‘The heartbeat is starting to patter again’: Asheville’s River Arts District one year after Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — What Jeffrey Burroughs woke up to on the morning of September 27, 2024, was the stuff of nightmares.

“We get out of our car, we’re standing on the bridge right over here, and we’re literally watching the dreams of our district, the cultural heartbeat of our district, just surging down the French Broad,” Burroughs recalls solemnly.

The damage was truly astounding. Homes, businesses, entire livelihoods washed away in an instant.

“It was something not only devastating and shocking, but something just completely unimaginable,” laments Burroughs.

But once the shock wore off, the president of Asheville’s River Arts District Artists hit the ground running.

“We didn’t wait for permission,” Burroughs beams, “We just jumped right in. And with hundreds of volunteers from all over the world, we started building back.”

And the hard work is paying off.

“As of today, with the grand opening of Marquee, we now have 500 of our 750 artists back up and exhibiting and running,” an excited Burroughs explains. ”

“And that heartbeat is starting to patter again.”

It’s one of the many battles won here over the past year.

“The grit, gumption, and determination of the people of western North Carolina have been on full display,” says Vic Isley.

Isley is the president and CEO of Explore Asheville. She also heads Bumcombe County’s tourism board.

“The River Arts District is much like my backyard,” Isley explains, “I spend a lot of time there. So, to see so much of it devastated a year ago, and to see so much of it rising today, is so inspiring.”

And this time around, a rising tide floats all boats.

“Asheville is just an amazing place, and we’re ready and open for folks to come,” beams Isley.