Restoring the great outdoors
Lake Tomahawk in Fall 2023, photo by Joyce Pemberton
Would you like to donate directly to the Town of Black Mountain and our Hurricane Helene recovery efforts? CLICK HERE. Thank you for considering.
We know you’re drawn to Western North Carolina for its natural beauty. We are, too.
Tragically, in late September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused massive destruction in and around the Swannanoa Valley. Flood waters were so powerful that they blew up bridges, destroyed water system infrastructure, and washed away buildings, highways, roads, and trails. Heavy winds pushed down trees that were hundreds of years old.
In our Town of Black Mountain, everyone is personally impacted by the experience of Helene.
As you can imagine, our sole focus until mid-October 2024 was to respond to search, rescue, and emergency needs. Thanks to the combined support of governmental entities and the outpouring of help from across the country, our beloved Town could steady itself under the enormity of the disaster. Since then, we’ve been able to expand our scope in order to help the recovery of our local business community (this website is an example of that) while continuing restoration efforts on infrastructure such as public buildings, roads, parks, and water systems.
Lending a Hand to Mother Nature
In terms of Black Mountain’s water systems, parks, and trails, the devastation from Helene was widespread. Our water system sustained significant damage, including flooded/destroyed well houses, buildings, infrastructure, equipment, and generators. Our golf course and major areas of our parks were similarly impacted. We continue to assess the extent of the damage, plan restoration strategies, and execute our plans to repair, replace, and restore our public spaces. But we have to be up-front with you:
Clean up efforts are complicated, and they’re going to take awhile.
Public Parks in Black Mountain
To help you plan your visit, we’re providing this list of Town parks and their current status. We will update this information as repair milestones are reached. If you’re interested in more detailed progress reports and program announcements, we encourage you to follow our Parks Department on Facebook.
Cragmont Park
TENNIS COURTS ONLY ARE OPEN
105 Swannanoa Avenue
The parking lot and walking path at Cragmont Park sustained flood damage and should not be used. The tennis courts are open and usable.
Dr. John Wilson Community Garden
OPEN
99 White Pine Drive
The Community Garden suffered only minimal damage and is open to the public.
Flat Creek Greenway
REPAIRS ONGOING, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK
Large sections of the Flat Creek Greenway have been destroyed and are closed until further notice. The first section from Charlotte Street to the footbridge remains usable, but all other portions are inaccessible due to damage.
Grey Eagle Indoor Soccer Facility
OPEN FOR LOCAL USE ONLY
17 White Pine Drive
This facility did not sustain damage.
Lake Tomahawk Park & Playground Areas
REPAIRS ONGOING, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK
The walking trail around Lake Tomahawk was submerged during the flood, leaving it uneven in places and therefore hazardous to walk on. Please use extreme caution. The footbridge that spans across the front of the dam spillway is closed until it can be inspected. The picnic shelter sustained some damage but is usable. The playground, tennis and basketball courts may be used.
Town Square
OPEN
intersection of W. State Street and NC-9/Montreat Road
Black Mountain Golf Course: CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
In the Oaks Trail: CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
Lakeview Center: CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
Riverwalk Dog Park: CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
Veterans Park: CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
Boil Water Notice in Black Mountain
The Town of Black Mountain is under a Boil Water Notice because our water systems were so severely damaged by Helene. We encourage you to read You asked, we answered: Water, traffic, and how open is open? to learn what a Boil Water notice means, how Black Mountain restaurants are complying with the notice, and simple safety tips you can follow during your visit.
State Parks and Trails
Click here to read about the five state parks in our region that partially or fully reopened on November 1. Check the North Carolina State Park’s Places to Visit website for the current status of all state parks and trails.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Hurricane Helene severely damaged the Blue Ridge Parkway, and therefore it is CLOSED in most of North Carolina. CLICK HERE for an up-to-date and official status report for the Parkway, provided by the National Parks Service.
Your visit means everything to us.
As we’ve said before, your visit to our town means everything to us. Each time you come back to Black Mountain from this point forward, you’ll see changes—small and big ones—which add up to significant progress and healing. We simply ask that you be a little flexible when you visit our town and all of Western North Carolina, and be extra gentle on our natural landscapes. They’ve been through a lot.
