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Nine Months After Helene, Chimney Rock Reopens and Sends a Message to the Mountains: Recovery Is Underway
CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK, N.C. — In a ceremony marked by resilience, remembrance, and hope, Chimney Rock State Park officially reopened Friday, nine months to the day after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina. The celebration, held at the summit with sweeping views of Hickory Nut Gorge, served not only as a symbolic milestone but also as a tangible step forward for a region still recovering from ruin.
“This is a good day,” said Governor Josh Stein, standing before a crowd of park staff, first responders, and local residents. “Chimney Rock State Park is reopened to the public.”
The governor marked the moment by signing House Bill 1012, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II, into law on site—a historic first. The bill provides $575 million in state aid for Helene-related recovery efforts and extends the state of emergency through October 1. It also allocates funds for wildfire prevention, landslide mitigation, dam repairs, and critical infrastructure needs like roads, bridges, and public schools.
“Much of this town washed down the river,” Stein said, recalling the aftermath of Helene. “A third of Chimney Rock’s 46 businesses were destroyed. The rest sustained damage. People asked if it was worth rebuilding. Nine months later, Chimney Rock’s answer is clear.”
With just 130 year-round residents, Chimney Rock Village depends almost entirely on tourism. For months, the town was cut off from both foot traffic and revenue. The storm’s destruction, coming just before peak fall tourism season, couldn’t have hit at a worse time.
“It almost wiped us off the map,” said Mayor Peter O’Leary. “After the storm, we knew one thing—we had to get Chimney Rock State Park open again.”
A Regional Symbol Reborn
Thanks to months of around-the-clock work, the park is now open with limited hours, Fridays through Mondays, by advanced reservation only. Crews carved out a new road, installed a temporary bridge using decommissioned railcars, and cleared trails previously impassable due to landslides and downed trees.
Park Superintendent James Ledgerwood recounted the emotional day when the team raised the American flag over the gorge. “As they did that, responders and officials looked up and saw that flag—and that was hope,” he said. “That was the day we knew the mountain was still here. The park was still here. North Carolinians were still here.”
Pam Cashwell, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, echoed that sentiment. “There’s no better symbol of resilience than the rock above us,” she said. “Today, Chimney Rock is a beacon not just for this town, but for all of Western North Carolina.”
She noted something publicly that few other officials have said since Helene hit: Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest peak in mainland North America east of the Mississippi River, is still closed due to the inaccessible roads on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A Tourism Push: “Rediscover the Unforgettable”
Alongside the reopening, Governor Stein announced a new state tourism initiative—“Rediscover the Unforgettable”—a partnership with VisitNC aimed at reviving tourism across the mountains. The campaign features local businesses, community leaders, and even Western North Carolina native and musician Eric Church, who narrates the promotional video.
"I'm proud to be from Western North Carolina. It's where I was born, it's where my soul finds rest," Church says in the ad. "Our family has lived here for generations. It's an honor to be the voice that invites more people to discover and visit a place we love."
The campaign includes toolkits for chambers of commerce, tourism boards, and small businesses to use in their own marketing. “Whether you're a foodie, a hiker, or a waterfall enthusiast, Western North Carolina has the unique experiences that make every trip here unforgettable," said Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell.
First Lady Anna Stein emphasized the need to support rural communities like Chimney Rock by visiting and spending locally. “Tourism is essential to Western North Carolina’s economy, and our rural communities are home to so many natural and cultural treasures,” she said. “I’m proud to be spending time out west this summer—and I encourage my fellow North Carolinians to join me.”
Infrastructure and the Long Road Ahead
The recovery, however, is far from over. DOT Secretary Joey Hopkins said the transportation damage alone across the region could exceed $5 billion. “We’re only 20% done,” he noted. “But our crews and contractors beat every timeline. They reconnected communities to the outside world. And today shows what’s possible.”
The new disaster recovery law includes $75 million for private roads and bridge repair, along with housing assistance, school restoration, and government facilities support. Last week, Governor Stein also announced Renew NC, a new housing recovery program now accepting applications from homeowners impacted by Hurricane Helene. Residents can learn more at renewnc.org.
Meanwhile, Chimney Rock Village itself has not fully reopened. While the official village remains closed, several businesses are open at Tryon International Equestrian Center and welcoming tourists. Locals say every visitor makes a difference.
“Mountain people are tough,” said Brian Strong, Director of North Carolina State Parks. “They’re built a little different. Chimney Rock is once again a light on a hill—a beacon of hope.”
As park staff and elected officials cut the ceremonial ribbon, one message rang out clearly: the reopening of Chimney Rock isn’t just about one iconic landmark—it’s a sign that western North Carolina is still standing, still fighting, and still unforgettable.
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress Commentary
Progress Is Happening—But So Is Politics
For the past nine months (but really for over 20 years), I’ve been on the ground covering every town council meeting in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, and every Rutherford County Commission meeting. What I’ve seen is this: recovery from Hurricane Helene has been slow, uneven, and often confusing.
Some days we're told things are open—others, it's clear they're not. Businesses are still waiting for sewer. Permits are delayed. Infrastructure is fragile. I’m still waiting on PPDR (private property debris removal) to be completed. There’s been real progress, yes, but there’s also been a lot of political theater.
Would things have moved faster under a different administration if Mark Robinson had won? Maybe. Robinson famously visited areas hit by Helene while then-Governor Cooper and his staff declared a state of emergency from Raleigh. To me, what matters now is that we stop treating recovery as a ribbon-cutting opportunity and stay focused on the basics: roads, water, sewer, and rebuilding.
I’ll keep showing up to the meetings, asking the tough questions, and documenting what’s really happening. Stay with me. Email your stories, tips, and documents. And remember—North Carolina is a one-party consent state. You’re allowed to record what happens in nearly every situation under the law. Recovery isn’t a photo op—it’s a process, and I’m still here to cover every step of it.
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