At the peak of the flooding, torrential rains swelled the Swannanoa River to 27 feet above flood stage, submerging everything from locally-owned shops to major hotels like the Grand Bohemian. The historic Biltmore Village, a popular tourist destination, was completely inundated.
Today, while significant work remains, hopeful signs of recovery are evident throughout the community.
Corner Kitchen Leads the Comeback
Brunch is bustling again at Corner Kitchen, one of Asheville's beloved 20-year-old restaurants famous for its everyday brunch and daily eggs Benedict specials. The establishment reopened its doors on August 10, nearly 11 months after Helene left it buried in mud and debris.
"I like to think that we're the light that's gonna bring everything back," said Patrick Hackney, the restaurant's brunch manager and Asheville native.
A small plaque now marks the floodwater line on the restaurant's newly constructed walls, serving as a permanent reminder of the disaster's scope. Two entire levels of dining area had to be completely rebuilt after weeks of standing water.
"Unbelievable when you think about it," Hackney said, pointing to the plaque that shows just how high the water reached.
The reopening has brought emotional reunions between staff and customers who hadn't seen each other for months during the lengthy reconstruction process.
"People walking in that you haven't seen in 7 or 8 months... they're saying thank you, thank you for being back, for doing the work to get here," Hackney explained.
RELATED | Businesses, homes, and schools on long road to recovery after Hurricane Helene
Tourism Efforts Support Recovery
Determined visitors like Pam Horwell and Randi Smith from Tennessee have made supporting Asheville's recovery a personal mission. The conference attendees deliberately chose to return to the area to help boost the local economy.
"Coming from and living in a tourist area ourselves, we certainly understand and respect how vital and important that tourism piece is," Smith said.
Horwell noted the dramatic change from their visit just two months earlier.
"We were here like two months ago and stayed at the Double Tree. And none of this was open. And it was so eye-opening and heartbreaking. So we came over here and spent our money to help the economy."
"It's been very hard to see some of the stuff that we've seen," Horwell added.
Mixed Progress Across the Village
While Corner Kitchen has successfully reopened, the recovery across Biltmore Village remains uneven. The famous row of shops and stores that were completely submerged a year ago are in varying states of repair, with some still days, weeks, or months away from reopening. For others, reopening is not guaranteed.
Construction sounds echo throughout the area as businesses work to rebuild, but the timeline for full recovery remains uncertain.
Community Resilience
Despite the challenges, those who have managed to reopen express gratitude for their community's support and their own survival.
"The place was hit so hard. Whole towns were wiped off the map. The fact that we're still here and people are happy we're here and we can give them some comfort," Hackney reflected. "While everything is different, we're still the same. That's everything to me."
Hurricane Helene's impact on Western North Carolina was devastating, with entire communities destroyed. One year later, Biltmore Village's gradual recovery serves as both a testament to the area's resilience and a reminder of the long road that still lies ahead.
ALSO SEE | Asheville arts communities rise again one year after Hurricane Helene