Visit Asheville

If you can make time to visit Asheville over the holidays, please do. They suffered a huge economic blow after Helen and need all the tourist dollars they can get. Since last September, small business owners in Asheville have lost $563 million in potential sales. Those that have managed to reopen say they are at 86% of their pre-hurricane sales. They aren’t making the money they used to because people have been waiting to visit once the area fully recovers. The reality of recovering after a devastating hurricane is that things won’t ever be exactly as they were before and recovery takes time. 

The losses in Asheville were catastrophic. Flooding and landslides resulted in homeowners and business owners needing help at the same time. Infrastructure was lost and utilities were down. It was difficult to get workers to aid in the recovery initially because local construction workers were dealing with their own losses. Those who traveled from other states to help had a tough time getting there. It was difficult to ship in necessary supplies due to the loss of roads. Once building supplies became available, permitting delays and inspections prevented crews from working as quickly as homeowners and business owners had hoped.

Don’t wait to visit Asheville. A total recovery could take up to 10 years or more. In the meantime, you’re missing out on the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the magic of Christmas the Biltmore Estate is known for. The River Arts District is open along with restaurants, shops, and breweries. Go to the Asheville website to plan your trip because they are ready to welcome you with open arms.