Chimney Rock reopens for one day event to support western NC businesses
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Neighbors helping neighbors.
For one day only, western North Carolina businesses made more money than they had since Hurricane Helene destroyed the area.
Several businesses lined the Lake Lure Inn driveway with goods for supporters to buy.
'We wanted to let the world know that Chimney Rock and the whole Lake Lure area is not down, they're up. We also wanted to let the folks at Chimney Rock know that they're not forgotten and that we're here. We've been here for the last eight weeks, and this right here is just an expression of what's been going on previously for the past eight weeks,' said City Serve Senior Vice President Todd Lamphere.
Chimney Rock Gem Mine and Riverwatch Bar and Grill say they benefited heavily from the event.
'It's been absolutely amazing. It's made a difficult last six months just feel it's healed me. And I know it's healed a lot of us in such big ways to have this kind of support. I never thought that anything like this could exist. It's great,' said Frances Brown, the operations manager of Chimney Rock Gem Mine and Riverwatch Bar and Grill.
Brown says the Gem Mine's second floor caved in and the Riverwatch Bar and Grill also had floor damage forcing the businesses to close. Staff were excited to see their apparel inventory and other items dwindle.
'A couple of thousand dollars which is really nice I think that's you know that'll help us, that'll go a long way towards purchasing the repairs that we need to have done,' Brown said.
The event was sponsored by several non-profit organizations like City Serve and Spokes for Hope.
Free food, live music, and toys were given away to kids.
Officials say money raised Saturday afternoon will help businesses with their inventory as they prepare to reopen.
Martha Dishmond, Christina Fairchild, and Rhonda Sherrod drove in from Taylorsville, North Carolina to show their support any way they could.
'I bought some coffee. We have some things that I'm taking to Florida. So now we're going down the line after we waited in that line to see what else we can get,' Dishmond and Fairchild said.
NC lawmakers vote to override veto of controversial relief bill which weakens powers of NC's governor
They stood in line for about 45 minutes for a bus tour ticket to see Chimney Rock's devastation.
The city is still closed to the public with much-needed road repairs and infrastructure renovations.
'We know it's bad,' said Lorie Greer and Carrie Nichols. 'We just want to see it with on own eyes basically. You can see everything you see on TV, but when you see it in person, it's ten times worse. And we're just here to help you get back,' they said.
They spent over $150 and had great seats at the concert for Carolina in October. They say its the least they could do to support.
No timetable for when western North Carolina receives relief funds from SB 382
'Our hearts, helping people. We've been in the mountains every week and we've come up in this area up in Asheville every weekend bringing stuff and helping,' they said.
On Wednesday, state lawmakers passed another relief package for western North Carolina. $227 million was allocated to help rebuild the area.
But neighbors believe, lawmakers are still not doing enough.
'Boots on the ground, show them, quit talking about it and be about it,' Fairchild said.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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