On Saturday, December 14, Chimney Rock Village will reopen for one day to allow visitors to tour the recovery work and adopt a small business impacted by Hurricane Helene's devastation. The Village will be open from 10am – 4pm for the Celebration. Sponsors are providing music, free food, goodies and visits with Santa. Visitors should park at Lake Lure Beach area and take a shuttle to the Village. Shuttles will run every 15 minutes.

The Village is most grateful for every contribution to the Chimney Rock Disaster Relief Fund. Come see our progress!

At 9:00 am September 27, Shari and Bobby Cummings woke up to water bubbling up through the kitchen floor. They quickly went upstairs to their Hickory Nut retail shop and peered through the window at the raging floodwaters. By 10:00 am, the refrigerator from the kitchen was floating down the river. At 10:15 am, the Hickory Nut collapsed with only the facade remaining. The couple and their cat Soffee quickly sought shelter at the Fire Department.

In their 27 years of owning the building, the Cummings had never seen water enter. Although they lost everything in their home and most of their store inventory, Shari, Bobby and their business partner Max Gonzalez are grateful they survived. Thanks to contributions to the Chimney Rock Village Disaster Relief Fund, the Hickory Nut received a grant to help create a new garden center and replace inventory. The future of the Hickory Nut building is unknown at this time. 

On September 27, Bruce and Rebecca Godzik escaped to the Village Fire House to watch the raging and rapidly rising Rocky Broad River literally wash their business Coffee on the Rocks off its foundation and into the muddy waters. It was a devastating and heartbreaking loss as their home also was attached to their business. Chimney Rock Village has been their home for 15 years. Like so many business owners here, the Godziks are committed to staying and rebuilding. The Village Council recently awarded the Godziks a Disaster Relief Grant to aid their extensive rebuilding efforts.

Note: The rubble to the right of the building pictured is all that remained of Coffee on the Rocks.

The Chimney Rock Village Council awarded $28,500 in the first grant cycle assisting seven families. This would not have been possible without the support of so many individuals contributing to the Village's Disaster Relief Fund. This has allowed the Village to directly aid citizens impacted by Helene.

Johnny and Betty Palmer of the Southside community are among the first recipients. They have been residents in Chimney Rock Village for 14 years. During a June 2024 storm, three trees fell on the Palmer's home destroying it. The rebuilding of their home was underway when Helene arrived and devastated all progress. Helene left their property covered with mud, sand and debris burying their new footers in mud and washing away the rebar. The grant will help with the expenses to restore their trench system to divert standing water, prepare a new survey, dig new footings, and provide septic services. Best wishes to the Palmers and all of our grant recipients as they begin anew their journey to rebuild!

The Village is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support following the devastating storm damage from Hurricane Helene. While the rebuilding effort will take extensive work and time, the Village is encouraged by the progress which has been made.

1. The Rocky Broad River, which flowed through Chimney Rock Village, has been restored to its original channel to aid rebuilding. 

2. The entrance to Chimney Rock State Park has been cleared of debris. Plans are being developed to rebuild the public bridge connecting the Village to the Park.

3. Volunteer Groups along with the US Army 101st Airborne are removing the thick mud deposited in the stores and clearing the sidewalks.

4. Residents and merchants have been allowed to return to the Village. Merchants with buildings remaining have begun to remove salvageable items, discard ruined merchandise and assess structural damage. Sadly, many business owners and residents lost their buildings and homes and will need to completely rebuild. 

5. NC Department of Transportation has begun rebuilding Hwy 74A/64/9 from Chimney Rock Village west toward Bat Cave, NC, to reconnect communities. This will take many months to complete.