You asked, we answered: Water, traffic, and how open is open?

Old Town District Black Mountain, late October 2024

UPDATE 11-18-24: The Boil Water restrictions mentioned below have been lifted in Black Mountain. Hooray!
CLICK HERE for more information.

Four weeks after Hurricane Helene struck, Black Mountain reopened for business. Based on your social media comments, you’re really excited!

And you have questions. We get it! Here are the answers to your most frequently asked ones:

Q: I see that most Black Mountain restaurants have reopened for business. But isn’t the “Boil Water” notice still in place? How does that work?

A: In response to public safety needs as well as restaurant readiness to reopen, Buncombe County Health Department established an Emergency Operations Plan for all food service providers. In compliance with that plan, Black Mountain restaurants, bars, and breweries have a few options for ensuring water safety, but the simple answer is that most are buying potable water “totes” or “tanks” and are operating with approvals from the county health department.

Here’s a link to our directory of restaurants, bars, and breweries that have told us they are open. This directory is changing regularly, so check back often!

Q: Talk to me more about that Boil Water notice. How will that impact my stay in a hotel, B&B, or a vacation rental property?

A: A Boil Water notice means that water from the tap MUST be boiled vigorously for one (1) minute before consuming. Water can be used for flushing toilets, laundry, bathing, and washing hands for basic personal hygiene. Hotels that provide food must gain the same approvals from the county health department as any restaurant. For more information, consult with your hotelier or property manager. You can also click here to read important safety rules and guidelines from the Town of Black Mountain.

Q: Are your shops and galleries open?

A: Just like our restauranteurs, our store and gallery owners have been working tirelessly to reopen. Incredibly, most of them have. For those that haven’t yet, we’ve asked them to share information about how you can shop or support them online. You can find all this information in our shops/services directory. Remember, our directories are changing nearly daily as shops update their status with us, so check back often!

Q: Can you get to Black Mountain from Interstate 40? And how is the traffic in town?

A: Yes, the exit from I-40 to Black Mountain is open. However, there are sections of I-40 that are still impassable. We recommend you consult Google Maps for the best driving route for you, or view the real-time statewide incident map at DriveNC.gov.*

Once you’re off the highway, you can expect traffic to be heavy around the Black Mountain Ingles on NC-9. The primary reason is that our Ingles has generously been serving as a Hurricane Helene operations center and donations distribution site. The other reason is that the Swannanoa Ingles is closed right now, so their customers are coming to Black Mountain.

Q: Is the Black Mountain Golf Course open?

A: Unfortunately, the Black Mountain Golf Course is closed until further notice. 

Q: What is the status of town parks and the beautiful trails throughout Western North Carolina?

A: We know you’re drawn to Black Mountain for its beauty. We are, too. Tragically, Hurricane Helene’s waters and winds caused significant damage to many natural areas in Western North Carolina.

The good news is that our lovely Town Square is open and unscathed. Unfortunately, the Black Mountain Golf Course is closed due to damage. CLICK HERE for a status report on the rest of the parks and public spaces in town.

Clean-up efforts are on-going everywhere. Five state parks in our region recently reopened (Nov. 1, 2024). We recommend you refer to N.C. State Park’s Places to Visit website to check the current status of a specific park or trail. CLICK HERE for an up-to-date and official status report on the status of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Finally, here’s our #1 Pro Tip: The status of, well, everything is changing daily, so please be a little flexible. You might discover a restaurant or shop with limited hours or selection, but rest assured that’s only temporary. As foot traffic increases, their recovery will accelerate. Everyone’s will. That’s why your visit means everything to us.

*Thanks to suggestions offered by Martha and Steve (thank you!), we’ve clarified our answer to the question about I-40 access.