The $750,000 donation to Friends of the Smokies is part of a larger $2 million commitment to assist Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in the region.
KODAK, Tenn – Reflecting a longtime devotion to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Colquitt Foundation has given $750,000 to the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies to save historic structures and help the national park’s Cataloochee Valley recover from damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
“Hurricane Helene left its mark on Cataloochee Valley. Cataloochee Ranch was founded in that valley, and we feel a responsibility to help. We are honored to partner with Friends of the Smokies to contribute towards its revival and restoration,” said David Colquitt.
The Colquitt Foundation made the gift on behalf of The Swag as well as Cataloochee Ranch, two historic mountain retreats operated by the Colquitts on the boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Haywood County, North Carolina.
“Cataloochee Valley is a jewel for our entire region. Its cultural, historical, environmental, and recreational value is something that cannot be replaced. On behalf of our 150+ Haywood County team members, we are honored to make this contribution,” said Annie Colquitt.
The $750,000 gift to Friends of the Smokies will fund restoration of historic structures damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, including cabins and barns from Cataloochee to Cosby. Through the Forever Places program, these critically needed funds will provide materials, supplies, and support for a skilled staff of historic preservation experts to make the needed repairs.
“The National Park Service is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Charles Sellars, Acting Superintendent. “This generous donation is critical as we restore the historic buildings that help tell these stories. We are deeply grateful to the Colquitt Foundation for their support.”
Record rainfall and high winds from Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of East Tennessee and North Carolina in September 2024. The Cataloochee Valley experienced some of the most severe damage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with the public unable to access the valley until six months after the storm.
Swollen creeks overflowed their banks and crashed through the historic Caldwell Barn. The flood water caved in multiple walls, ripped up staircases, and snapped exterior siding on the historic barn built in the 1900s. The National Park Service temporarily stabilized the structure until repairs can be completed.
The Hiram Caldwell House near the barn and the Jasper Palmer House escaped the flood but both suffered roof damage from strong winds. By repairing the roofs, the Forever Places crew can help prevent subsequent damage from water leaks. The flooding also damaged the stone foundation of the historic Beech Grove School.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Colquitt Foundation for this generous gift,” said Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies. “At a time of great need, their support helps us protect historic treasures like the Caldwell Barn and Beech Grove School in Cataloochee Valley, ensuring these pieces of the past endure for future generations.”
The $750,000 gift is one part of a larger $2 million commitment by the Colquitts to help the region with its ongoing recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
With assistance from the Forever Places program, repairs to the historic structures damaged by Helene in the Cataloochee Valley should be completed sometime in 2026.
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Cataloochee Video Tour
The video below from our YouTube channel shows a tour of Cataloochee in April 2025 when the valley was set to partially reopen for the first time since Hurricane Helene.
About Friends of the Smokies
Friends of the Smokies is the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through private donations, fundraising events, and specialty license plates in North Carolina and Tennessee, Friends raises money to fund needed projects and programs in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.
Since 1993, Friends of the Smokies has raised more than $100 million to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That includes the Forever Places endowment devoted to funding a full-time skilled crew devoted to the care of more than 300 historic structures in the Smokies. For more information, visit smokiesforeverplaces.org.
Learn more about how to get a Friends of the Smokies license plate at BearPlate.org. You can make a direct tax-deductible donation at our website. We are also grateful for those who pitch in at our donation boxes throughout the park. Every gift makes a significant difference for our beloved Smokies. Thank you, Friends!
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