Hurricane Helene dealt a devastating blow to a string of mountain towns last September, sweeping away roads, businesses, and entire communities and, tragically, claiming 107 lives in North Carolina alone. The storm hit the idyllic Appalachian refuge of Black Mountain, just outside Asheville, right when it usually would get an influx of travelers: “We lost our leaf season, and boy, did that hurt,” says Danielle Topping, the longtime general manager turned owner of the Black Mountain mainstay restaurant Que Sera.
But the resilient residents of Western North Carolina have spent the months since then banding together to rebuild. This summer, Black Mountain and the area’s other communities need your enthusiasm and investment—showing up with a few dollars to spend will help take care of a town that will surely take care of you right back. “To everyone who cherishes our mountains, trails, and waterfalls,” Topping says, “please come back and rediscover the beauty and excitement of WNC. We’re here, and we’re ready.”
See & Do
Downtown Black Mountain is delightfully walkable, and you just might stumble into your new favorite antique store or art boutique. One sure bet for finding regional art: Mountain Nest Gallery. For some mountain music, dip into White Horse Black Mountain, a venue that hosts “pay what you can” shows.
For something slightly more strenuous, the newly reopened Lookout Trail rewards hikers with panoramic views of the Seven Sisters, a gorgeous section of the Appalachian Mountains. Lake Susan and Montreat Trails have been restored thanks to the teamwork of the Montreat Conference Center and volunteers, and the Lake Susan loop is an easy rise-andshine stroll for those who like to hike with a coffee in hand.
Eat & Drink
Start your day with a seasonal latte from Dripolator, a charming storefront that has been roasting its own beans since 1999. Just up the road, Blue Ridge Biscuit Company serves sweet and savory breakfasts, among them the Smoky Mountain Brook biscuit, with smoked trout and caper dill cream cheese.
For lunch, stop into Cousins Cuban Cafe, where owners and employees donated food and dished up free empanadas in the days following Helene. Louise’s Kitchen, set inside a circa-1904 Victorian mansion, became a supply center to outfit residents who had lost everything, switching their dining tables for folding tables full of shoes and clothing. It’s now a hopping café once again, serving turkey bacon cheddar sandwiches and breakfast all day.
A cherished gathering spot for farm-to-table dinners, Que Sera has returned to full-service across the restaurant and oyster bar; don’t miss the blackened North Carolina redfish. Foothills Meats’ downtown smashburger-and-hot-dog joint the Grange is a casual option with picnic tables, local suds on tap, and sandy spots for kids to play. Next door, you’ll find its sister business, a recently opened fine-dining option that pays homage to Helene’s impact, dubbed Hell or High Water.
Stay
Black Mountain is replete with small-town charm, and few establishments capture it better than Peri Social House. Opened last August, the six-room inn claims the title of “smallest boutique hotel in North Carolina.” The owners, Kathryn and Trevor Rudisill, converted the former home from its most recent life as an event space into cozy lodgings with plush white bedding and lounges aplenty. When Helene hit, Trevor and guests were flooded in together for days. He took in as many stranded people as he could, even hosting an impromptu wedding reception in the backyard for a couple whose plans the stormwaters had swept away. Nowadays, find that strong community gathering in the front room around the coffee bar by day, and around the pizza food truck and cocktail bar by sunset.
Discover more must-visit towns in G&G’s 20 Dreamy Summer Weekend Getaways here.
