CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. (WNCN) — As tourists make their way back to Chimney Rock one year after Hurricane Helene, the prevailing sentiment is one of resilience.
“Sad, very sad, but hopeful at the same time,” said North Carolina resident Debbie Rogers-Lowery.
Rogers-Lowery is like many mountain visitors who want to come and show their support.
“We have come here for years, spring, summer, or fall, we always take trinkets back, love the stores and shopping and people,” she said.
And for others, like Raymond Ruppe, this place holds sentimental value because his family has spent years coming here, and a rock is a memorial to his brother.
“My brother’s rock is right over there. I want to cry, actually, because my brother raised me,” said Ruppe.
Chimney Rock Mayor Peter O’Leary says Main Street has made significant strides since the storm.
“I can remember when the street went from one lane to two lanes, which was amazing, and when we were able to uncover the sidewalk and see some sidewalk that was an amazing step,” said O’Leary.
He was on vacation when the storm hit last year on a Friday, and he didn’t get back until Sunday.
“There was debris everywhere, where buildings had flattened. There was no traffic. This part of Main Street, where we’re standing right now, probably had 3 to 4 feet of water flowing down Main Street exactly like a river,” said O’Leary.
He says Spokes of Hope is a disaster response and relief organization that adopted the village.
O’Leary says they, along with over 5,000 volunteers, helped to clean up and rebuild Chimney Rock. He says that 80 percent of businesses are back open, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We had 45 businesses, and we lost 15 of them,” said O’Leary. “I’ve told many people the old Chimney Rock is gone, but the new Chimney Rock is actively being rebuilt now.”
He says that through grant money from North Carolina, private foundations, and donations, they’re working to bring this area back to life. They have assembled a task force, and plans have been drawn up for the future of Chimney Rock.
“We feel like we’ve made a good start, but it’s still going to take a very long time,” said O’Leary.
And as tourists see the plans, “It’s amazing, it gives a lot of hope,” said Dale and Rita Harris.
“It will be back, it will be 100 percent better, there’s no doubt in my mind,” said Rogers-Lowery.
But in the meantime, they’re here to support the small businesses.
“Come on back up and spend a little money,” said Ruppe.
If you’d like to take a look at the plans to rebuild Chimney Rock and learn how you can help, visit here.
Greg Funderburg
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