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Hurricane Helene hit reset button on one town's goal of becoming outdoor tourism mecca
Hurricane Helene washed away 35 miles of trails and caused $150,000 in losses for a bike shop owner, delaying Old Fort’s outdoor tourism recovery by years.
- A storm on September 27, 2024, caused severe flooding in Old Fort, North Carolina, damaging trails and businesses downtown.
- The flooding resulted from the Catawba River converging with Mill Creek, and the town lacked flood insurance due to high costs and remote risk perception.
- The storm uprooted 48 mature shade trees and destroyed a mountain biking track measuring 18,000 square feet, while numerous trails remain inaccessible, postponing complete restoration until fall 2026.
- Bike shop owner Chad Schoenauer reported $150,000 in uninsured losses, explaining that Helene effectively wiped out trail infrastructure and caused damage to important local businesses.
- Despite ongoing recovery, including trail rebuilding and most shops reopening, the storm reset Old Fort's outdoor tourism plans, affecting critical visitor traffic and economic activity.
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Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center26Last UpdatedBias Distribution81% Center
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- 81% of the sources are Center
81% Center
13%
C 81%
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