US EditionHome to North Carolina Iconic Attraction Reopens After Hurricane Helene's Devastation
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, JUN 27 – Governor Stein signed a $700 million disaster relief bill and launched a tourism initiative to support recovery and attract visitors after nine months of closure due to hurricane damage.
- Chimney Rock State Park in western North Carolina officially reopened on Friday after nine months of closure due to Hurricane Helene damage.
- The closure followed extensive flooding from Tropical Storm Helene last September that destroyed the park's entrance bridge and damaged the local village.
- Officials built a new bridge using old railroad cars, reopened shops and the elevator, and require reservations for visitor access Friday through Monday.
- Governor Josh Stein said, "Today's reopening is a huge achievement" and noted the park attracts about 400,000 visitors annually, acting as an economic engine and symbol of hope.
- The reopening marks a key recovery milestone supported by state relief bills and a new tourism campaign, Rediscover the Unforgettable, to boost regional travel and spending.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Tax expert’s work bridges policy and community | UNC-Chapel Hill
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s unprecedented devastation in September 2024, western North Carolina faced challenges that tested the resilience and expertise of its communities. Among those deeply invested in the region’s recovery was Kirk Boone, associate teaching professor of public finance and government at the UNC School of Government. “I’m from that area,” said Boone, a seasoned tax professional and a certified appraiser with a caree…
Hurricane Helene: Black Mountain, Lake Lure face a long road back
Nine months after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, the recovery process is just beginning. As communities rebuild their lives and towns, the Carolina Journal revisits some of the state’s hardest-hit areas to assess what recovery looks like, what’s still missing, and how far there is left to go. Black Mountain Josh Harold, the town manager for Black Mountain, North Carolina said the town sustained between $25 and $30 million in damage…
City leaders cut the ribbon to reopen Pendleton King Park 9 months since Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - It's a big day for the city of Augusta. City leaders held a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning to reopen Pendleton King Park nine months after Hurricane Helene. The park was one of the hardest hit parks across Augusta by the hurricane. But after nine long months of cleanup, city leaders couldn’t be happier to reopen it. For District 2 commissioner Stacy Pulliam, the ceremony has been a long time coming after countless phone ca…
Home to an iconic NC attraction reopens after Hurricane Helene's devastation
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. — An iconic tourist attraction in an area of western North Carolina among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene has reopened to the public, nine months after the storm brought historic flooding, destruction and loss of life.
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