Explore Asheville

Our community is making progress slowly but surely and safely. Here is the latest update on western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County: ➡️ Many businesses and restaurants are reopening as widespread power and water service return. Please let us know your business status here: https://lnkd.in/dTGmDErf ✈️ The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating. 🏰 Biltmore has announced plans to welcome guests on November 2. ⛰ Areas of the Pisgah Ranger District have reopened, and Grandfather Mountain will reopen tomorrow, October 23. 🌆 Downtown Asheville infrastructure remained largely untouched by the storm, allowing shops and restaurants to reopen, some with limited operations. ⚠️ There are areas that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas—including Biltmore Village, Swannanoa, and parts of the River Arts District—have a much longer road ahead, so travel to these areas is not advised. We are here for our neighbors throughout western North Carolina. 🗺 Visit North Carolina will continue to update its travel advisory map to reflect the conditions of each community. https://lnkd.in/dcCDceJ9 Our deeply rooted, creative community needs support from those inspired to visit our majestic region. We are asking visitors to please be patient, gentle, and respectful as they plan their return❤️🩹 #AlwaysAsheville

Join us for the free Concert for Carolina Official Community Viewing Event 📍 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 📅 October 26 ⏱ Doors: 4 p.m. | Live stream: 5 p.m. 📋 Register for free here: https://lnkd.in/eQbFxPwY The live Concert for Carolina may be sold out, but we are bringing the experience to you! Join us for a powerful evening of community, connection, and music, including a star-studded lineup of artists coming together to support the communities affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. A few local restaurants will provide small bites from 5–7 p.m., and artists affected by Helene will vend their work during the show. We look forward to seeing you there.

Local, independent businesses are the heart of the Asheville area—home to growers who are artists and artists whose work grows. Thought leaders and thought provokers, musicians and storytellers, entrepreneurs and educators, foodies and beer lovers, hippies, healers, adventurers, creators and innovators. We craft and brew and paint and carve, handcrafted by real hands. Now, those hands need a helping hand. And a hug. This weekend, Explore Asheville, in partnership with Asheville Downtown Association, Go Local Asheville, ArtsAVL, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, ASHEVILLE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION INC, WNC: MADE X MTNS, Mountain BizWorks, and JD Ellison and Company, launched the Love Asheville From Afar page. This page gathers shop links and direct donation platforms for Buncombe County businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Businesses located in or selling from Buncombe County can participate by completing this submission form: https://lnkd.in/gFFiH_V2 Your support can make a real difference—shop local or donate to help rebuild: https://lnkd.in/gA9Mmq39

Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, and James Taylor will headline Concert For Carolina, a special benefit show presented by Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, on Saturday, October 26 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Tar Heel State is a profoundly special place for all four artists. It is where Combs, Church, and Taylor grew up and first discovered their musical interests and where Strings has performed many times over his career and holds an extra special place in his heart. The event will feature artists who have yet to be announced. The group mobilized and initiated outreach to organize an event aimed at raising critical funds for the relief efforts following Hurricane Helene's significant devastation. The Teppers, owners of the Carolina Panthers and Bank of America Stadium, generously offered the stadium to make the benefit concert a reality. Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have pledged $1 million as the presenting sponsor from their annual marketing budget. “We’ve been honored and uplifted by the outpouring of care and concern from across the country,” said President and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “Through this tragedy, the heart of hospitality has been a beacon of light. We are proud to contribute one million dollars to this effort knowing millions more will flow back to communities in need thanks to Luke Combs and Eric Church.” All proceeds from the event, including sponsorships, will be split 50/50 between Combs and Church’s Chief Cares Foundation to administer to organizations of their choosing in support of relief efforts across the Carolinas and the Southeast. Tickets go on sale today, Thursday, October 10, at 10 AM ET. Full details can be found at www.concertforcarolina.com. For those unable to attend the concert but still looking to support, donations can be made now to The North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund or to various organizations listed on the website.

Communities in Western North Carolina, including ours, are recovering after the devastating floods and aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While our downtown, lodging, and much of our hospitality infrastructure fared well, most areas are still without power and water service, and early stages of recovery are ongoing in parts of our beloved community. The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating, and critical highways like I-40 East and I-26 are now accessible, making it easier to mobilize support. Right now, the focus is on taking care of our residents and workers and servicing the many first responders who have answered the call from all over the country—helping those impacted and addressing the economic and emotional toll at hand. As our community continues to assess and address the damage, we are witnessing countless acts of kindness, support, and resilience among our neighbors. Despite widespread cell service disruptions, power and water outages, and impassable roads, able businesses have opened their doors to provide food and water to residents. Neighbors have checked in on neighbors. Hospitality businesses are serving first responders with food and shelter. We are grateful for the first responders working around the clock and have been heartened by the calls of love and support from all corners of the country. We will continue to find strength in each other, the deeply rooted communities of Western North Carolina, and our unceasing resolve to rebuild. People have always been drawn to Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina. We know many of you care deeply and want to support our community. If you want to contribute, consider donating to local recovery efforts such as: - Donate directly to The Salvation Army of Asheville, MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC , and United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County.  - To donate bulk items, email: helenedonations@buncombecounty.org.  - To volunteer, email: helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org. We’re seeing progress, slow as it may be. While travel may not be possible at the moment, please keep Asheville in your heart. When the time is right, we’ll be ready to welcome you back with open arms. Until then, thank you for your love and support as we rebuild. Always, Asheville #AlwaysAsheville #AshevilleStrong #HeleneRecovery #WNCRecovery https://lnkd.in/gwApxU7F

A message from President & CEO of Explore Asheville and the BCTDA Vic Isley: Good afternoon, thanks for the messages of care and concern that have made it through and those that haven’t about Asheville. There is a lot of work ahead of our community and region. We are hurting AND we are strong. The two pictures are from earlier today. One from the rooftop of the new Moxy hotel downtown taken by me AND one from The Radical Hotel in the River Arts District taken by Tyler Thompson. Many of our Explore Asheville team we have heard are safe and accounted for, others we have not been able to reach yet. If you are able to connect please let us know you are safe by dropping a note in the comments please. 🙏🏼 If you haven’t heard from loved ones or teammates, there is a near communication failure with power, phone service and internet out. There has been some wifi available outside of the Moxy, but that sidewalk has been pretty crowded all day. I have heard there’s wifi available near fire stations like the new one on Broadway because they have towers there. That is unconfirmed though. The hotels I’ve been able to connect with don’t have power or water so are not able to accommodate guests or residents seeking shelter. The Ag Center near the airport is at near capacity with 400 people. Possibly AB Tech opening up to act as a shelter later today. The airport is open and operating with generator power but most flights cancelled today. Please check with your airline if you are trying to fly in or out of AVL. Downtown is mostly unscathed with some sidewalk trees down. Old Europe was open and the Barkdega had a sign saying it would open at 11am. You can see the River Arts District has a long way to go. Harris Teeter on Merrimon was open yesterday and today with long lines outside. Cash only, one in and one out. Long, long waits at two gas stations on Merrimon. If you are a part of the travel and hospitality family in Asheville and Buncombe County, please drop a status update in the comments below. Please be patient, kind, pray and take care of one another. Always, Asheville xoxo

As Hurricane Helene continues up the East Coast bringing inclement weather to the Asheville area and to Buncombe County, resident and visitor safety is a top priority. Buncombe County has declared a local state of emergency following Governor Roy Cooper’s state of emergency for North Carolina as the area prepares for the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The county’s emergency management plan will remain in effect until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, or until it is rescinded. Links to local information, weather advisories, attraction and business closures, event updates, and area hotels taking resident reservations during this weather event can be found on Explore Asheville's Weather Advisory page. https://lnkd.in/dtqZjrhP

Thank you to the nearly 300 travel and hospitality partners, community leaders, members and friends who joined us for the 2024 BCTDA Annual Meeting hosted at the beautiful Crest Center & Pavilion. 🎤The talented Trevor Darden (Street Sinatra) opened and closed the program with his stylish tunes and dance moves. 📣Keynote speaker, Rohit Bhargava gave an engaging and insightful presentation on the impact of non-obvious marketing, sharing how to stand out from the noise. ✨Past BCTDA board members Kathleen Mosher and Scott Patel were recognized for their dedicated years of service. 🏆The 2024 William A.V. Cecil Leadership Award was presented to McKibbon Hospitality in recognition of their passion for shaping places of hospitality, dedication to inspiring associates and guests, and legacy of investing in communities they care about, including Asheville and Buncombe County. To learn more about McKibbon's impact on Asheville and Buncombe County, check out the video produced by local filmmaker, Paul Bonesteel:https://lnkd.in/e35vubpe 📸: Jess Hopkins Photography

Are you looking for a job that directly supports the incredible work of our executive team, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) board, and various internal and external stakeholders? You could be a perfect fit for our Manager, Executive & Strategy! This team member manages the operations of Explore Asheville's Executive Office and provides strategic and confidential support to the President & CEO, in addition to working closely with BCTDA board members and Explore Asheville staff. Learn more and apply below!

Cheers to McKibbon Hospitality on their grand opening of the Moxy Hotels-Asheville! Many years in the making, this establishment continues Pat Whalen and Karen Ramshaw of PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECTS, INC's vision to bring downtown to life. Resembling a jewel box, the glass and steel facade features nearly 360-degree views and bespoke interiors adorned with works from 16 local artists, including NC's tallest mural painted by Scott Allred. This hotel creates 50 jobs and generates new tax revenue for Asheville and Buncombe County. #Welcome to the neighborhood Moxy Asheville!