Category: Blog

After the devastation of Hurricane Helene the High Country banded together and worked to help those who lost everything. It was a very emotional time but it was also a time of hope as we saw the strength in our communities. 

The area between mileposts 285 and 305 on the Blue Ridge Parkway includes many favorite locations, including Thunder Hill Overlook, Cone Estate, Price Lake, Rough Ridge, and Beacon Heights.

Blowing Rock businesses are open and eager to serve you! Visitor support is vital to the survival of our local tourism-based economy, so your visit contributes to area recovery. Western North Carolina needs you! Full recovery from Hurricane Helene will take time. If you are visiting soon, we urge you to visit thoughtfully and keep several things in mind. Here are our tips for enjoying a fun and exciting trip to the Blowing Rock area.  Plan Ahead Be sure to make all your reservations in advance, including activities and lodging. If your favorite is booked, browse our lodging availability to find a different new hotel or lodge. Check ahead on your favorite activities to be sure they are open and available. Know Routes Before You Go Main routes are clear and access to all local attractions and businesses is restored. Some secondary roads are still under repair, and a few closures remain, so check ahead on routes to more remote activities. Check DriveNC.gov for the latest road conditions. Be Patient & Expect Delays Allow more time for travel and expect heavy traffic in some areas. As area travel patterns are still using mostly main routes, delays can occur. A lot of construction and repair work is still ongoing, too. Please be cautious and patient as you move throughout the area. Bring that same patience and sensitivity to interactions with staff at local businesses. Many are still personally dealing with difficulties from the storm, and potentially working while understaffed as well.  Obey Closures and Restrictions Obey closure signs on roads and trails. Not only can it be incredibly dangerous to venture past closures, unwelcome exploration can cause delays to much-needed repairs. Travel Respectfully Visitors are asked to avoid residential spaces outside business areas while recovery efforts continue. Be sensitive to and respect the needs of our neighbors who are still repairing and rebuilding. Please don’t wander to look for damage as entertainment. Support Local Businesses Shop and dine locally as much as you can- it makes significant impacts on the families who own our small businesses. Our shops are full of one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and it’s a great time to shop. Enjoy our restaurants and please be generous with your tips for our local workers. Many of our Blowing Rock attractions are family-owned as well, so plan to stop in at attractions like The Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill, and Doc’s Rocks and make a reservation for activities like Appalachian Ski Mountain,  Sky Valley Zip Tours, High Gravity Adventures, and Tee 2 Green Indoor Golf. Other Ways to Support If you are shortening your usual visit or If you are still waiting to visit in person, consider purchasing gift cards or shopping online from our local businesses as a meaningful way to show your support at this time. If you are looking for additional ways to help, we hope you will contribute to one of the many organizations working to help those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.  Our community’s resilience is unmatched. The spirit of the NC High Country is strong, and we stand together in support of those affected by this storm. We are deeply grateful to all those helping western NC- all the work, the contributions, and the kindness. We are so appreciative to everyone who has reached out to support Blowing Rock and the High Country!