Look at Chimney Rock 6 months after Hurricane Helene hit

More than six months after Hurricane Helene tore through the mountains of Western North Carolina, the village of Chimney Rock is showing signs of life again.

The once-vibrant mountain town was nearly wiped out by flooding, mudslides and wind damage. Roads collapsed, businesses were gutted, and dozens of homes washed away. But now, thanks to a tireless community effort and help from volunteers and nonprofits, there’s real hope on the horizon.

“The reality is the town was destroyed,” Shane Zoccole, founder of the nonprofit Spokes of Hope, said. “We gutted every building from the inside out—took it down to nothing—and then built it all back. And now we’re doing the finishing work.”

Chimney Rock’s historic main street, buried in the mud after the storm, is slowly being rebuilt. Crews have installed temporary bridges, poured new foundations, and even repurposed materials from destroyed buildings to preserve the town’s rustic charm. Even small details like hand railings and salvaged wood countertops—carry sentimental value.

“That hand railing came out of a house we demo’d,” Zoccole explained. “The family said to use everything we can to repurpose it—and so we did."

He then showed WCNC Charlotte a countertop designed with the Broad River in it.

"Every stone in this building has someone’s name tied to it," Zoccole said.

The storm hit hard, and Chimney rock Mayor Peter O’Leary said the toll it took was overwhelming.

“We’ve had the whole town completely closed for six months now,” he said. “We had 100% unemployment, over 30 homes lost, numerous vehicles and campers gone. When you go through the numbers, it’s mindboggling.”

O’Leary, who also owns Bubba O’Leary’s General Store, said part of his building was destroyed in the flood.

“Everything washed away downstream,” he said.

Despite the loss, O’Leary is confident in the town’s future.

“The old Chimney Rock is gone,” he said. “But the new Chimney Rock we are going to rebuild, it’s going to be an amazing place.”

Although a full recovery will take years, town leaders hope to partially reopen the village this summer.

“To get the village open again, and to get Chimney Rock park open again, is such a small step, but at the same time, it is a vital step for the recovery of this village,” O’Leary said.

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