09/27/2026
Two years ago, Hurricane Helene changed these mountains forever.
Today, on the second anniversary of the storm, we could share photographs of the devastation—the flooded communities, destroyed roads, fallen trees and places we barely recognized.
But those aren’t the images we want to remember.
Instead, we choose this one.
The Biltmore Estate, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, has long been a symbol of beauty, strength and determination. And in many ways, that is how we think about Western North Carolina today.
In the days and weeks after Helene, we watched this community come together in ways we will never forget. Neighbors helped neighbors. Strangers showed up with trucks, chainsaws, food, water, and willing hands. And some of our guests came to the mountains not for a vacation, but to roll up their sleeves and help with the cleanup.
Two years later, we are reminded of that spirit every single day.
We see it in the businesses that reopened their doors. In the towns that rebuilt. In the trails, rivers, and mountain roads that welcome us back. And we see it in the guests who continue to come here from across the country to experience these extraordinary mountains and communities.
There are scars from Helene that remain, and there are stories from those days that none of us will ever forget. But there is also tremendous beauty here. Resilience. Gratitude. And an extraordinary sense of community.
We are grateful beyond measure for the people who call these mountains home, for those who came to help when we needed it most, and for every guest who continues to come and experience this special corner of the world.
We couldn't be prouder to call these mountain towns our home. ❤️
