March 25, 2024 – With millions of passengers connecting through Charlotte Douglas International Airport each year, CLT is like the front porch of the South, welcoming people from all over the world to the Carolinas.
What does a good southern front porch need? Rocking chairs, of course. Ask anyone who has flown to, from or through Charlotte what they remember about CLT and unfailingly they mention the rocking chairs.
The iconic rockers first came to CLT as part of an art exhibit in 1997. They were intended to be props, but travelers used them as a relaxing place to eat, work, read and people watch. When the exhibit left, so did the rocking chairs and people were upset. Airport leaders heard the outcry and brought in a fresh supply of rockers.
“We didn’t expect the art exhibit to be so impactful,” said CLT Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry. When shopping for rocking chairs, “it was important that we find something that was made in North Carolina, not imported and representative of the handiwork that makes our region so unique.”
Enter Troutman Chair Co.
A family-run business in Iredell County, N.C., Troutman Chair Co. is less than an hour from the Airport. The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and not much has changed in that time.
“There’s something special about making the chairs the same way they were made from the beginning,” said company owner Jean Land. “Our rockers are entirely made by hand using methods from the 1920s.”
With her young grandson perched on her hip, Land explains what sets her chairs apart. “It’s the people who make them. These are real people using real wood who really care about what they do. There’s an energy that comes from that you can really feel.”
Every slat is cut, sanded and painted by the two-dozen people who work in the small factory situated off Rocker Way in Troutman, N.C. There is no automated assembly line, just a tight-knit group of folks who take pride in creating quality chairs. Each Friday morning, the crew cooks a meal together and a massage therapist eases their muscles, sending them into the weekend relaxed.
“A Little Bit of Respite”
CLT hopes the more than 100 rockers throughout the terminal help send travelers to their destinations a bit more relaxed as well.
“Sitting there at a slower pace, rocking back and forth is a de-stressor. It’s really a metaphor for how our Airport operates,” Gentry said. “There’s always the hustle and bustle, people coming and going, but the rocker is a little bit of respite in the middle of chaos. It’s been very successful.”
Land says it makes her heart happy to see her chairs in CLT. “We are impressed with how the Airport is so intentional about welcoming and creating a destination, if you will, for its guests. The sight of the rocking chairs brings a feeling of nostalgia to people, even if they weren’t raised with rockers or porches. It’s a symbol of gathering and relaxing.”
Empty rockers can sometimes be hard to find in the Atrium. Did you know there are rocking chairs in the upper level of the Atrium near the USO Lounge? This loft area offers a great perch for people watching as well. Rockers also line the D/E Connector between the people movers and the shops. The rocking chairs in Concourse A come with a perfect view of the airfield, and the Queen’s Court in Baggage Claim has rocking chairs for people waiting to greet arriving travelers.
Our Airport rocking chairs even helped foster a fairy tale romance. Read the story of when Charles met Lisa.
What Passengers Think
Here's what some of our rocking chair fans have to say:
Trish Huneke Wanik “Those rocking chairs are the reason I try to connect in CLT whenever possible!”
@Justin924 “The rocking chairs at @CLTAirport got me relaxed for this delayed flight.”
@DanLeachDTM “Nothing like the classic rocking chairs at the Charlotte airport. Class & elegance.”
@TomScibelli “Best layover airport is probably Charlotte. BBQ and rocking chairs.”
@boymaddie_ “The rocking chairs at Charlotte Douglas are the cutest southern flare an airport can have.”
Tim Calahan “LOVE flying out of CLT … Rocking chair row is great!”
