Arts district in Asheville shows resilience after Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Asheville's River Arts District is showing resilience after last year's devastating storm, with businesses and artists working to rebuild and preserve the area's historic character.

Artist Jim Richbourg, whose studio was nearly lost to flooding, is reopening his doors after months of cleanup and repairs.

The storm destroyed most of his work and caused significant damage to the 150-year-old building. Despite the challenges, Richbourg is turning the lights on as a celebration of resilience and a stand against losing another piece of the city's history.

"Artists may have abandoned the buildings and turned them over to the state, which may mean they'll be demolished at some point, which is a shame," Richbourg said. "A lot of the buildings are antiques."

However, the arts district isn't just about studios -- it's also home to Hi-Wire Brewery, which is back to pouring beers after nearly a year of repairs.

Floodwater reached over five feet inside the building, stopping production for months and changing the district forever. It was a total loss, and manager Christine Ferguson-Weaver said it took them 10 months to reopen.

"It was a lot of work to get back here," Ferguson-Weaver said. "There was a lot of moving pieces. We were the first business in this area to reopen...and so the community support and the outpour was tremendous."

While some businesses may be lost forever, those that have reopened are encouraging visitors to return and help revitalize this iconic neighborhood.

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