Rebuild Black Mountain

Big thanks to Rebuild Black Mountain cofounder Brent Bookwalter for bringing attention to the ongoing recovery efforts here in WNC! On The Odd Tandem Podcast with Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt, Brent takes the time to talk about his experience during Helene and highlight the importance of rebuilding and restoring the trails, which are the main reason he and his family chose to make Black Mountain + Montreat home. Give it a listen, share, and help us keep the momentum around recovery going! #RebuildBlackMountain #WNCRecovery #TrailRestoration

In the face of Hurricane Helene, Black Mountain, NC, showed what a strong, connected community can achieve. Despite being cut off from the outside world—no water, power, or communications—we operated at the highest standards of disaster emergency management, even without a formal emergency management staff. Here’s how we did it: ? Trained Leadership: Our fire department, led by John Coffey leveraged their disaster management expertise to guide rescue and recovery efforts. ? Collaboration: Town leaders (public works Jamey Mathews, police chief Steven Parker, and town manager Josh Harrold, ICMA-CM, AICP, CZO) worked seamlessly together, relying on years of mutual respect and cooperation. ? Volunteer Expertise: Local residents with deep experience in disaster response, like Lisa Jennings (USFS), Heather Cotton, AICP, and Steve Little (USFS), joined forces to make a huge impact. These efforts are a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together. But the work isn’t done. Rebuilding takes time, resources, and support from people like you. ?? Read more about our story and how you can help: https://lnkd.in/dMfi_yA4 #RebuildBlackMountain #CommunityResilience #HurricaneRecovery #WNCStrong #EmergencyManagement #OutdoorRecreation #CollaborationMatters

Rebuild Black Mountain is proud to support the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition (NCOREC) in advocating for recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. NCOREC presented a legislative agenda focused on rebuilding Western North Carolina’s outdoor economy, supporting businesses, restoring outdoor spaces, and rebuilding trails and waterways that are the lifeblood of our region’s economy. The dedicated slate of legislative requests included: ? Direct Financial Support for Impacted Businesses ? Promotion to Restore Outdoor Recreation Visitors ? Rebuilding Local Parks and Outdoor Recreational Spaces ? Trail Debris Removal and Recovery ? Comprehensive Stream Debris Removal and Stabilization This collaborative approach ensures that the outdoor economy we all rely on will recover stronger than ever. Read the full press release to learn more about our shared vision. You can help by resharing the press release and contacting your local representatives to express your support for increased recovery funding for Western North Carolina. ?? Together, we can rebuild. #RebuildBlackMountain #NCOREC #HurricaneHelene #WNCStrong #OutdoorEconomy https://lnkd.in/dpEdXtuX

Five weeks after Hurricane Helene’s destructive path, the reality on the ground has been deeply sobering. Western North Carolina’s outdoor economy isn’t just an attraction—it’s the backbone of our local communities. Hurricane Helene’s impact on our outdoor businesses, like the beloved Bubba O’Leary’s General Store in Chimney Rock, has been devastating. Read our most recent update: https://lnkd.in/dZJyFxpT Your help is critical to restoring the spaces and businesses that define WNC. Join us through the Rebuild Black Mountain Resilience Fund to help make a lasting impact. ?? #RebuildBlackMountain #OutdoorEconomy #CommunityResilience #Partnerships #RebuildWNC

?? One Month Later: Building a Stronger WNC Together ?? It’s been just over a month since Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, and with your support, Rebuild Black Mountain's fund has already grown to $25,000! This fund is a critical step toward restoring the trails, parks, and outdoor spaces that power our local economy and define our community’s unique spirit. Over the last week, David Billstrom, Jennifer Billstrom, CPA, Fitzalan Crowe and Ian Sherburne met with local policymakers, business leaders, and nonprofit partners, all aligned on a sustainable, community-led recovery. This group included Mountain BizWorks, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Venture Asheville, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Abundance Capital, BLACK MOUNTAIN-SWANNANOA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INCORPORATED, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The Conservation Fund, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Land of Sky Regional Council. Together, we’re paving the way to revitalize WNC’s economy, support small businesses, and protect the natural beauty that makes this region so special. Be part of WNC’s journey to resilience and renewal! Read more about our progress and how you can help: ?? https://lnkd.in/eSb_Zxbx #RebuildBlackMountain #StrongerTogether #WNCRecovery #OutdoorEconomy #HurricaneHeleneRecovery

Recovery Update: Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens After Helene A 20-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened in Western North Carolina, a key step in revitalizing our outdoor spaces after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. This reopening is vital for the region's economic recovery, especially with fall tourism season underway. ?? Read more about the ongoing efforts to restore this cherished area and the challenges that lie ahead: #RebuildBlackMountain #WNCRecovery #BlueRidgeParkway #HurricaneHelene #OutdoorRecreation #TourismRecovery

??♀???Saturday, October 19th is Great Trails State Day ????♂? North Carolina is The Great Trails State and while many trails and greenways in Western NC remain closed since Hurricane Helene, we’re hopeful that they will be restored in time. Our friends at MCDOWELL TRAILS ASSOCIATION INC have been hard at work supporting the community in recovery, and they’re confident we’ll be hiking, biking, and exploring our beautiful trails again soon. For now, if you're able, take a walk around your neighborhood or visit the open Corpening YMCA/Senior Center Greenway and downtown Marion to enjoy some fresh air. ??? Stay tuned for updates as we rebuild and celebrate our trails together in the months to come. ?? #RebuildBlackMountain #GreatTrailsStateDay #McDowellTrails #WNC #CommunitySupport #OutdoorRecreation #Hiking #WNCRecovery

?? Help Needed: Winter Clothing for Western NC ?? North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition is teaming up with outdoor industry partners to collect and distribute essential winter clothing for those affected by Hurricane Helene. Jackets, pants, socks, and other cold-weather gear are urgently needed for displaced residents across Western North Carolina. As a non-profit, NCOREC will ensure these items are distributed carefully and transparently through trusted local non-profits already on the ground in WNC. If you can help, please reach out to [email protected]. Together, we can make a difference as winter approaches. ?? Let’s support our community during this critical time. Every contribution matters! #RebuildBlackMountain #SupportWNC #HurricaneHelene #WinterClothingDrive #CommunitySupport #OutdoorIndustry #DonateNow

Calling all Outdoor Industry participants across the globe... Situation Helene: Mid-October means "first frost" is near, indeed the forecast is for freezing within 2 days. For those people displaced in WNC, they probably weren't thinking about grabbing their warm clothes -- jackets, pants, good socks -- when "Tropical Storm" Helene roared into their lives. For those that lost everything, the situation is even more dire. NCOREC (NC Outdoor Recreation Coalition) is collaborating with other outdoor industry partners to collect Winter Clothes from industry partners ASAP. NCOREC is a non-profit, and these vital winter items will be distributed carefully and transparently to people in need, via non-profit orgs already on the ground in WNC. While NCOREC (https://lnkd.in/eHXuiMZK) covers the outdoor economy throughout the state, many of our members are based in WNC -- and thus, suffering themselves. I've had dozens of messages from around the world 'How can we help?' -- this is a way that our outdoor brands can step up and make a difference. DM me for details, or simply send email to [email protected] (feel free to forward this to your favorite clothing brand) Thank you. Thomas Dempsey Bayard Winthrop Eric Henry Nathan Ramsey Christopher Chung Jim Vinoski Dan Barkin Rachel Slade Kristen Fanarakis Fitzalan Crowe Charlie Merrow Jagath Narayan Jennifer Guarino Jessie Inglis Graeme MacPherson Brianna Kilcullen Paul Blum Liz Picarazzi Loren Feldman Anne Claire Broughton Audrey Hicks Howard Fischer Catherine Campbell PJ Mears Charles (Charlie) Abelmann, Ed.D Karalee Nielsen Fallert Amy Hudson Mike Massey Todd Soller Mark Schroeder Andrew Gibbs-Dabney Anupreeta Das

Former professional cyclist and Montreat resident Brent Bookwalter shared his story about Hurricane Helene's impact on our beloved community—and the work ahead to rebuild. This isn’t just about recovering what’s been lost, but ensuring Black Mountain and Western North Carolina thrive for generations to come. In his conversation with VeloNews, Brent talks about the need to restore the trails, parks, and public spaces that are essential to our economy and way of life. These outdoor spaces are more than just recreation—they are the backbone of tourism and critical to the recovery of local families and businesses. We need your help to make this happen. ?? Donate today to the Western North Carolina Outdoor Recreation & Community Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Every contribution helps us rebuild a stronger, more resilient Black Mountain. ?? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dwysxs76 ?? Donate now: https://lnkd.in/eGe4Dgwm #RebuildBlackMountain #WNCRecovery #OutdoorRecreation #Bookwalter #CommunityResilience #BlackMountainNC #HurricaneHelene #HurricaneHeleneRelief