In late September, Hurricane Helene stalled over western North Carolina, causing devastation the likes of which have never been seen there before. The hurricane coincided with the release of Our State’s annual mountain issue. Suddenly, we looked at the magazine in a completely different light as we heard reports and stories emerge from the western part of the state. In our sadness, we were encouraged to see that the same spirit of hope and resiliency we highlighted in the issue was on display as North Carolinians showed up for each other, helping communities and businesses to reopen to visitors and continue along the road to recovery. In the weeks following Helene, we checked in on the businesses, places, and people highlighted in the pages of Our State’s October issue to see how they fared. Read on to see who is open and ways to support these western North Carolina spaces.
For up-to-date openings and closures on the trail, please check AppalachianTrail.org’s website.
Closed for the remainder of the 2024 season. Will reopen in April 2025.
100 West Hometown Place
Dillsboro, NC 28725
appwomen.org
Closed to visitors for the remainder of 2024 due to structural damage. Their beloved 250-year-old poplar tree was lost as well as other big trees. You can donate to efforts to restore Arborcrest and learn more about how to support local relief organizations on their webpage.
174 Evergreen Lane
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 263-3358
arborcrestgardens.org
Open to visitors.
411 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 734-6834
ctswings.com
Reopened to visitors November 2, 2024.
1 Lodge Street
Asheville, NC 28803
(800) 411-3812
biltmore.com
Open to visitors.
159 Ginny Stevens Lane
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-9099
blowingrockmuseum.org
Open to visitors.
7539 Valley Boulevard
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-0041
blowingrockgalleries.com
Open to visitors.
425 Main Street
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 400-0527
facebook.com/bluemoonbookswnc
Open for shows.
349 Andante Lane
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 862-2105
brevardmusic.org
Open to visitors.
10360 NC Highway 105 South
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 963-4288
carltongallery.com
Open to visitors.
118 North Jefferson Avenue
West Jefferson, NC 28694
(336) 846-1551
catchlightgallery.net
Open to travelers.
17555 Tapoco Road
Robbinsville, NC 28771
cherohala.com
Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome, is open to visitors; parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain closed.
North Carolina 28713
nps.gov/grsm
Currently closed for repairs. Check their social media page for updates.
8960 Greenville Highway
Brevard, NC 28712
creeksidemarket.bravesites.com
Open to visitors.
892 North Fourth Street
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 200-2700
facebook.com/p/Edelweiss-Highlands-100063010552186/
Temporarily closed to visitors. Shop on the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s website to support western North Carolina artists impacted by Hurricane Helene.
382 Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, NC 28805
southernhighlandguild.org
Open to visitors.
212 East Main Street
Old Fort, NC 28762
(828) 668-6024
gogosoven.com
Open to visitors.
1126 Jeter Mountain Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
(828) 513-0656
grandadsapples.com
Reopened to visitors on October 23, 2024.
1104 Grandfather Mountain Entrance Road
Linville, NC 28646
grandfathermountain.com
Open to visitors.
243 Third Avenue Northeast
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 327-8576
hickoryart.org
Open to visitors.
10079 Old Highway 64 West
Brasstown, NC 28902
(828) 835-9982
highlandergallery.com
Open to visitors.
142 North Main Street
Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 786-2222
surryarts.org
Closed for the remainder of you-pick apple season. Jeter Mountain Farm will reopen for Christmas at the Farm beginning Friday, November 29, 2024.
1126 Jeter Mountain Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
(828) 513-0656
jetermountainfarm.com
Open to visitors.
1 Folk School Road
Brasstown, NC 28902
folkschool.org
Open to visitors.
187 Garren Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 974-1232
justusorchard.com
Safe and active on social media.
Open to visitors, not affected.
1615 Kersey Valley Road
Archdale, NC 27263
(336) 431-1700
kerseyvalley.com
Lake Junaluska is open to visitors, however, the lake sustained more than one million dollars in damages, including Stuart Auditorium, Harrell Center, and the Rose Walk.
710 North Lakeshore Drive
Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
(828) 454-6776
lakejunaluska.com/activities/lake-cruises
Linville Caverns is currently closed. Please check the website for additional information and updates.
19929 U.S. Highway 221 North
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 756-4171
linvillecaverns.com
Open to visitors. However, flooding damaged the McWhirters’ home. To make donations to help with repairs, visit their Facebook page.
139 Red Clay Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 675-4559
mcwhirterpottery.com
Open to visitors.
2887 Chimney Rock Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 435-0020
mtnfreshorchards.com
Open to visitors; closed to commercial vehicles. Parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain closed.
Undamaged but closed for the 2024 season.
10725 U.S. Highway 221 N.
Crumpler, NC 28617
canoethenew.com
Open to visitors.
1150 Old Culberson Road
Murphy, NC 28906
nottelywine.com
Programming will return in 2025. Enrollment dates are pushed back a month.
November 15 | Spring 2025 enrollment opens
November 15 | Summer 2025 workshops announced
November 15 to December 16 | Summer scholarship application open
February 3 | Summer 2025 enrollment opens
67 Doras Trail
Bakersville, NC 28705
penland.org
Open to visitors.
9531 NC-93
Piney Creek, NC 28663
reddognc.com
Temporarily closed to visitors.
Temporarily closed. Please visit their Facebook page for updates.
140 North Sterling Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-6793
facebook.com/ridgelinetrolley
Mountain Cat Off-Road Adventures are open to visitors. Zip line tours are closed until March 2025. Visit their website for updates and consider supporting the business by purchasing a gift card to use for a future visit.
634 Sky Ranch Road
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 264-0002
skyvalleyziptours.com
Open for shows. Served as a supplies drop-off point and distributed food and water following Hurricane Helene.
121 School House Road
Robbinsville, NC 28771
(828) 479-3364
stecoahvalleycenter.com
All members of the band and crew are accounted for and safe. Check their Facebook page for news about upcoming benefit concerts to support western North Carolina’s communities as they recover.
Open to visitors.
170 Stepp Orchard Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 685-9083
steppapples.com
Open to visitors.
140 Chestnut Drive
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-7323
stmaryofthehills.org
Open to visitors.
323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-4949
thebascom.org
The entire North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway remains closed due to portions of the roadway that have been compromised by flooding and tree hazards. Crews continue with emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene.
For safety reasons, park managers are asking the public to please be patient and respect the closures. For more information and updates, please check the National Park Service’s website. To assist with recovery efforts, donations can be made through the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s website.
Re-opened to visitors November 1, 2024.
166 Honey Bee Drive
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 749-2500
thegorgezipline.com
Open for shows. Check their Facebook page for information about benefit concerts and free community events. Two dollars from every ticket sold in November will go towards local recovery efforts.
101 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 398-1837
theorangepeel.net
Open to visitors.
224 Westglow Circle
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-4463
westglow.com
Open for shows. In the weeks immediately following Hurricane Helene, it served as a point for receiving and distributing donated supplies and hosted meetings for community members to learn about aid and resources.
105 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 669-0816
whitehorseblackmountain.org
Open to visitors.
NC-281
Cashiers, NC 28717
fs.usda.gov
Temporarily closed for repairs due to Hurricane Helene. Visit their Instagram page for updates and consider supporting the business by purchasing a gift card to use for future visits.
3265 Tynecastle Highway
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 898-7866
wildernessrunalpinecoaster.com
This 23-year-old Main Street space was severely damaged during Hurricane Helene. The community and owners are currently working to restore the business.
7 North Main Street
Marshall, NC 28753
(828) 649-1617
zumascoffee.com
Closed in the River Arts District. 12 Bones Smokehouse’s Hendersonville Road location is open to visitors.
2350 Hendersonville Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 253-4499
12bones.com
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