After that, we cut each log into large squares, reducing the log into a solid block of wood or “cant”

Next up, the “cants” are passed through the saw to cut the boards to a specific thickness, and then the outer layers are edged and trimmed. 

Finally, lumber is stacked into kilns and then planed down to smooth, uniform, and precise dimensions. After lumber is cut down, we collect the bark, sawdust, and leftover slabs to be ground up for wood chip mulch, or sell off to be used in paper manufacturing.

Church and Church Lumber Company Sawmill - Wilkes, North Carolina

Church & Church Lumber Company is one of the leading purchasers of timber from private landowners in Wilkes County and throughout northwestern North Carolina. By providing a dependable market for timber, we help generate income for landowners, support local jobs, and promote responsible forest management that protects and enhances valuable natural resources.

As a family-owned company, Church & Church proudly serves customers across North Carolina and the surrounding region. Our comprehensive services include timber harvesting, forest management, and quality hardwood lumber production, all backed by generations of experience and a commitment to sustainable forestry.

Through our sawmill, we buy and sell both hardwood and pine lumber to customers across the United States and around the world. In addition to our sawmill, we also provide premium hardwoods through our sister company, Select Hardwoods. Our kiln-dried hardwoods are trusted for millwork, cabinetry, furniture, flooring, and other high-end applications where quality and consistency matter.

With more than 400,000 board feet of dry kiln capacity, we expertly dry lumber to customer specifications and prepare products for both domestic and international shipment. Every order is handled with careful attention to quality, ensuring our customers receive hardwood lumber that meets the highest standards.

We specialize in wood products sourced throughout the Appalachian region, including Wilkes County, renowned for producing some of the world's finest timber. Our inventory includes white pine, yellow pine, loblolly pine, white oak, red oak, hickory, ash, beech, cherry, walnut, and yellow poplar in a wide range of dimensions and grades to meet the needs of manufacturers, contractors, and woodworkers alike.

Read Out To Church and Church for a Sawmill Near Wilkes County, NC

Whether you're looking to sell timber, purchase lumber, or develop a long-term forest management plan, Church & Church is ready to help. Contact us today to learn how our experienced team can help you maximize the value of your forest while ensuring it remains healthy and productive for generations to come.