Supporting Southern Appalachia Through Motorcycle Tourism Post-Hurricane Helene
It’s been over a month since Hurricane Helene devastated the mountainous towns of East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and North Georgia. As most of these regions were forced into survival mode, the storm also severely impacted many of the surrounding areas—if not through physical damage, then by the sudden dip in their local economies and resources.
Many of the small towns in this area that weren’t physically affected by the storm quickly jumped in to help those that were. Restaurants served free food to volunteers. Businesses, churches, and other groups rallied together to collect and deliver much-needed supplies.
We also can’t forget the regular folks who dropped everything to help their neighbors, providing their personal equipment, resources, and time to literally dig people out of the mud and debris.
They did all of this at the cost of their own businesses and livelihood.
To add insult to injury, this all happened during the region's busiest tourism season—the onset of fall colors in the mountains. At a time when leaf-peepers typically begin to flock to the area, the majority of them canceled their trips. It’s completely understandable, of course, as many roads were impassable and travelers unsure of the conditions did not want to get in the way of rescue operations.
However, many of the small communities that escaped physically unharmed were devastated financially. The lack of customers during the peak season, in addition to everything they donated to their neighbors over the mountains, means these local businesses are going to be in desperate need of support to remain operational.
The motorcycle community can help them.
As you plan your next motorcycle tour, consider visiting these towns and small businesses. Stay in their locally-owned hotels, eat at their restaurants, and shop in their stores.
Where To Visit
Some communities still need time and space to fully recover, but others are open and ready for business. We’ve done our best to compile lists of where to go, and where not to.
These listings are by no means comprehensive, but they should steer you in the right direction when planning your rides in the coming months. Check the town websites, social media pages, and local business pages to ensure they are open before visiting.
These places were affected the most, and may still be under temporary closure:
- Chimney Rock, NC
- Hot Springs, NC
- Little Switzerland, NC
- Swannanoa, NC
- Black Mountain, NC
- Lake Lure, NC
- Bat Cave, NC
- Burnsville, NC
- Spruce Pine, NC
- Hazlehurst, GA
- Kite, GA
These towns are open for business and could use your help:
- Robbinsville, NC
- Franklin, NC
- Brevard, NC
- Hendersonville, NC
- Boone, NC
- Bryson City, NC
- Maggie Valley, NC
- Waynesville, NC
- Highlands, NC
- Cashiers, NC
- Cherokee, NC
- Johnson City, TN
- Roan Mountain, TN
- Tellico Plains, TN
Navigating Road Closures
If you are planning your tour and are unsure about which roads are open or closed, it’s a good rule of thumb to simply avoid the routes that go directly through some of the towns listed in the “temporarily closed” list above.
Google Maps will be the most up-to-date resource for finding closed roads. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone, and make sure you are viewing the traffic layer within the map. Closed roads will appear red/white with a red circle icon.
Pro tip: plan your routes and check the traffic conditions on Google before you leave for your trip. You may have to take “the long way” to avoid some of the closed roads between towns. It’s best to show up with a plan to avoid excessive backtracking.