LIST: Many High Country tourism attractions open for business weeks after Hurricane Helene

Arri Woodhouse
·5 min read

NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the High Country, the community is hoping to build back with the help of friends and strangers from near and far.

As these towns reopen and rebuild, officials urge visitors to give their kindness and support during this difficult time.

How to donate and assist Helene victims and survivors across the Carolinas

Officials report that Boone, Blowing Rock as well as many neighboring counties have largely recovered from Helene’s impacts. Primary and secondary roads have been repaired with the occasional lane closures and alternate routes still present in certain areas, including N.C. 105 in Watauga County and U.S. Highway 421 North towards the Tennessee state line.

High County tourism attractions

Blue Ridge Parkway: Closed indefinitely including campgrounds, hiking trails, visitor centers, etc.

North Carolina High County State Parks: Closed through at least October 31, 2024

  • Elk Knob State Park

  • Grandfather Mountain State Park

  • Mount Jefferson State Natural Area

  • New River State Park

  • Rendezvous Mountain

  • Stone Mountain State Park

Alleghany County – Sparta Area: Open

  • Events:

    • Alleghany Farmers Market

    • NC Mountain Arts Adventure Tour for Oct. 18-19 & Oct. 25-26

  • Town and County Roads

  • Town Parks

  • Sparta Candle

  • Alleghany Jubilee

  • Local Golf Courses

  • Alleghany Inn & Conference Center

  • 21 Salon and Boutique

  • Alleghany Historical Museum

  • Sprinkle’s Salt Cave

  • Thistle Meadow Winery

  • All Eateries

  • Private Lodging Facilities: Most are open

Ashe County – West Jefferson Area: Open

  • Events:

    • Ashe Farmers Market

    • Downtown Scarecrow Contest

  • WJ Town Parks

  • Ashe County Cheese

  • Ashe County Arts Council

  • Ashe County Corn Maze

  • Mountainaire Golf

  • Ben Long Fresco Churches

  • Florence Thomas Art School

  • Lantern Farm Pumpkin Patch and Maze

  • Museum of Ashe County History

  • The Old Store Grassy Creek

  • Zaloo’s Canoes: Closed

Avery County – Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Linville: Closed

*Curfew: 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.*

  • Events:

    • Avery Farmers Market: Cancelled

    • Oktoberfest Sugar Moutain: Cancelled

    • Valle County Fair: Cancelled

    • Woolly Worm Festival: Cancelled

  • Town Parks

  • Apple Hill Farm

  • Banner Elk Winery

  • Beech Mountain Resort

  • Crossnore Weavers

  • Elk Creek Outfitters

  • Emerald Village

  • Ensemble Stage

  • Gem Mountain

  • Grandfather Mountain

  • Grandfather Trout Farm

  • Grandfather Winery

  • Linville Caverns

  • Orchard at Altapass

  • Sugar Mountain Resort

  • Wildcat Lake

  • Linville Falls Campground, RV & Cabins: Closed until April 2025

Watauga County – Boone, Blowing Rock

*Curfew: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.*

  • Events:

    • Fall Art in the Park: Cancelled

    • Mountain Home Music: TBD

    • Watauga Farmers Market: Open at new locations – Lavine Hall, State Farm Road, Boone

    • Blowing Rock Halloween Festival: October 26

    • Boone Boo: October 31

    • Southern Appalachian Historical Association FallFest: Cancelled

  • Blowing Rock Downtown Parks and Businesses: Open

  • Boone Town Parks: Open

  • Boone Downtown Businesses: Open

  • Appalachian Theatre: Open

  • Blowing Rock Art & Hickory Museum: Open

  • Chetola Resort, Spa & Restaurant: Open

  • C&J Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze: Open

  • Daniel Boone Native Gardens: Open

  • Doc’s Rocks: Open

  • Foggy Moutain Gem Mine: Open at 321 location only

  • Green Park Inn: Divide Tavern: Open

  • Harvest Farm Corn Maze: Closed

  • Hawksnest Zipline: Closed until 2025

  • Hickory Ridge Homestead tours: Closed

  • High Gravity Zipline & Aerial Adventure Park: Aerial park only open on weekends

  • High Mountain Expeditions: Closed

  • Mast General Store- Downtown Boone: Open limited hours

  • Mountainbound Fly Guides: Closed

  • Mystery Hill: Open

  • Mysterium Escape Adventure: Open

  • Original Mast General Store, Valle Crucis: Open limited hours

  • River & Earth Adventures: Closed

  • Rock Dimensions: Open

  • Sky Valley Zip Tours: Closed

  • Tanger Outlet Mall: Limited stores open

  • The Blowing Rock: Open

  • The Children’s Playhouse: Open

  • The Jones House: Open

  • Turchin Center: Opening October 16

  • Tweetsie Railroad: Will reopen for Tweetsie Christmas, November 29

  • Valle Crucis Park: Closed

  • Wahoo’s Adventures: Closed

  • Watauga Lake Winery: Closed

  • Willow Creek Golf: Closed

  • Westglow Spa, Restaurant, House: Open

Wilkesboro: Open

  • Events:

    • ZMAX Cars Tour Season Championship: Open October 19th

    • Brushy Mountain Powersports 150: Open October 20th

    • Appalachian Aid Festival: Open October 19th

  • Alpha Omega Corn Maze

  • Town Parks

  • Call Family Distillery

  • Leatherwood Mountains:

    • Lodging

    • Horse trail rides

    • Zipline: Reopening mid-October

    • Saddlebrook Restaurant: Open weekends

  • New Castle Farm Pumpkin Patch

  • Perry Lowe Orchard

  • Wilkes Heritage Museum

  • The Block – Jump, Golf, Skate

As folks make plans to return to the High County, officials urge visitors to consider the following guidelines:

  • Tread Lightly: Stay away from areas that are still deeply involved in recovery and restoration efforts. Some areas still have a large amount of road repairs, power restoration, debris removal and unnecessary traffic could delay those efforts. Officials remind visitors that the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remains closed indefinitely.

  • Limited lodging: Know that many hotel and lodging properties are housing displaced families, aid workers and construction crews. As time moves on, available space will evolve but, for now, your favorite property may be full so consider other options in the area as needed.

  • Limit traffic: Consider ride share and public transit opportunities to lessen the impact on traffic. AppalCART will resume at its full schedule once classes at App State resume. With extra traffic due to supply deliveries, recovery efforts and many popular roads unavailable, please be patient and allow extra time to travel

  • Supporting locals: Consider supporting local businesses from afar if unable to travel. Amplifying their social media posts, shopping online and ordering gift cards as well as supporting them with hugs would bring much-needed support.

  • Be empathetic: Many residents are still dealing with major disruptions as well as trying to restart our economy and maintain the local workforce. Please be respectful and pack plenty of grace and patience.

While the High County might not be at its best, and won’t be for some time, you can be an important part of the recovery process.

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