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Tropical Storm Helene caused a large impact across Asheville region in western North Carolina causing massive damage to local enterprises including Asheville Adventure Company founded by Devin DeHoll. DeHoll observed that damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Helene had drastically altered operations requiring business owner to reevaluate and reconfigure everything. The company had run operations across rock climbing centers rafting and e-bike tours around Asheville for over six years before the storm. The company now only manages one climbing gym from afar since the storm.
Asheville Adventure Company had four out of five locations decimated in the River Arts District forcing co-owner Devin DeHoll to completely downsize business with move across country. This caused devastating impact across many sectors of business requiring significant change for company. The event that occurred in September left the area without safe drinking water up until mid November also costing life of 43 Buncombe County residents demonstrating severe impacts beyond the business sectors. Devin DeHoll decided to relocate to Denver Colorado as a means of handling this unique set of circumstances and his new life trajectory for professional growth and company preservation.
Local businesses located in Asheville and Buncombe County anticipate a 585 million dollar drop in visitor expenses across the first quarter of 2025 as indicated by Explore Asheville's CEO Vic Isley. In 2023 businesses around Buncombe County and Asheville grossed approximately 3 billion with tourism acting as 20% of the county’s GDP showing clear indicators to heavy revenue brought in by outside sources of tourism. Typically, one third of this revenue occurred during peak winter months between October and December creating concerns for the holiday season of 2024 when fall foliage normally brings crowds into Asheville particularly around the Biltmore Village area during that season. Isley explained that any storm is a negative situation however Hurricane Helene had one of the worst impacts for many years according to her own analysis.
Several Asheville businesses like Pleb Urban Winery and Vivian permanently closed with FEMA indicating that only 60% of businesses ever recover after natural disaster s demonstrating that this is sadly common. The COVID 19 pandemic compounded ongoing economic impacts on Asheville businesses and small business owners also struggling with lack of finances due to less traffic as they previously relied on the fourth quarter income. Many were relying on those critical sales numbers during this quarter of the year in hopes to transition into a new year with stability for financial forecasting during spring which did not happen this time because of the unexpected storm. Devin DeHoll stated that during the immediate aftermath many residents were provided bottles of water which is helpful but more money for business owners was required at that stage.
Asheville Adventure Company hired about one hundred employees before Tropical Storm Helene and those included rafting tour guides plus gym personnel when operating before its disaster. The company now employs one full time staffer to coordinate operations and manage one opened rock-climbing gym. Asheville Adventure company guided tours portion of their business is shut down for the time being as resources need to be redirected towards climbing gym operations with DeHoll managing operations remotely from his new location in Denver, Colorado. Devin DeHoll felt "crushing weight" following the six years of hard work while also acknowledging the storm is like "a big boulder dropped in a small pond” as well as commenting on lack of insurance payouts after the event that impacted his previous business significantly.
Nicole Will founder of Asheville Wellness Tours who organizes yoga retreats stated her company has been required to locate and arrange all new areas in place of sites that will be inaccessible for time being with revenue experiencing "dramatic decrease". The company has had challenges in obtaining revenue expected by guides during October further emphasizing need for strong planning through 2025 according to Will. Restaurants hotels and related businesses in the hospitality space also feel the aftershocks with service workers often leaving the area due to immediate work stoppages that result in large staff shortages during peak times as said by Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer . Lynn Minges CEO of North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association indicated many hotels and restaurant had to shift models which often means reduced service capacity from many area venues .
Asheville officials emphasized need for federal money to bolster business since "Asheville will continue to suffer" otherwise as stated by DeHoll while highlighting local issues from natural disaster. A spending bill in Congress approved 100 billion dollars for disaster relief in the area with some portion going directly into small businesses according to Mayor Manheimer and Lynn Minges. The mayor indicated a direct link to Small Business Administration as one crucial resource to be made more accessible during these recovery periods showing potential opportunity during a time of massive change . The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association have brought 600,000 dollars via various grant offerings with the Always Asheville Fund contributing 1.1 million dollars for businesses needing financial assistance during immediate need.
Mayor Manheimer stated Asheville had an impressive and strong local economy before the storm hitting historically showing the lowest unemployment rate of all North Carolina suggesting potential for resilience with support of temporary aid. City officials emphasized the importance of visitors coming and spending money stating they "need visitors more than ever" to provide support. Asheville had large support from its long time residents that have lived there through many generations while adding new ways for remote visitors to support through purchases at local online based businesses. Mountain BizWorks and similar organizations supporting businesses are requesting additional funding during this recovery effort showing importance for ongoing local resources to bolster long term recovery.
Asheville local officials made strong statements the area is "open for business" and ready for tourist visits despite "incredible devastation" many saw during coverage of weather. Parts of the city have not recovered as fast or as well however officials have highlighted certain places where people would have "never even know there was a storm." Will suggested many tourists intentionally spend money on the smallest locally owned enterprises as one path to assisting during their recovery. The tourism industry in Western North Carolina reflects the tenacity of locals who always showed “strength of the Appalachian people and pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.” according to Vic Isley as one positive during ongoing hardships.
Isley confirmed over one thousand of Explore Asheville’s local business partners have been able to successfully open again after hurricane with many locals hoping the tradition continues in following generations. Local Asheville residents have always seen the region as “space for wellness and refuge and creativity" and visitors can engage in a very unique culture there and can support many businesses.