How Asheville Is Doing, One Year After Helene
One year after Hurricane Helene, Asheville greets the world with open doors, renewed experiences, and the same spirit that’s always set it apart.
Trails have been cleared, studios reopened, kitchens reimagined, and events resumed. Across every sector — outdoors, arts and music, Foodtopia, Biltmore, AVL Airport, downtown, and more — you’ll find a city not only open but boldly carrying forward the creative spark and mountain resilience that define it. With fall colors arriving and a lineup of cultural milestones and sporting events ahead, Asheville invites visitors to see its ongoing rebirth firsthand.
Outdoors: Adventures That Ground and Propel You
When the storm passed, the people of Western North Carolina laced up their boots and got to work. Trail crews, hikers, and volunteers swapped shifts and stories while clearing paths and Pisgah National Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens and beyond. A 114-mile contiguous stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway is fully reopened, giving travelers seamless access to Mount Mitchell, the Folk Art Center, the North Carolina Arboretum, Graveyard Fields, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Adrenaline and stillness get along just fine here — you can hike to waterfalls in the morning, paddleboard on the French Broad by afternoon, or savor a long overlook drive as sunset drips down the ridgelines. Experts predict Western North Carolina’s fall foliage will be vibrant and long-lasting in 2025, with more than 100 deciduous tree species across 5,000 feet of elevation creating one of the country’s longest autumn displays.
Arts & Music: Creativity That Refuses to Sit Still
In the River Arts District, artists worked long cleanup days, fueled by pop-up community kitchens. Galleries, studios, and stages have since reopened, alive with live music and the hum of creative work. From glassblowers to fiddle players, Asheville’s makers embody the idea that if you stand out, you’ll fit right in.
The city will also celebrate cultural milestones this year, including The Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia (Nov. 7-9) and the North American premiere of Thomas Dambo’s whimsical outdoor installation, , at the North Carolina Arboretum. Music continues to bring people together — the “Concert for Carolina” benefit alone raised $24.5 million for storm relief, showing how art and community can unite on a national scale.
Step inside studios, hear live music, and experience the creativity that makes Asheville hum.
Foodtopia: Flavors With Roots and Reach
Asheville’s kitchens didn’t just reopen — they reinvented. Farmers, foragers, and chefs leaned on one another to bring back dishes that feel both time-honored and fresh off the mountain. The result: menus that nurture the soul while drawing from global traditions.
Favorites and new spots alike are thriving. Zillicoah Beer Company pours again at its French Broad River taproom; Wedge Brewing and The Bull and Beggar have returned to the River Arts District, alongside newcomers like Crusco and ButterPunk. Regional chefs continue to shine nationally — Ashleigh Shanti’s cookbook earned a James Beard Award, and Silver Iocovozzi was recognized as one of the South’s emerging culinary talents. From a neighborhood café to James Beard Award–winning kitchens, meals in Asheville are more than food — they’re community in action.
Taste the comeback — discover the chefs, breweries, and restaurants redefining Asheville’s flavor.
Biltmore: A Beacon of Renewal
Biltmore reopened just five weeks after the storm, signaling hope for the entire region. Vice President of Guest Experience Chase Pickering recalls, “We wanted our guests and our neighbors to know it was okay to come back.” Staff worked side by side daily during cleanup, while the Vanderbilt family pledged $2 million for community relief. Today, Biltmore feels timeless, yet refreshed — with new trees, restored trails, and renewed spaces reflecting Asheville’s spirit of rebirth. Christmas at Biltmore returns for its 130th anniversary, and spring 2026 will see the debut of Luminere, a large-scale immersive light and art experience transforming America’s Largest Home into a nighttime spectacle.
AVL Airport: Gateway to the Mountains
The Asheville Regional Airport became a supply hub overnight during Helene, handling nearly 900 relief flights per day. Now, a gleaming expansion includes a modern North Concourse with seven gates, mountain-inspired finishes, and local art. Lou Blyweis, president and CEO of AVL, calls it “our community’s front door,” perfectly blending modern functionality with natural beauty.
Downtown Asheville: Collaboration on Every Corner
Water shortages, visitor drop-offs, and tough months didn’t stop downtown businesses from rallying. Programs like “Doors Open Downtown” and a Halloween block party kept locals engaged. Now, retailers, rooftops, and music fill Pack Square once again. Hayden Plemons of the Asheville Downtown Association notes, “When I think about downtown Asheville after the storm, I think about collaboration and resilience.”
Looking ahead, that momentum is carrying into a busy fall and winter. Free community events like Oktoberfest in October and the beloved holiday parade in November promise to bring visitors and locals shoulder-to-shoulder in Pack Square again. New shops and eateries are opening alongside longtime favorites, while rooftops, tours, and live music venues showcase the city’s skyline and culture from fresh angles. As Hayden puts it, downtown is not just back — it’s brimming with experiences, and the full Asheville experience is waiting for you right now.
Looking Ahead: Always Asheville
Asheville’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and community. New restaurants, marquee events, and record-breaking group business highlight a city moving forward with confidence. Sports tourism is on the rise, with UNC Asheville’s Karl Straus Track hosting the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships and McCormick Field welcoming the Big South Baseball Championship in 2026 and 2027.
With fall colors arriving, holiday traditions returning, and cultural milestones on the horizon, Asheville invites visitors back not just to experience its beauty, but to be part of its ongoing rebirth.
Asheville is open. Asheville is thriving. Asheville is waiting to surprise you — again.