A little more than a month after Hurricane Helene touched down as a tropical storm in North Carolina and ravaged Buncombe County (home to Asheville and the Black Mountain areas, among others), the region is in the midst of a staged reopening as recovery efforts continue.
Vic Isley, CEO of Explore Asheville, chats with us about the area’s current state, what clients can do when visiting areas impacted by the storm and how people can help the destination in the coming weeks and months — even from afar.
What has the county’s reopening looked like?
The Asheville area is reopening in stages and pockets. As of Oct. 19, Visit NC’s travel update page —using data from state departments of safety and transportation — has designated Buncombe County, Asheville and Black Mountain as safe to visit, with a recommendation to “plan ahead.” Weaverville is cleared for safe travel, while Swannanoa remains under a “do not travel” advisory as a high-impact area.
Is the airport open?
The airport is open and operational, and Biltmore plans to reopen on Nov. 2. Many businesses are starting to open their doors, though some may have limited hours or reduced menus.
How about hotels and accommodation providers? Are they fully open and operational?
For those with travel plans to Asheville in early November, we recommend contacting lodging providers and businesses directly to confirm their availability. Additionally, they can consult DriveNC.gov for information on open roads and a safe route to the destination. Travel updates and resources are available and evolving on always.exploreasheville.com.
How can visitors best support the local community during this time?
We are here to shield those that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas — including Biltmore Village, Swannanoa and parts of the River Arts District — have a much longer road ahead. We are here for our neighbors throughout western North Carolina.
We are here to shield those that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas have a much longer road ahead.
Can you tell us a little about Explore Asheville’s recent recovery efforts and initiatives?
[We] launched the Love Asheville From Afar website to create a centralized online space where people can buy local products, purchase gift cards and make direct donations to Asheville area and Buncombe County businesses. We also pledged $1 million as the presenting sponsor of Concert for Carolina, which took place on Oct. 26 and sold out in less than 24 hours. The show, featuring artists Luke Combs, James Taylor, Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban and others, raised [funds] for WNC recovery efforts … with all proceeds, including sponsorships, supporting aid relief efforts.
We also established the Always Asheville Fund to provide emergency grants — not loans — to help sustain the vibrant, creative and deeply rooted community that makes the Asheville area unique.
